RoadRunners Rout Salmon Kings 7-1
October 18, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Phoenix RoadRunners opened up the 2008-2009 ECHL season with a bang in front of 4,434 fans as Matt Fornataro had two goals and an assist to help lead the team to a 7-1 win over the Victoria Salmon Kings Friday night at U.S. Airways Center.
The RoadRunners (1-0-0) opened up scoring on a power play at 12:12 of the first period when Rory Rawlyk centered a pass to Ashton Rome who scored from the slot. Fornataro had the other assist as Phoenix took a 1-0 lead.
The Salmon Kings (0-1-0) tied the game at 17:26 when Sean O'Connor scored right after a face-off from the right circle. Shaun Landolt and Tim Wedderburn had the assists as Victoria evened up the game going into the first intermission.
"We were jittery at the start of the game but then we settled in," said Head Coach and GM Brad Church, who is in his second season with the RoadRunners. "Craig (Kowalski) made some really big saves early in the game and that's what kept us in it."
Mitch Carefoot showed the Salmon Kings he was in it 29 seconds into the second period with a goal from Kimbi Daniels to give Phoenix a 2-1 lead. Fornataro scored his first goal of the game 5-hole on Victoria goalie Jonathan Boutin at 13:20 of the second from the right circle off a pass from Rome as the RoadRunners took a 3-1 lead. Less than two minutes later Fornataro scored again, this time unassisted as he stole the puck from a Salmon King defender.
"He had a strong game," Church said of Fornataro, adding that it's good to see a first year player step up so early in the season. "He still has things to learn, but it's good to see him respond in the first game of the season."
Phoenix winger Colin Sinclair finished off scoring in the second period when he scored a 4-on-4 goal off a pass from Rawlyk. Gino Guyer had the other assist as the RoadRunners went up 5-1 heading into the locker room.
At 7:42 of the third period Sinclair scored his second of the game as he banked the puck of the back of Boutin. Wes Clark and Guyer set up the play that gave the RoadRunners a commanding 6-1 lead. Daniel Sisca capped off scoring at 11:27 when he took a pass from Daniels and scored glove-side on Boutin, making the final score 7-1 Phoenix.
Kowalski had 40 saves on 41 shots in his debut with the RoadRunners. Boutin had 22 saves on 29 shots while backup Todd Ford had two saves on two shots after replacing Boutin at 11:27 of the third.
The RoadRunners continue their six-game home-stand at 7:05 p.m. Saturday as they welcome the Victoria Salmon Kings to US Airways Center.
Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.
ECHL Stories from October 18, 2008
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