Rodriguez plays big for Roadrunners
Published on March 25, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
Eighteen year-old Rafael "Raffy" Rodriguez from Oceanside, California started playing ice hockey only four years ago, but his natural ability and the skills he developed playing roller hockey have helped him shine on defense since joining the Santa Fe Roadrunners Junior A hockey club in January. At 5'8" and 175 pounds is not a big player, but his quick-thinking and skilled play make him dangerous for opposing teams. Rodriguez finished the regular season with 9 points (1 goal, 8 assists), despite joining the team mid-season.
Rodriguez started the season with the top Midget AAA team in the country, the LA Selects, where he was scouted by the Roadrunners while playing against the Jr Dallas Stars. Before the Roadrunners could acquire him, he was picked up by the Tier I Junior A Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League in December. After not seeing much ice time in the USHL, Rodriguez came to Santa Fe in January.
Southern California, with beaches and warm weather, couldn't be more different from Santa Fe, New Mexico, especially this year when the Santa Fe Ski Area boasts a 127-inch base. Rodriguez has had to get used to driving in the snow and the constantly-changing mountain weather. While not being near the beach is a definite downside, Rodriguez has had lots of playing time on the ice since his arrival. He also has teammate Brian Cowell, another roller hockey alum from California, to help cushion the culture shock.
"The team has been great. They welcomed me in as one of their own from the beginning," said Rodriguez. "The USHL is a lot more of a finesse league, whereas the NAHL has more physical play so I had to adjust when I joined the team." His teammates have had to adjust as well by looking for the precision passes that Raffy regularly delivers. "Rafael is not a big kid, but he skates exceptionally well and has a real good stick on him," said Roadrunners Coach Scott Langer, "and he has added depth to our blueline."
Santa Fe finished third in the South Division of the NAHL and begins its playoff run against Texarkana in the best-of-five Division Semi-Finals with home games in Santa Fe Friday, April 1st at 7:30 pm and Saturday, April 2nd at 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.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2005
- Rodriguez plays big for Roadrunners - Topeka Pilots
- Bozeman vs. Helena tomorrow - Bozeman Icedogs
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