RoadRunners, Teddy Bear Toss A Sweeping Success

Published on November 27, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 1-0-0 - SEASON RECORD 9-7-0 - 2ND WEST DIVISION

'RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners captured their second straight home over the Long Beach Ice Dogs with an 8-2 victory Saturday at US Airways Center in their lone game of the week. With a record of 9-7-0 and 18 points, the RoadRunners are currently second in the West Division and tied for fourth overall in the National Conference. Phoenix is six points behind division leader Idaho and seven points behind conference leader Las Vegas with a game in hand on the Wranglers. The top eight teams in the National Conference advance to the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Saturday, center Olivier Latendresse tallied a pair of goals in his debut while Scott May and Brett Smith each scored two goals as well to lift the Phoenix RoadRunners to an 8-2 victory over the Long Beach Ice Dogs before 5,609 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Saturday.

Latendresse got the scoring started with the first of his two power play goals at 3:25 of the opening period. Latendresse re-directed Justin Aikins' shot from the point past Long Beach goaltender Mike Brown to give the RoadRunners (9-7-0) a 1-0 lead. Phoenix would increase their lead to 2-0 as Latendresse's dump-in to the corner deflected off an Ice Dogs' stick and by goaltender Brown at 8:51 of the first also on the power play.

Cam Paddock made it a 3-0 hockey game when he ripped a slap shot to the short side over Brown's right shoulder at 2:12 of the second period. Long Beach (4-10-2) finally would crack the scoreboard as T.J. Trevelyan stuffed home his eighth goal of the season at 3:29 on the power play, but the RoadRunners would reclaim their three-goal lead back as Aikins deflected the puck over to May who lifted a backhand shot past Brown at 14:16 to make it 4-1 after two periods.

May netted his second goal of the game at 3:13 of the third on the power play to open a four-goal period for the RoadRunners. Jake Ortmeyer gave Phoenix a 6-1 lead as he beat back-up goaltender Adam Hanna on in replace of Brown with a shot from the center blue line at 9:32. Smith would score consecutive goals for the RoadRunners at 9:53 even strength and 13:45 on the power play to make it 8-1. Trevelyan capped the scoring for Long Beach with his second goal of the game at 18:26. The game was marred by a slew of penalties as the clubs combined for a season-high 143 penalty minutes, 79 of which occurred after the game had officially ended.

Phoenix and Long Beach each recorded 30 shots on goal. RoadRunners' goaltender Cody Rudkowsky made 28 saves to improve to 1-1-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 4-8 on the power play while Long Beach was 1-6.

TEDDY BEAR TOSS A SUCCESS: With a season-high crowd of 5,609 on hand at US Airways Center, the RoadRunners second annual "Teddy Bear Toss" garnered more than 700 teddy bears. All teddy bears collected will be donated to the families of Maricopa County Head Start just in time for the holiday season.

RECORDS ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN: The RoadRunners set several ECHL club records Saturday with eight goals, 15 assists, and 23 total points recorded. Phoenix also netted a season-high four power play goals, and has now recorded a power play goal in a club-record seven consecutive games.

MAY DAY: Center Scott May collected a career-high four points Saturday with two goals and two assists against Long Beach. May becomes the second RoadRunner this season joining Cam Paddock to notch four points in a single game. Paddock scored a goal and added a career-high three assists in the RoadRunners' 6-5 shootout win over Las Vegas on Nov. 14. Meanwhile, May has torched the Ice Dogs this season for four goals and eight points in five games.

DANDY DEBUT: Center Olivier Latendresse enjoyed a fine ECHL debut with the RoadRunners Saturday notching a pair of power play goals. It was Latendresse's first multi-goal game of his young professional career. Latendresse was assigned by the RoadRunners NHL affiliate, the Phoenix Coyotes, from San Antonio of the American Hockey League prior to Saturday's game. Latendresse finished fourth in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring race last season with 41 goals and 125 points last season in 70 games with Val-d'Or.

NEWS & NOTES: Rookie defenseman Brian Yandle is currently riding a career-high three-game point streak. Yandle leads all RoadRunners' rookies in scoring with three goals and eight points...Third-year pro Brett Smith recorded his first three-point game of the season Saturday with two goals and an assist...The RoadRunners wrapped up a stretch of 13 straight games against the Pacific Division with a record of 7-6-0. Phoenix will return to divisional play this week as they host the Utah Grizzlies for a pair of contests Tuesday and Thursday. The RoadRunners are 2-1-0 against the West Division.

WATCH THE 'RUNNERS LIVE IN '06-07: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2006-07. 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, Las Vegas, Stockton, Utah, and Bakersfield. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners will wrap up their four-game homestand by welcoming the Utah Grizzlies to US Airways Center for a two-game series Tuesday and Thursday at 7:11 p.m. Thursday marks the first Thirsty Thursday of the season presented by Alice Cooper'stown. Visit Alice Cooper'stown following the game for a wide array of drink specials including $4 Corozon Margaritas and $3 Shiner Bock Pints. Doors open both nights at 6:00 p.m. Phoenix will conclude the week by traveling to Fresno Saturday to battle the Falcons at 8:35 p.m. from the Save Mart Center. Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" 20 minutes prior to face-off. Individual game tickets for the 2006-07 regular season start as low $7 in the lower section and can be purchased at the US Airways Center Box Office and at all Ticketmaster outlets including Ticketmaster.com. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

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ECHL Stories from November 27, 2006


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