'Runners Clobber IceRays to Complete Sweep
Published on February 3, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The Topeka RoadRunners celebrated Groundhog Day by dominating the Corpus Christi Ice Rays in an 8-2 win to close out both a weekend and season sweep. Topeka is 11-0-0 all time against the franchise, including their time as the Alpena IceDiggers.
The RoadRunners got off to a solid start, with Ryan White finishing off a play he started by feeding a pass to Jake Lynes, whose shot was turned aside where Dan Dupell had a swipe at it as well before White came back around to jam it home for the 1-0 lead at 2:33 of the first. Brian Christie scored his second of the series when he pokechecked the puck away from an Ice Ray defenseman and came in alone from the blue line, beating Stolarz through the leg pads for an unassisted shorthanded goal and 2-0 lead at 4:37. The Ice Rays cut the lead in half when Beau Walker tapped in a rebound at 12:45, but the 'Runners answered back less than a minute later as Ben Bahe and Anders Schultz set up Cory Ramsey for a blast at 13:37 and a 3-1 lead that stood at the end of one period.
In the second period, it was only :33 seconds into the frame when Michael Dery instigated a fight with Brian Christie that brought a game ejection along with the 2 minute instigation penalty. It was the first of two fights in the period, the second coming when Richard Young and Brandon Smith scrapped at 6:05. The only goal of the period came at 8:20 as Ryan White went coast to coast before whistling a hard wrister over the glove on Anthony Stolarz for a 4-1 RoadRunner lead.
The most notable fight of the evening came in the third period at 7:05 when Gage Hough dropped the mitts with Danny Fetzer. Hough landed a solid right square on his opponents nose and followed with a strong flurry of overhand rights before the linesmen broke it up. Less than a minute later, Corpus Christi forward Zack Holstrom took a five minute major for a vicious open ice trip on Anders Schultz. On the resulting power play, Ryan White completed the hat trick at 10:06, a sizzling wrist shot low on the glove side to give Topeka a 5-1 lead. The Ice Rays were assessed a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, putting Topeka on a 5-on-3 power play, which brought another goal at 11:40 as Anders Schultz tipped in a Michal Pastorblue line shot for a 6-1 lead. Frustrated, Corpus Christi continued to self destruct as captain Frank Misuraca was penalized for cross checking at 11:25, setting up another 5-on-3 which resulted in Andrew O'Leary burying his 11th of the year at 12:28, a five hole onetimer assisted by Chris Bond and Luke Veitch. Two minutes later, at 14:24, the 'Runners scored yet again as Richard Young set up Sean Gaffney who made a nice move on the right wing, and got a shot off that rebounded to Andrew O'Leary who tucked it away for his second of the night and an 8-1 lead for Topeka. The Ice Rays managed a power play goal with 3:26 left by Eric Purcell to make it 8-2 but that would prove to be the final score as the 'Runners close out their six game homestand with a 5-1-0 record and in second place in the NAHL South. Peter Traber picked up the win, improving to 19-6-0 on the year.
Topeka (30-12-2) begins a six game road trip with a pair of games in Springfield (17-20-2) next Friday and Saturday.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2012
- Amarillo Bulls Beat New Mexico 5-2 to Return to Playoffs - Amarillo Bulls
- Wild Fall in Game 1 - Wenatchee Wild
- Tornado rally back for third straight win - Texas Tornado
- North Stars Acquire Defenseman Cotroneo - Traverse City North Stars
- Monsters Deal Jacks Tight 4-3 Loss - Odessa Jackalopes
- Geoff Fortman Added to South Division Roster for Top Prospects - Amarillo Bulls
- Bobcats Wrap Week with Dakota Cup Tilt - Bismarck Bobcats
- Alexandria's Reid Sturos Wins Combat Hockey NAHL Player of the Month - NAHL
- 'Runners Fend off IceRays in 4-3 Win - Topeka Pilots
- 'Runners Clobber IceRays to Complete Sweep - Topeka Pilots
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