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Winds of Change

March 13, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


Phoenix, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD: 1-3-0 - SEASON RECORD: 19-37-3 - 6th WEST DIVISION

‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners opened the week with a strong victory over the Stockton Thunder Tuesday at US Airways Center to snap a six-game losing streak, but couldn't keep the momentum going as they dropped their next three games to Stockton, Bakersfield, and Fresno. Officially eliminated from ECHL playoff contention, the RoadRunners only sit four points behind the fifth place Victoria Salmon Kings in the West Division standings.

Tuesday, Brad Woods scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal with just under nine minutes left in regulation and the Phoenix RoadRunners snapped a six-game losing streak by defeating the Stockton Thunder 2-1 before 4,134 at US Airways Center.

After a scoreless first period, Adam Kostichka gave the RoadRunners (19-34-3) the opening lead. Kostichka spun out to the left-wing circle and fired a wrist shot over Stockton goaltender Jake Moreland's left pad at 11:55 on the power play for a 1-0 advantage.

Stockton (10-34-11) netted the equalizer with a power play goal at 9:12 of the third period. Kevin Gardner re-directed Geno Parrish's shot from the center blue line past RoadRunners net-minder Mike Mole to tie the game at 1-1. But the RoadRunners would have the final say 2:16 seconds later as Justin Quenneville from the right-wing circle found an open Woods charging down the slot, and Woods slapped the puck through Moreland's pads at 11:28 for the game-winner.

Phoenix out-shot Stockton 42-34. Mole stopped 33 shots to improve to 15-25-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-3 on the power play while Stockton was 1-4 on the man-advantage.

Wednesday, Joel Irwin, Nathan Martz, and Kevin Gardner each tallied a pair of goals and added an assist to lead the Stockton Thunder to a 7-1 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,002 at US Airways Center.

Stockton (11-34-11) opened the scoring at 10:11 of the first period with the RoadRunners on the power play. Mike Lalonde took the puck off a Phoenix turnover inside the blue line and fired a shot from the left-wing circle. The puck bounced off RoadRunners goaltender Ryan Cyr's glove, trickled towards the net, and was tipped in by Nathan Martz to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. Kevin Gardner extended the lead to 2-0 with a power play goal at 13:05. Gardner collected the loose puck in the slot and slapped the puck through Cyr's pads for the tally. Joel Irwin gave the Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead when he drove around a RoadRunners defenseman and tucked the puck under Cyr at 19:12 of the first.

Phoenix (19-35-3) got off to a good start in the second period by scoring a shorthanded goal just 2:55 in. Jake Riddle stripped Lance Monych of the puck at the RoadRunners blue line, broke in alone on Stockton goaltender Jake Moreland, and beat Moreland with a wrist shot over the glove to cut the deficit to 3-1. But the Thunder would counter with two quick goals. Off another RoadRunners turnover, Mike Lalonde fired a slap shot from the right-wing circle over Cyr's blocker and into the net at 11:42 to give the Thunder their three-goal lead back at 4-1. Gardner made it a 5-1 advantage with his second goal of the evening at 15:22 of the period.

Gardner and Irwin added two more goals for the Thunder at 1:41 and 10:02 of the third period to wrap up the scoring.

Stockton out-shot Phoenix 52-31. Cyr stopped 29 saves before being relieved in the second period by Mike Mole. Cyr's record falls to 0-8-0. The RoadRunners went 0-4 on the power play while Stockton was 1-6 on the man-advantage.

Friday, Kevin St. Jacques, Brad Mehalko, and Dave Bonk each recorded multiple-point games to lead the Bakersfield Condors to a 4-1 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 6,873 at Rabobank Arena.

Bakersfield (29-21-5) opened the scoring with a power play goal at 14:22 of the first period. Brian Collins ripped a slap shot from the high slot that beat a screened RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole to give the Condors a 1-0 lead.

Joe Dusbabek netted the equalizer for the RoadRunners (19-36-3) just 4:25 into the second period. On a two-man advantage power play, Dusbabek whipped a shot from the left-wing circle off Bakersfield goaltender Ryan Munce's body and into the net to tie the game at 1-1. But the Condors would counter with another power play goal to close the period. Mehalko collected Kevin Truelson's rebound off the boards to the weak side of the net and slipped the puck past Mole at 18:14 for the tally to give Bakersfield a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

Bonk extended the lead to 3-1 as he finished off a two-on-one pass from Mehalko at 9:21 of the third. St. Jacques capped the scoring with a backhander from the slot at 11:48.

Bakersfield out-shot Phoenix 40-35. Mole stopped 36 shots but fell to 15-26-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-7 on the power play while the Condors were 2-5 on the man advantage.

Saturday, the Fresno Falcons built an early 3-0 lead and held on to knock off the Phoenix RoadRunners 3-2 before 5,266 at the Save Mart Center in ECHL action Saturday.

Fresno (35-11-11) struck quickly with a pair of goals 54 seconds apart in the opening two minutes of the game. Shawn Mather won a face-off back to Fraser Clair outside the right-wing circle and Clair snapped a wrist shot by RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole just 29 seconds into the contest to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Clair returned the favor at the 1:23 on the power play when he found a cutting Mather in the slot who slipped the puck by Mole along the ice to extend the lead to 2-0 early.

Rob McFeeters gave the Falcons a 3-0 cushion at 8:49 of the second period before the RoadRunners (19-37-3) finally woke up. On a four-minute power play, Kevin Ulanski tipped the puck to Dean Tiltgen in front of the net, and Tiltgen flipped it past Falcons goaltender Brett Jaeger at 12:09 on the power play to cut the deficit to 3-1. Joe Dusbabek brought Phoenix back to within a single goal when he slammed home Ulanski's rebound from just inside the left-wing circle at 15:43, but that's as close as the RoadRunners would get.

The RoadRunners out-shot Fresno 31-25. Mole stopped 22 shots but fell to 15-27-2. Phoenix and Fresno were each 1-6 on the power play.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: With the decision made to begin building for next season, the RoadRunners began disassembling their current roster last week. Phoenix sent forward Ben Knopp and defenseman Dave Cousineau to the Long Beach Ice Dogs in exchange for rookie forward Kevin Ulanski, defenseman Nathan Horne, and future considerations. Ulanski tallied six goals and 18 points in 51 games with Long Beach after recording 33 goals and 112 points in 151 games at Denver University. He made his presence felt immediately with a pair of assists in Saturday's loss. Horne also collected his first assist in a Phoenix uniform Saturday after notching one assist in 25 games with the Ice Dogs. The RoadRunners also dealt forward Jean-Francois Soucy and defenseman Shaun Fisher to the San Diego Gulls in exchange for forward Patrick Levesque and future considerations. Levesque had five goals and 15 points in 35 games with the Gulls. He also played in six games at the start of the season with the Bakersfield Condors. Knopp, Cousineau, Soucy, and Fisher combined for 25 goals and 48 assists with the RoadRunners this season.

HELLO AGAIN: The RoadRunners also welcomed back defenseman John Fieweger this past weekend. The rookie made the Phoenix roster out of training camp and played in five games before he was released. Fieweger has had stints this season with Tulsa of the Central Hockey League and Jacksonville of the Southern Professional Hockey League. He collected 11 assists in 22 games with Jacksonville.

FIRST PERIOD BLUES: Phoenix has not scored a first period goal in their last 10 games. The last time the RoadRunners scored in the opening period was when former defenseman Dave Cousineau found the back of the net as time expired on February 21 against Utah. Since then, Phoenix has been out-scored 12-0 in the opening 20 minutes. The RoadRunners have scored the fewest first period goals (30) of any team in the ECHL this season and are being outscored 64-30 out of the gate.

CHASING 500: RoadRunners Captain Dean Tiltgen is just three games shy of 500 for his professional career. He's expected to play his 500th game this Friday at Bakersfield. When he plays his 500th game, he'll become the first player in the ECHL to record his 400th point and play in his 500th game in the same season since Stefan Rivard accomplished the feat back in the 2003-04 season as a member of the now-defunct Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. Tiltgen recorded his 400th point earlier this season with an assist on December 31 vs. Fresno. He's also the only player on the RoadRunners roster to play in all 59 games this season.

UPCOMING ROADRUNNERS PROMOTIONS: The RoadRunners welcome the Las Vegas Wranglers to US Airways Center at 7:11PM on Tuesday and Thursday.

Tuesday, join the RoadRunners and Radio Disney AM 1580 for a for a Junior St. Paddy's Day Celebration. Radio Disney performers "RD Frequency" will perform outside on the US Airways Center Plaza from 6PM-7:15PM and on the ice during the first intermission while playing games and handing out great prizes throughout the evening.

Thursday, it's the final installment of the RoadRunners season-long "Past Greats" series as Phoenix honors former player, coach, and general manager Adam Keller. The first 2,000 fans will receive a voucher good for a commemorative Adam Keller pint glass upon exiting the arena. The RoadRunners will also host another "Thirsty Thursday" presented by Alice Cooper'stown. Head to Cooper'stown located behind US Airways Center after the RoadRunners lasso the Wranglers and enjoy pints of Bud and Bud Light for just $3, the "Best Damn Margarita" for only $4 and other great drink specials throughout the night.

Save the date on Wednesday, April 5 as the RoadRunners host their first annual "Celebrity Waiters" event at Alice Cooper'stown located on Jackson Street behind US Airways Center. RoadRunners players will be all hands on deck as they serve your favorite Cooper'stown meals beginning at 7:30PM!

For more information or to order tickets, call (602) 462-GOAL.

WATCH THE ‘RUNNERS LIVE IN '05-06: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2005-06. RoadRunners fans will be able to click the "Watch Online" link at www.phxroadrunners.com to view and listen to the game. These broadcasts are available to fans for a charge of $6 per game. All 36 RoadRunners home broadcasts will be available in addition to over 25 road games in Alaska, Idaho, Pensacola, Las Vegas, San Diego, Utah, and Bakersfield. A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

UP NEXT: The RoadRunners will play four games in five nights for a second consecutive week. Phoenix hosts Las Vegas at 7:11PM Tuesday and Thursday from US Airways Center, and plays a two-game series at Bakersfield at 8PM MST Friday and Saturday from Rabobank Arena. Catch all four games live on News Talk Radio 1100AM KFNX and Pro Sports Radio beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

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