'Runners Triumph again, Clobber Bulls
March 13, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The Amarillo Bulls played as if they had something to prove on Saturday night, but all they proved was they were more focused on things other than playing an honest hockey game and it cost them as Topeka fought through a barrage of injurious tactics to forge a 7-4 win and draw to within a Sunday win of the South Division title.
The first few minutes of the game were the best hockey fans would see on Saturday night in Cal Farley Coliseum as the Bulls played with an intense forecheck and had the RoadRunners scrambling a bit. The Bulls got the first power play chance but Jordan Davis blistered a slapshot past starting netminder Nikifor Szczerba low on his glove side for an unassisted shorthanded tally at 3:28. Amarillo answered on the same power play at 4:04 as Derek Hills fired a shot wide of the net but the lively backboards afforded a sharp rebound that Zack Smoot put in off the leg of Eric Rohrkemper to knot the game at 1-1. Topeka retook the lead when Jacob Poe fed Davey Middleton advancing up the right wing and Middleton spotted Kyle Sharkey headed right up the slot and Sharkey snapped it home through the legs of Szczerba for a 2-1 lead at 7:56. That's when things took a turn for the worse. Bulls forward Brooks Behling delivered a two hand cross check to the face of Michael Hill, dislocating his jaw and dropping him to the ice. Behling received a 5 minute major plus a game ejection and on the ensuing power play, the 'Runners struck three times to open up a huge lead. Jacob Poe muscled his way through all 4 Bulls as he drove the net and flipped the puck past Szczerba to make it 3-1 at 14:05. Davey Middleton jammed home a loose puck in the crease at 15:38 making it 4-1, and Szczerba was pulled in favor of Gregg Gruehl who was victimized quickly by a Jacob Poe blast at 16:34 that picked the top corner glove side for a 5-1 RoadRunner lead that stood at the end of one period. Hill, who had his jaw reset in the locker room by local medical personnel, returned to the game and registered an assist on Poe's second tally.
In the second period, more of the same sideshow antics as the Bulls insisted on a street brawl approach leading to a combined 16 minor penalties, one major, and eleven 10 minute misconducts including 5 more game ejections in the second period alone. Eric Millisor was ejected for punching Brian Christie repeatedly to the back of the head, among other infractions. The ploy paid dividends as Amarillo was able to score twice to cut the Topeka lead to 5-3. The first one came at 13:36 as Dan Sherer put a shot past the blocker of Rohrkemper while 4-on-4, and 1:01 later the Bulls struck again on the power play with Michael Erickson left unattended on the weak side. Topeka's lead was 5-3 after two periods.
Topeka dealt the Amarillo comeback effort a setback when Dan Dupell saucered a perfect pass to Andrew O'Leary who scored at the 2:42 mark of the third period for a 6-3 lead. Penalties were less frequent in the final frame though the chippy play continued. When Joe Kozlak of Amarillo drove Brian Christie headfirst into the boards with a cross check across the lower back at the 9:13 mark, Andrew O'Leary responded by fighting Kozlak earning each player a 5 minute penalty to go with Kozlak's minor. Topeka added another power play goal at 16:17 as Trevor Campbell launched a missile from the right point for a 7-3 lead. Amarillo added a meaningless late power goal at 17:49, with T.J. Sarcona finishing a nice pass from Cody Freeman for the final 7-4 margin. In all, the teams combined for 202 penalty minutes. Eric Rohrkemper picked up the win with 27 saves, improving to 18-2-3 this season.
Topeka (41-9-3) can clinch the South Division title with a win over Amarillo (34-12-5) on Sunday when the teams meet for the 10th time this season. Faceoff is set for 6:00 pm. Topeka has won the last four in a row over the Bulls and lead them by 12 points in the standings. The game will be broadcast online at countrylegends1069.com, and available on pay-per-view at FASTHockey.com. Next weekend, the RoadRunners return home to kick off a four game homestand to close out the regular season.
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North American Hockey League Stories from March 13, 2011
- Rivard's Late Goal Gives Stars 2-1 Win - Traverse City North Stars
- Bulls Look To Return To Win Column - Amarillo Bulls
- 'Runners Triumph again, Clobber Bulls - Topeka Pilots
- How Sweet It Is - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Wild Wins Outdoor Game: Complete Sweep of Ice Dogs - Wenatchee Wild
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