Roadrunners Regroup for Playoffs
Published on March 23, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
Not since early November have the Santa Fe Roadrunners Junior A hockey club suffered a shut-out. Tuesday night's 6-0 loss at home in the Genoveva Chavez Community Center to the Texarkana Bandits in the final game of regular season play was the most lopsided loss all season. This game was meaningless in the standings as Texarkana has a firm grip on 2nd place in the South Division with two games remaining and Santa Fe closed out the season squarely in 3rd. Santa Fe had hoped to set the tempo for the opening round of the playoffs set to begin in Santa Fe on Friday, April 1st between the same teams, but instead Coach Langer sees this loss as a wake-up call for the team that could serve to focus the players on what will be required 8 days from now if they want to get past Texarkana.
"We will refocus as a unit. This team has responded all year and I expect no different throughout the next 8 days of preparation," says Langer. "All year this team has had one goal, that is the National Tournament. That has not changed in the slightest. We will be prepared."
On a night that began with a full house and a tribute to Head Coach Scott Langer, the Roadrunners could not put any offense together and couldn't shut down the Bandits offense, going 0 for 5 on the power play while allowing Texarkana to convert on 3 of 6 power play opportunities. Goalie Chris Carlson was credited with the loss, despite being relieved 8 minutes into the 2nd period by fellow net minder Ryan Hatch. Both penalty minutes and shots on goals were fairly even between the teams. Bandit net minder Riley Gill (4th in the league in goals against average) covered almost every puck sent his way, not giving Santa Fe many second chances.
Santa Fe's frustration spilled over into penalty minutes with team captain Andrew Johnson squaring off against Bandit Jake Hanson near the end of the 2nd period; a fight that spawned other players to look for dance partners and ended with Johnson, Hanson, and Bandit Zeke Costello being ejected from the game and âRunner Luke Buetow sitting for ten minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. Johnson's penalty minutes gave him a franchise record for total penalty minutes in the regular season.
Santa Fe begins its playoff run against Texarkana in the best-of-five Division Semi-Finals with home games in Santa Fe Friday, April 1 7:30 pm and Saturday, April 2 7:30 pm. Game 3 of the series will be Friday, April 8th in Texarkana, with Game 4 and 5, if necessary, on Saturday and Sunday. The winner goes on to the best-of-seven Division Finals and battles for a spot in the National Championships to be held April 26-30th between the North, South, and West Division winners and the host Bismarck Bobcats.
Playoff tickets are on sale now for $10 each at the Roadrunner box office, the front desk of the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, the Villa Linda Mall Customer Service Desk, and all Los Alamos National Bank locations.
For more information contact Roadrunners General Manager Bob Pope at 505-469-5200.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2005
- Roadrunners Regroup for Playoffs - Topeka Pilots
- Dog Pound Weekly - Bozeman Icedogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
