NAHL North American Hockey League

Sweep For Santa Fe

February 13, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release


The Santa Fe RoadRunners finally got a crack at St. Louis last weekend and they didn't disappoint, skating to a three-game sweep over the South Division leaders.

"We were certainly fired up at having a chance to measure against the top team in the division," said RoadRunners coach Scott Langer, whose team improved to 30-11-4. "We proved that intensity by scoring goals within the first couple minutes of each game."

On Thursday, the RoadRunners opened up a 3-0 lead in the first period en route to a 4-3 victory. Corey Jendras and Tibor Kutalek each scored a goal and an assist, with Thomas Kleidon netting the game-winner. Between the pipes, Nick Hopper turned aside 23 shots.

The next night, Santa Fe skated to a 3-2 shootout win over the Bandits. Cody Omilusik and Josh Kamrass (pictured left) scored in regulation for the RoadRunners, with Alex Laseen and Jason Krispel lighting the lamp in the shootout. Bryce Merriam stopped 31 shots and all four in the shootout.

The RoadRunners capped off their first three-game home sweep in franchise history with a 5-2 win over St. Louis on Saturday. Kutalek struck for two more goals, while Kamrass added a goal and an assist. Andrew Kappers and Krispel each chipped in two assists, while Hopper made 25 saves.

"Our goaltending came up big, and we played solid hockey for 60 minutes each night, which is the only way you can beat a quality team like St. Louis," said Langer.

Hopper and Merriam, both college hopefuls, have been nothing shot of exceptional for the RoadRunners all season long.

"No coach could ask for more from a pair of goalies," said Langer. "They work well together, they push each other and they're driven to win. Both of these guys are incredible young men off the ice as well and will certainly benefit their college programs in years to come."

With 30 goals on the season - second most in the league behind Fairbanks' Kyle Schmidt - Kutalek continues to assert himself as one of the league's top offensive threats.

"He's a leader," said Langer. "He can energize the bench and the crowd and his enthusiasm for the game is contagious."

Kamrass has also evolved as a go-to guy offensively.

"Josh is a guy who has blossomed from a promising vet to a legitimate scoring threat," said Langer. "When the team needs a big goal, I want him on the ice."

Defensively, unassuming Rafael Rodriguez continues to make solid contributions on a nightly basis, most times keeping the opposition off the scoresheet.

Newcomers Laseen, Jendras and Jonathon Milhouse have bolstered the RoadRunners' depth upfront, while Krispel and Omilusik continue to flex their versatility.

"Not just on their regular shifts, but on both special-team units as well," Langer said of the pair.

After stumbling out of the blocks after Christmas losing four straight games, Santa Fe has now won seven of its last nine. It doesn't get any easier for the RoadRunners, as they play 12 of their last 17 games on the road, including a five-game swing through Alaska to end the regular season.

"The confidence and belief in ourselves that we had in the first half of the season is back," said Langer. "As long as we stay healthy, we should be fine."

STANDINGS/LEADERS

North Division

TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA

Mahoning Valley 47 36-10-1 73 .777 213 122

Alpena 47 30-15-2 62 .660 176 142

Marquette 46 18-24-4 40 .435 136 163

Traverse City 49 17-27-5 39 .398 149 209

USNTDP 42 15-23-4 34 .405 130 153

South Division

TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA

St. Louis 47 34-10-3 71 .755 172 108

Santa Fe 45 30-11-4 64 .711 151 102

Texas 47 28-14-5 61 .649 157 133

Fairbanks 47 26-19-2 54 .574 177 163

Wichita Falls 46 17-24-5 39 .424 129 160

Alaska 45 12-28-5 29 .322 112 172

Central Division

TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA

Fargo-Moorhead 46 31-12-3 65 .707 178 143

So. Minnesota 50 28-19-3 59 .590 159 141

Springfield 49 21-24-4 46 .469 139 150

Bismarck 49 19-24-6 44 .449 149 180

North Iowa 46 18-23-5 41 .446 131 164

Alexandria 46 19-26-1 39 .424 125 155

LEADING SCORERS

PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS

Maroon, Pat STL F 44 27 46 73

Rudasill, Todd ALP F 47 25 47 72

Echternach, Jesse FMH F 45 29 40 69

Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 47 39 26 65

Connolly, Chris FMH F 46 18 45 63

Shean, Joe FBX F 47 17 44 61

Cloutier, Dustin MVY 38 28 29 57

Haddad, Nick FBX F 47 23 31 54

Pierson, Drew ALP F 47 23 31 54

Craner, Nolan ALP F 44 19 35 54

LEADING GOALTENDERS

PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT

Hopper, Nick SFE 37 2134:27 23-9-3 2.05 .911

Nagle, Pat STL 27 1612:13 19-5-3 2.05 .929

Zapolski, Ryan MVY 42 2457:02 34-7-1 2.27 .929

Tragust, Thomas TXS 40 2262:19 23-10-5 2.52 .904

Clark, Jay NIO 18 971:40 7-8-2 2.59 .912

GOALS

PLAYER TEAM P GP G

Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 47 39

Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 43 30

Echternach, Jesse FMH F 45 29

ASSISTS

PLAYER TEAM P GP A

Rudasill, Todd ALP F 47 47

Maroon, Pat STL F 44 46

Connolly, Chris FMH F 46 45

PENALTY MINUTES

PLAYER TEAM P GP PIM

Flink, Adam TXS F 41 185

Belanger, Neeco MAR F 46 177

Yovanic, Paul TXS F 40 153

Weight, Kutalek, Matilla named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Marquette forward Nic Weight rang up six goals and one assist last weekend as the Rangers fashioned a 1-2 record against Traverse City. On Friday, the 19-year-old registered two goals in a 5-3 loss. The next night, Weight scored a goal as the Rangers fell to Traverse City, 3-2. On Sunday, the Eagle River, Wis., native recorded a hat trick, including the shorthanded game-winner, and an assist in Marquette's 7-4 triumph.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Santa Fe forward Tibor Kutalek struck for three goals and two assists last weekend as the RoadRunners completed a three-game sweep of South Division-leading St. Louis. On Thursday, the 20-year-old scored a goal in Santa Fe's 4-3 victory. The next night, Kutalek registered an assist as Santa Fe downed the Bandits in a shootout, 3-2. On Saturday, the Skilca, Slovakia, native tallied two goals as the RoadRunners skated to a 5-2 win.

CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Springfield forward Troy Mattila scored four goals in three games last weekend as the Jr. Blues skated to a 2-1 record. On Thursday, the 19-year-old scored two goals, including the game-winner, in Springfield's 4-1 win over Wichita Falls. After being held scoreless the next night - a 2-1 defeat to Texas - the New York Islanders draft pick from Rockford, Ill., scored both goals in the Jr. Blues 2-1 win over the Tornado.

HONORABLE MENTION: Alpena goaltender Shawn Hunwick; Bismarck forward Colin Hoey and goaltender Tim Krystosek; Mahoning Valley goaltender Ryan Zapolski; Southern Minnesota forward Scott Kozlak and defenseman Robby Spalding; Springfield goaltender Adam Roy; Texas forward Stephane De Costa and defenseman Colin Long

LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, February 8

St. Louis 3 @ Santa Fe 4 (SF: Kutalek, G, A)

Springfield 4 @ Wichita Falls 1 (SPR: Mattila, G, GWG)

Friday, February 9

Fargo-Moorhead 4 @ Fairbanks 3 (SO) (FM: DeZellar, G, SOG)

Springfield 2 @ Texas 3 (TEX: Flink, GWG)

So. Minnesota 4 @ Bismarck 3 (SM: Spalding, G, GWG, A)

Alexandria 3 @ North Iowa 1 (ALX: Galiardi, GWG)

St. Louis 2 @ Santa Fe 3 (SO) (SF: Laseen, G, SOG, A)

Mahoning Valley 4 @ Alpena 2 (MV: Fairbanks, G, 2A)

Traverse City 5 @ Marquette 3 (TC: Niemann, G, GWG)

Saturday, February 10

Fargo-Moorhead 4 @ Fairbanks 5 (SO) (FBX: Schmidt, 2G)

Springfield 2 @ Texas 1 (SPR: Matilla, G, GWG)

So. Minnesota 2 @ Bismarck 3 (SO) (BIS: Robert, 2G, SOG)

Alexandria 3 @ North Iowa 2 (SO) (ALX: Gottsacker, G, SOG)

St. Louis 2 @ Santa Fe 5 (SF: Kutalek, 2G)

Mahoning Valley 2 @ Alpena 1 (MV: Snead-Cloutier, 2A)

Traverse City 3 @ Marquette 2 (TC: Nagorsen, GWG, A)

Sunday, February 11

Southern Minnesota 3 @ Alexandria 2 (SM: Carlson, GWG, A)

Fargo-Moorhead 6 @ Fairbanks 2 (FM: Moreland, 2G, GWG, A)

Traverse City 4 @ Marquette 7 (MAR: Weight, 2G, GWG, A)

AROUND THE NAHL

RINGEL COMMITS TO NOTRE DAME: Mahoning Valley defenseman Eric Ringel, 16, has committed to the University of Notre Dame (CCHA) for either the fall of 2008 or 2009. On the season, the Hinckley, Ohio, native has nine goals and 18 points after 37 games.

SELLERS TO AIR FORCE: Second-year Springfield defenseman Brad Sellers, 19, has committed to the United States Air Force Academy (Atlantic Hockey) for next season. The Centennial, Colo., native has three goals for 19 points after 46 games this year.

U-17'S STRIKE GOLD: For the second straight year, the U.S. National Under-17 Team won the Under-18 Vlad Dzurilla Tournament - this year held in Slovakia - finishing with a 1-0-2 record (four points). "I'm really proud of the kids' performance over the course of this event against such solid competition," said U.S. coach John Hynes.

ALUM COPS CCHA HONOR: Western Michigan University goaltender Riley Gill (Texarkana-St. Louis, 2003-06) was named the CCHA Rookie of the Week after backstopping the Broncos to two wins over Alaska-Fairbanks last weekend.

A WIN-WIN: Mahoning Valley goaltender Ryan Zapolski, 20, backstopped the Phantoms to two wins over Alpena last weekend, stopping 66 of 69 shots. The Mercyhurst College recruit leads all NAHL goaltenders with 34 victories.

LONG STANDING TALL: Defenseman Colin Long, 19, is impressing along the Texas blue line. "He's playing as good as anyone right now," said Tornado coach-GM Tony Curtale. "He' making great decisions and has stepped nicely into a veteran leadership role."

HELPING HAND: In addition to his goal in Friday's 4-3 win over Bismarck Southern Minnesota forward Scott Kozlak, a 20-year-old from Duluth, Minn., registered five assists in three games for the Express last weekend.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, February 14

Marquette @ Alpena, 7:00 pm

Thursday, February 15

Santa Fe @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm

Friday, February 16

Fairbanks @ Alaska, 7:30 pm

Texas @ Springfield, 7:30 pm

North Iowa @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm

Santa Fe @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm

Alpena @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm

Bismarck @ Marquette, 7:00 pm

Saturday, February 17

Fairbanks @ Alaska, 7:30 pm

Traverse City @ St. Louis, 7:30 pm

Alexandria @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:05 pm

North Iowa @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm

Santa Fe @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm

Alpena @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm

Bismarck @ Marquette, 7:00 pm

Texas @ Springfield, 7:00 pm

Sunday, February 18

Traverse City @ St. Louis, 6:00 pm

Alexandria @ North Iowa, 5:00 pm

Alpena @ USNTDP, 3:00 pm

(all times local)

Check out the North American Hockey League Statistics



North American Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central