Topeka Trampled By Wild In 5-1 Loss
Published on January 22, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
(TOPEKA, KS) - The Topeka RoadRunners are the number one team in the NAHL, and tough to beat in Landon Arena. The Wenatchee Wild apparently didn't get that memo.
Tuesday nights loss to the expansion Wild was written off as an anomaly. Topeka had a short bench, missing some key players, etc. Surely Wednesday would be a much different story. It was different, alright. It was worse.
As inconceivable as it seemed when the Wild took a 3-0 lead on Tuesday, it was staggering to the RoadRunner faithful to see it happen for a second night in a row. DJ Vandercook scored on a rebound with :21 seconds remaining in the first period to allow the Wild to nab a 1-0 lead, despite Topeka outshooting them 14-5. Mac Carruth was on his game for the second night in a row.
MIdway through the second, Evan Mosey turned a RoadRunner defenseman inside out then made a nifty cut in front of goalie Bryce Merriam. Merriam bit on Mosey's fake, and leaned right while Mosey pulled it back and slipped it behind him for a 2-0 lead. Nick Nagle made it 3-0 later in the period, also on a rebound.
While Topeka felt confident that they possessed the firepower to come back, Wenatchee plugged along, never really looking flashy or even particularly impressive but somehow their own disarray confounded the 'Runners who struggled to adapt. When Brandon Burrell scored a goal from outside the blue line that went right through Merriam's pads for a 4-0 lead, Head Coach Scott Langeropted to put Cooper Frederick in to relieve Merriam. The 'Runners responded :35 seconds later as Bryon Paulazzo redirected a Randy Swank shot for what ended up being Topeka's only goal. Wenatchee got it back less than four minutes later on a goal credited to Nagle for the 5-1 final margin. Tensions mounted and erupted with a brawl that saw 147 penalty minutes assessed, including 2 game ejections with 5:39 left to play. Mac Carruth turned aside 35 shots in picking up his second win in as many nights.
The 'Runners (31-5-4) have Thursday off and face the Fairbanks Ice Dogs (24-8-4) on Friday and Saturday nights. Fairbanks shut out Wichita Falls 3-0 on Wednesday in Texas.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2009
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- Springfield Jr. Blues Shine at Top Prospect Tournament - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Topeka Trampled By Wild In 5-1 Loss - Topeka Pilots
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