RoadRunners Home for the Holidays

Published on December 27, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


Phoenix, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD: 0-2-0 - SEASON RECORD: 9-15-2 - 6th WEST DIVISION

‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners dropped a pair of games to the Idaho Steelheads last Wednesday and Thursday at America West Arena. The RoadRunners continue to remain just a single point behind the fifth place Victoria Salmon Kings, but are now 14 points behind the fourth place Utah Grizzlies with two games in hand. Following a one-game trip to Long Beach, Phoenix will ring in 2006 with a pair of games against the Fresno Falcons at 7:11PM Saturday and at 5PM Sunday at AWA.

Wednesday, the Idaho Steelheads tallied a season-high four power play goals and goaltender Steve Silverthorn collected his first professional shutout with a convincing 7-0 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,163 at America West Arena.

The Steelheads (16-6-2) opened the scoring just 6:11 into the first period. With goaltender Mike Mole caught out of the net, Garrett Bembridge found D'Arcy McConvey at the left-wing circle and McConvey slapped the puck into the open cage for a power play goal and a 1-0 lead. Brad Thompson extended the lead to 2-0 when he re-directed Jarad Bourassa's shot from the point at 8:44 on the man-advantage. McConvey netted his second goal of game, wrapping the puck through Mole's pads at 16:07 of the period, also on the power play.

The second period didn't fare much better for the RoadRunners (9-14-2). Kevin Gardner finished off a two-on-one rush from Bourassa as he tipped the puck past Mole on the near side at 6:46 for a 4-0 advantage. Bembridge made it 5-0 when he accepted Justin Cox's long pass behind the defense and beat Mole along the ice at 18:25 to close out the middle frame.

Greg Hornby and Bembridge capped the scoring at 6:47 on the power play and 19:33 of the period to make the final 7-0.

Idaho out-shot the RoadRunners 36-34. Mole made 29 saves in dropping to 5-10-2 on the season. The RoadRunners were 0-6 on the power play.

Thursday, ECHL leading scorer Garrett Bembridge tallied a pair of goals to lead the Idaho Steelheads to a 5-3 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,205 at America West Arena.

Idaho (17-6-2) jumped on the scoreboard first at 8:25 of the opening period. Tyrell Moulton's slap shot from the left point beat a screened RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead. The RoadRunners (9-15-2) would counter as Brent Henly from the right-wing circle fired a slap shot past Idaho goaltender Steve Silverthorn at 12:37 to tie the game at 1-1.

The Steelheads netted a pair of goals 2:04 seconds apart in the second period to build a 3-1 lead. Bembridge beat Mole over the right shoulder with a one-time slap shot from the left point at 10:59 on the power play for his first goal of the game and a 2-1 lead. Jonathan Zion gave the Steelheads a two-goal advantage when he accepted D'Arcy McConvey's pass from behind the RoadRunners net in the slot and tucked one by Mole along the ice at 13:03.

The RoadRunners would battle back with a power play goal at 6:35 of the third period. Mark Wires collected Shawn Snider's rebound in front of the cage and tipped the puck past Silverthorn to cut the deficit to 3-2. Marty Flichel regained Idaho's two-goal advantage at 10:33, picking up the rebound of Jarad Bourassa's point shot and sliding it past Mole to make it a 4-2 game. J-F Soucy cut the deficit to 4-3 when he tucked a backhand shot around Silverthorn at 12:25 to bring the RoadRunners back to within a single goal. However, that was the closest Phoenix would get as Bembridge sealed the win with an empty net goal at 19:00 of the third.

Idaho out-shot the RoadRunners 34-22. Mole stopped 29 shots in falling to 5-11-2 on the season. Phoenix went 1-4 on the power play.

THE HOSPITAL WARD AT AWA: The RoadRunners have lost an ECHL-leading 99 man-games due to injury this season. Overall 13 players, nearly a full line-up, have missed at least one game this season because of a various injury. Currently, forwards Ben Knopp, Jake Riddle, Miguel Lafleche, and defensemen Paul Ballantyne and Dave Cousineau are on the injured reserve.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST: Defenseman Brent Henley became the last player on the active roster to record his first point of the season when he tallied the RoadRunners opening goal in Thursday's loss. The goal was Henley's ninth in 221 career games.

THE 400 WATCH: With an assist on J-F Soucy's goal Thursday, Captain Dean Tiltgen is now just three points shy of 400 for his professional career. Tiltgen is attempting to become the first player in the ECHL to record his 400th point and play in his 500th game in the same season since Stefan Rivard accomplished the feat with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies during the 2003-04 campaign. On his current pace, Tiltgen will play in his 500th career game on March 17 at Bakersfield.

HOME "NOT SO SWEET" HOME: The RoadRunners are currently playing a stretch of 12 out of 16 games at America West Arena through January 19, but so far they're off to slow start. Since beginning this stretch on December 16, Phoenix is 1-4-0 overall and 1-3-0 at home. The RoadRunners are 5-9-2 at AWA this season. After January 19, Phoenix will have just 12 home games remaining in the regular season.

HOLIDAY SUCCESS? With two holiday games coming up this week, the RoadRunners will look to build on their 0-0-1 record for games played on a holiday. Phoenix lost in a shootout at home to Long Beach on Veterans Day, November 11.

UPCOMING ROADRUNNERS PROMOTIONS: Why not ring in 2006 with your Phoenix RoadRunners? The RoadRunners host the Fresno Falcons at 7:11PM on Saturday, December 31 at America West Arena. Celebrate a Family New Year's Eve with noisemakers, balloons, and lots of fun stuff for the kids. The RoadRunners will also honor former legend Sandy Hucul, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a coupon for a Sandy Hucul Commemorative Pint Glass, the third glass of six in the RoadRunners "Past Greats Night" series.

WATCH THE ‘RUNNERS LIVE IN '05-06: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2005-06. RoadRunners fans will be able to click the "Watch Online" link at www.phxroadrunners.com to view and listen to the game. These broadcasts are available to fans for a charge of $6 per game. All 36 RoadRunners home broadcasts will be available in addition to over 25 road games in Alaska, Idaho, Pensacola, Las Vegas, San Diego, Utah, and Bakersfield. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners play three games in three nights as they welcome in 2006! Phoenix travels to Long Beach at 8:30PM MST Friday to battle the Ice Dogs before returning home to host the Fresno Falcons at 7:11PM Saturday and 5PM Sunday at America West Arena. Catch all three games live on News Talk Radio 1100AM KFNX and Pro Sports Radio beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" twenty minutes before opening face-off.

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS SCHEDULE WEEK OF DECEMBER 26th

Monday, December 26: Off Day

Tuesday, December 27: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Wednesday, December 28: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

Thursday, December 29: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den; Depart for Long Beach, Calif. @ 2PM

Friday, December 30: Morning Skate 12:15PM; RoadRunners @ Long Beach 8:30PM MST; Depart for Phoenix

Saturday, December 31: RoadRunners vs. Fresno 7:11PM

Sunday, January 1: RoadRunners vs. Fresno 5PM

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ECHL Stories from December 27, 2005


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