'Runners Back over .500 with Road Sweep
October 3, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The Topeka RoadRunners spent a week in some unfamiliar territory, dipping below the .500 mark for only the second time in 6 years, but rebounded with a weekend sweep in Wichita Falls, capped with a 5-1 win on Sunday afternoon. One of the two spans lasted less than 24 hours after dropping the first game of the year at the Showcase in 2009, then rebounding with a pair of wins. The last time before that was the 2005-06 season which ended below .500, the only season the 'Runners have failed to qualify for the playoffs.
After trading leads in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win, Topeka eliminated the guesswork, pumping in three first period goals in a span of just 2:42 and never looking back. Ryan White scored first at 14:26 with a sharp wrister high glove side for the 1-0 lead. Ryan Doucet redirected aKevin Patterson slapshot up while moving through the slot at 16:56 and then just :12 seconds later, Dan Dupell fired a perfect crossing pass to Ryan White who directed it home for a 3-0 lead at 17:08.
The second period was a scoreless one, and in the third Topeka added another tally just :15 seconds in, with Robbie Davis flipping a shot in short side along the goal line to the goalies right, set up by Kyle Sharkey. The Wildcats got on the scoreboard with a 5-on-3 power play goal from Dennis Kravchenko at 13:05 but Kyle Sharkey made it 5-1 at 18:45 with a slick power play backhander under the crossbar for the final margin. Eric Rohrkemper turned aside 35 of 36 shots in a solid performance.
Topeka (4-3-1) and Wichita Falls (2-5-1) get right back after it this weekend as the 'Runners play their only two home games of the month on Friday and Saturday.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2011
- DeAugustine's Road Heroics Earn Three Stars Award - Bismarck Bobcats
- 'Runners Back over .500 with Road Sweep - Topeka Pilots
- 'Runners Pick up Road Win in OT - Topeka Pilots
- Monsters Weekly - Fresno Monsters
- NAHL Announces 3 Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Topeka Takes Two - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Warriors Hold off Shot-Happy North Stars - Traverse City North Stars
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