ROADRUNNERS TO
CEASE OPERATIONS AT CONCLUSION OF 2008-09 YEAR

Phoenix Continues Four-Game Set at Idaho at 6:10 p.m. Friday 

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, a proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks and the Worcester Sharks, announced today that they have informed the ECHL Board of Governors that they will cease operations at the conclusion of the 2008-09 playing season.   

“On behalf of the RoadRunners, I would like to thank all of the loyal season ticket holders, marketing partners, and fans that have supported our team over the past four seasons,” said Ben Weber, Vice President of Business Operations.

 Owned and operated by the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the RoadRunners returned to the ice as a member of the ECHL in 2005-06 and advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs in 2007.

 The RoadRunners were eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday following a 3-2 loss at Idaho. 

 The RoadRunners continue a season-ending four-game series against the Idaho Steelheads at 6:10 p.m. Friday at Qwest Arena in Boise.  Catch all the action on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 6:00 p.m. 

 For more information, contact the Phoenix RoadRunners offices at (602) 462-GOAL.

ROADRUNNERS RALLY PAST REIGN 4-2
 Phoenix Opens Two-Game Set at Utah at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday

 ONTARIO, Calif. – The Phoenix RoadRunners erased a 2-1 deficit with three third period goals and defeated the Ontario Reign 4-2 to set a new ECHL franchise record for single season victories before a sell-out crowd of 9, 644 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in ECHL action Saturday.

 Following a scoreless first period, Ontario (35-27-5) struck for two quick goals in the first four minutes of the second to take a 2-0 lead.  Bud Holloway punched home a power play goal through RoadRunners’ goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu at 2:44 of the period for a 1-0 advantage.  Mike Howe extended the Reign’s lead to two just 1:03 seconds later when he put back Tim Kraus’s rebound by an out-stretched Beckford-Tseu at 3:47.  The RoadRunners responded with a power play goal from Jim Jorgensen with 13.6 seconds remaining in the period to cut the deficit to 2-1 heading into the second intermission.

 Phoenix (28-32-5) quickly turned that one goal deficit into a one goal lead getting a pair of goals 28 seconds apart in the sixth minute of the third period.  Daniel Sisca netted the equalizer when his wrist shot from the right-wing circle caromed off the blocker of Reign goalie Linden Rowat, making his professional debut, and trickled into the back of the net at 5:06 of the third.  Michael Cohen scored off the ensuing face-off leading a three-on-two rush up ice and snapping the puck past Rowat’s blocker and in at 5:34 to give the RoadRunners a 3-2 lead and a lead they would not relinquish.  Jeremy Swanson added a shorthanded goal with a delayed penalty against Ontario in effect at 15:40 of the third to cap off the scoring. 

 Ontario out-shot Phoenix 36-27.  Beckford-Tseu stopped 34 shots to pick up the win and improve to 2-5-2 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 1-7 on the power play while Ontario was 1-7 with the man-advantage. 

 Notes: Phoenix pulled within seven points of idle fourth place Utah in the West Division with two games in hand and two head-to-head match-ups next week…The 28 wins surpassed the club’s previous single season record win total of 27 set back in 2006-07…The RoadRunners concluded their inaugural season series 3-5-2 against Ontario…Holloway scored his seventh goal in four games against Phoenix…Phoenix won for the fourth time this season when trailing after two periods.

 The RoadRunners continue a three-game road trip at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday with the opener of a two-game series against the Utah Grizzlies at the “E”-Center in West Valley City, Utah.  Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 5:45 p.m.

 Phoenix returns to US Airways for the regular season home finale at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, March 28 when they welcome in the Alaska Aces. 

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

 Phoenix RoadRunners 4 at Ontario Reign 2 - Status: Final
Mar 21, 2009 - Citizens Business Bank Arena

Phoenix 0 1 3 - 4
Ontario 0 2 0 - 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Burke Phx (interference), 12:41; MacGregor Ont (hooking), 18:28.

2nd Period-1, Ontario, Holloway 13 (Rheault, Germain), 2:44 (pp). 2, Ontario, Howe 5 (Kraus, Walker), 3:47. 3, Phoenix, Jorgensen 7 (Burke, Rutherford), 19:46 (pp). Penalties-Cohen Phx (slashing ), 1:45; Rheault Ont (tripping), 7:24; Campbell Phx (hooking), 10:45; Guyer Phx (interference), 12:32; Howe Ont (hooking), 18:01.

3rd Period-4, Phoenix, Sisca 14 (McNabb), 5:06. 5, Phoenix, Cohen 16 (Campbell), 5:34. 6, Phoenix, Swanson 5 (Campbell), 15:40 (sh). Penalties-McNabb Phx (slashing ), 2:41; McNabb Phx (holding), 15:16; Carefoot Phx (holding), 16:52; Sisca Phx (misconduct), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-Phoenix 5-17-5-27. Ontario 13-8-15-36.
Power-play opportunities-Phoenix 1 of 3; Ontario 1 of 7.
Goalies-Phoenix, Beckford-Tseu 2-5-1-1 (36 shots-34 saves). Ontario, Rowat 0-1-0-0 (27 shots-23 saves).

A-9,644
Referees-Shane Warschaw (14).
Linesmen-Steven Berry (77), Todd Owen (51).

ROADRUNNERS COME UP EMPTY IN ALASKA
Phoenix Continues Playoff Hunt with a Four-Game Week
PHOENIX, Ariz. – WEEK RECORD 0-3-1 – SEASON RECORD 26-31-4 – 5^TH WEST DIVISION

 ‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners could muster just a single point in a four-game series at Alaska.  With a record of 26-31-4 and 56 points, the RoadRunners sit in fifth place in the West Division 10 points behind fourth place Utah, and in ninth place in the National Conference, five points behind Bakersfield. 

 Wednesday, the Alaska Aces used three power play goals and a four-goal second period to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 5-0 before 4,189 at Sullivan Arena.

 The Aces (37-21-3) began their power play attack just 1:39 into the contest when Brett Hemingway re-directed Lance Galbraith’s shot through the pads of RoadRunners’ goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu for a 1-0 lead.

Alaska then came out and scored four times in the middle period, three of which came in a span of 5:19 seconds to put the game away.  Colin Hemingway received a pass in the slot from Cam Keith and snapped a shot past Beckford-Tseu and in at 4:32 of the second on a two-man advantage power play to extend the lead to two.  Jordan Foreman scored the first even-strength goal of the night at 13:43 giving Alaska a 3-0 advantage.  Matt Stefanishion later beat Beckford-Tseu over the left shoulder with a slap shot off the right-wing boards and in at 16:41 to make it 4-0.  Luke Erickson capped the scoring with a four-on-three power play goal at 19:02 to give the Aces a 5-0 lead heading into the second intermission.  

 Kyle Jones came on in relief of Beckford-Tseu for Phoenix (26-29-3) to start the third and shutout the Aces on nine shots.  

 Alaska out-shot Phoenix 41-22.  Beckford-Tseu stopped 27 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 1-4-1 overall on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-2 on the power play while Alaska was 3-6 with the man-advantage.

 Friday, Alexandre Imbeault scored with 36.3 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Alaska Aces over the Phoenix RoadRunners 5-4 before 4,912 at Sullivan Arena.

 The RoadRunners (26-29-4) struggled off the start with discipline trouble yet killed off five penalties in the opening period to go into the first intermission tied at 1-1 with Alaska.  The Aces (38-21-3) converted on their third trip on the power play when Lance Galbraith fed Brett Hemingway who beat an out-stretched RoadRunners’ goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu with a shot at 4:33 for a 1-0 lead.  Daniel Sisca netted the equalizer less than two minutes later at 6:05 when he snapped a shot past a screened Alaska goalie J.P. Lamoureux to tie the score at 1-1. 

 Michael Cohen snapped the tie at 6:02 of the second period when he beat Lamoureux through the pads and in with a slap shot from the right-wing circle giving the RoadRunners a 2-1 lead.  Sisca extended that lead to two goals a little more than three minutes later at 9:07 when he stripped an Aces defenseman in the corner and proceeded to wrap the puck around the net and through Lamoureux for a 3-1 advantage.

 But the Aces would rally early in the third getting goals from Luke Erickson at 1:24 even-strength and Galbraith at 5:42 on the power play to tie the score at 3-3.  The RoadRunners answered 37 seconds later getting a second goal from Cohen on a tipped shot past Lamoureux at 6:55 to regain the lead at 4-3.  But the Aces would fight back 36 seconds after Cohen’s goal as Colin Hemingway put Nick Tuzzolino’s rebound past Beckford-Tseu to tie the score at 4-4 and set up Imbeault’s overtime dramatics.     

 Alaska out-shot Phoenix 43-26.  Beckford-Tseu stopped a season-high 38 shots but suffered the overtime loss to fall to 1-4-2 overall on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-2 on the power play while Alaska was 2-7 with the man-advantage.

 Saturday, Matt Stefanishion broke a 2-2 tie with 18.4 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Alaska Aces a 3-2 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 5,974 at Sullivan Arena in ECHL action Saturday. 

 Mitch Carefoot opened the scoring for the RoadRunners (26-30-4) at 3:22 of the first period when he took the puck from along the end-boards in the Alaska zone, curled out in front of the net and tucked the puck through Aces goaltender Kevin Nastiuk’s pads and in for a 1-0 lead. 

 Nick Tuzzolino netted the equalizer for Alaska (39-21-3) at 5:45 of the second as he beat RoadRunners’ goalie Kyle Jones over the blocker with a shot from the right-wing circle to tie the score at 1-1.  Phoenix re-gained their one-goal lead minutes later when Daniel Sisca snapped the puck past Nastiuk and into the upper right corner of the net at 8:39.  But the Aces would have the period’s final say as Alexandre Imbeault converted on a power play goal at 12:16 to tie the score at 2-2.

 It would remain tied until the closing seconds of regulation when Tuzzolino pushed the puck towards the net and Stefanishion picked it up and snapped it past an out-stretched Jones at 19:41 for the game-winner.  

 Alaska out-shot Phoenix 33-14.  Jones stopped 30 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 6-12-1 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-2 on the power play while Alaska was 1-6 with the man-advantage.

 Sunday, Cam Keith notched a pair of goals as the Alaska Aces scored two power play goals and added a shorthanded tally, and held the Phoenix RoadRunners without a power play goal on 10 chances en route to a 7-1 win and a sweep of the four-game series before 4,284 at Sullivan Arena. 

 Alaska (40-21-3) jumped out of the gate quickly scoring twice in the opening twenty minutes.  Vladimir Novak capitalized off a RoadRunners’ turnover with Phoenix on the power play at 8:13 of the first period snapping a shot over the left shoulder of goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu and into the net for a shorthanded goal and a 1-0 Aces lead.  Alexandre Imbeault extended the lead to two when he finished off a three-way play from Colin Hemingway and Matt Shasby on a five-on-three power play at 16:27. 

 Tomas Kana continued the Aces offensive onslaught scoring his fifth goal of the year at 3:27 of the second period to increase Alaska’s advantage to 3-0.  The RoadRunners (26-31-4) responded at 9:09 when David Rutherford, making his Phoenix debut, beat Alaska goalie J.P. Lamoureux with a shot off the glove and into the net to cut the deficit to 3-1.  But Alaska would score their second power play goal of the night as Keith lifted the puck along the end-line over Beckford-Tseu and into the cage at 16:00 to make it 4-1 after two periods.  

 The Aces finished off with Phoenix with three third period goals getting tallies from Keith at 10:51, Kana at 17:18, and Scott Burt at 19:47 to cap the scoring.   

 Alaska out-shot Phoenix 27-26.  Beckford-Tseu stopped 20 shots and suffered the loss to fall to 1-5-2 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-10 on the power play while Alaska was 2-3 with the man-advantage.

KELLY CUP PLAYOFF UPDATE:   With 11 games remaining in the regular season, the RoadRunners are right in the thick of the Kelly Cup Playoff race.  Phoenix trails fourth place Utah by 10 points in the West Division, but also has played three fewer games and still has two head-to-head match-ups coming up with the Grizzlies.    Meanwhile, under the newly revised National Conference playoff format, Phoenix is also in contention for the fourth seed in the Pacific Division playoffs.  The RoadRunners trail Bakersfield by five points, but more importantly trail the Condors in winning percentage (which will be the determining factor as to who clinches) .477 to .459.  Like Utah, Phoenix has also played three fewer games than Bakersfield.  Those three games in hand will be made up March 21 (@ Ontario), March 31 (@ Idaho), and April 1 (@Idaho).  The Grizzlies and Condors will each play three games this week.  Utah visits Bakersfield Wednesday and Friday and travels to Stockton Thursday, while Bakersfield heads to Stockton Saturday.

MILESTONE NIGHT: Veteran center Kimbi Daniels set a personal milestone Saturday at Alaska skating in his 900^th career game.  It was fitting that Daniels achieved the feat in Anchorage, a place where he spent the majority of his professional career playing in 486 games and collecting 172 goals, 301 assists, and 473 points over eight seasons.  Daniels has 296 goals, 538 assists, and 834 points in his 18-year career. 

 SISCA STREAKING: Center Daniel Sisca collected three goals last week in Alaska giving him five goals, six assists, and 11 points in the last nine games.  Sisca had his season-high five-game scoring streak snapped Wednesday, but still has recorded 16 points in his last 21 games to climb into third on the RoadRunners in scoring with 12 goals and 38 points in 58 games.     

 WELCOME ABOARD: The RoadRunners welcomed four new faces to their line-up Saturday and Sunday in Alaska after acquiring rookie forwards P.J. Corsi and David Rutherford and defenseman Brian Deeth from Charlotte, and third-year forward Chase Trull from Mississippi.  It’s Trull’s second stint with the RoadRunners after joining the club for seven games at the conclusion of the 2005-06 inaugural campaign following the completion of his collegiate career.  He tallied his first career goal as a member of the RoadRunners back on April 8, 2006 at Las Vegas.  Meanwhile, Rutherford scored his first goal in a RoadRunners’ uniform Sunday at Alaska giving him 14 goals which lead all RoadRunners’ first-year skaters.    

 PENALTY KILLS STRUGGLES: After ranking in the top-five in the ECHL in penalty kill efficiency for much of the regular season, the RoadRunners have struggled going a man down in recent games.  The RoadRunners have surrendered 14 power play goals (30-44) in their last eight contests, which translates to just a 68.1% efficiency rate, and have allowed multiple power play goals in four of those eight games.  Phoenix allowed Alaska to go 8-22 (36.3%) on the power play last week.  For the season, the RoadRunners still rank in the top-10 on the penalty kill sitting eighth at an even 84% efficiency rate.     

NEWS & NOTES: With their next win, the RoadRunners can match their ECHL club record for single season victories.  Phoenix last had 27 wins back in the 2006-07 campaign, which was the only other season that the RoadRunners advanced to the playoffs.  Phoenix is also on pace to easily break the mark for best overall single season winning percentage of .410% also set back in 2006-07…The RoadRunners allowed their 15^th shorthanded goal of the season Sunday, which is the most they’ve allowed in any one year.  Only Dayton (17) and Stockton (17) have surrendered more shorthanded goals than Phoenix…Captain Mitch Carefoot set a new personal high scoring his 13^th goal of the season Saturday…When David Rutherford stepped on the ice for his first shift Sunday, he became the 44^th player to don a RoadRunners’ sweater this season, breaking the mark of 43 set back in 2006-07…Phoenix fell to 2-11-2 in 15 games lifetime at Alaska’s Sullivan Arena and has been outscored 67-30 by the Aces on their home ice.  

 WATCH THE ‘RUNNERS LIVE IN ’08-09: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2008-09.  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 72 RoadRunners broadcasts will be available on-line.  A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

 UP NEXT: The RoadRunners regroup for another four-game week beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Las Vegas followed by home games at 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday against the Alaska Aces and another road contest at 7:00 p.m. Saturday at Ontario.  Catch Saturday’s action live on Independent 1310 KXAM and all four games live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” twenty minutes prior to face-off.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.   

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS SCHEDULE WEEK OF MARCH 16^TH                   

• Monday, March 16: Travel day To Las Vegas, Nevada

•  

• Tuesday, March 17: Morning skate 11:15AM-12:15PM; Phoenix @ Las Vegas 7:30PM; Depart for Phoenix

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• Wednesday, March 18: Off Day

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• Thursday, March 19: Morning skate 10AM-11AM; Phoenix vs. Alaska 7:05PM

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• Friday, March 20: Morning skate 10AM-11AM; Phoenix vs. Alaska 7:05PM; Depart for Ontario, Calif.

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• Saturday, March 21: Phoenix @ Ontario 7PM; Depart for Phoenix

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• Sunday, March 22: Off Day

ROADRUNNERS ACQUIRE STEVE WARD FROM READING

 Phoenix Continues Five-Game Road Trip at 8:15 p.m. Friday at Alaska

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, a proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks and the Worcester Sharks, announced today the acquisition of defenseman Steve Ward from the Reading Royals to complete a previous trade for forward Peder Skinner and Chris Stevens and defenseman Brett Thurston.

 Ward, 23, ranked second among Royals defensemen with six goals and 25 points in 39 games, but is currently on loan to the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League where he has skated in two games without recording a point.  The Scarborough, Ontario native and second-year professional has logged 13 games in the AHL this season with Albany, San Antonio, Norfolk, and Portland collecting two assists and four penalty minutes.  

 Selected to represent the Royals at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game in Reading, Penn., Ward has registered eight goals, 41 assists, and 49 points in 125 career games. 

 The RoadRunners traded Skinner, Stevens, and Thurston to Reading on Dec. 4 in exchange for defenseman Kevin Schaeffer and future considerations.  

 The RoadRunners continue a five-game trip and a stretch of 12 out of their final 15 games on the road at 8:15 p.m. Friday with the second of four games in five nights against the Alaska Aces at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.  Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 8:00 p.m.

 Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, March 19 when they open a two-game series against the Alaska Aces. 

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

STOCKTON RALLY THWARTS ROADRUNNERS 5-3

 Phoenix Welcomes Utah to US Airways Center at 5:05 p.m. Sunday

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – Ryan Huddy tallied a pair of goals including the go-ahead and eventual game-winner with 5:19 remaining in regulation to lift the Stockton Thunder to a 5-3 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 2,186 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Wednesday. 

 Stockton jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead only to watch the RoadRunners come back and tie it with a pair of power play goals before the period’s end.  The Thunder (28-27-5) struck twice in a span of 50 seconds to kick off the scoring receiving goals from Huddy and Sebastien Bisaillon at 5:58 and 6:48 respectively.  The RoadRunners (26-27-5) responded with their first of two power play goals at 9:37 when Kimbi Daniels beat Stockton goalie Andrew Perugini with a shot from the left-wing circle to cut the deficit to 2-1.  Jim Jorgensen later netted the equalizer at 15:32 on a two-man advantage as his shot from the left point got through traffic and past Perugini to tie the score at 2-2. 

 Following a scoreless second period, the RoadRunners jumped ahead eight minutes into the third  when Daniels banged home Ashton Rome’s rebound at 7:05 giving Phoenix a 3-2 lead.  But it would be a short-lived lead as Mike Lalonde wrapped the puck around the RoadRunners’ net and through goalie Kyle Jones at 9:30 on the power play to tie the game at 3-3.  Huddy’s goal would come just over five minutes later at 14:41 of the third as he beat Jones to the short side to give Stockton the lead back at 4-3.  Cory Urquhart sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:53.    

 Stockton out-shot Phoenix 31-24.  Jones stopped 26 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 6-11-1 overall on the season.  The RoadRunners went 2-8 on the power play while Stockton was 1-4 with the man-advantage.

 The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 5:05 p.m. Sunday when they conclude a four-game home-stand against the Utah Grizzlies. 

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.
Stockton Thunder 5 at Phoenix RoadRunners 3 - Status: Final
Mar 4, 2009 - US Airways Center

Stockton 2 0 3 - 5
Phoenix 2 0 1 - 3

1st Period-1, Stockton, Huddy 29 (Urquhart), 5:58. 2, Stockton, Bisaillon 2 (Urquhart), 6:48. 3, Phoenix, Daniels 17 (Jorgensen, McNabb), 9:37 (pp). 4, Phoenix, Jorgensen 6 (Sisca, McNabb), 15:32 (pp). Penalties-McNabb Phx (hooking), 2:13; Marcoux Stk (interference), 9:23; Adamek Stk (roughing), 11:28; Kubaliak Stk (hooking), 14:51; Marcoux Stk (hooking), 14:51.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Hunt Stk (fighting - major), 0:03; McEwan Phx (fighting - major), 0:03; served by Huddy Stk (bench - unsportsmanlike conduct), 5:36; MacMurchy Stk (holding), 9:51; Surma Stk (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:51; Swanson Phx (delay of game), 12:35; Rome Phx (hooking), 17:16.

3rd Period-5, Phoenix, Daniels 18 (Rome), 7:05. 6, Stockton, Lalonde 19 (Rohlfs, Bates), 9:30 (pp). 7, Stockton, Huddy 30 (Bates), 14:41. 8, Stockton, Urquhart 27   18:53 (en). Penalties-Hunt Stk (roughing), 5:02; McEwan Phx (roughing), 5:02; Burnett Phx (hooking), 7:47; O'Dette Stk (delay of game), 19:25.

Shots on Goal-Stockton 11-10-10-31. Phoenix 9-7-8-24.
Power-play opportunities-Stockton 1 of 4; Phoenix 2 of 8.
Goalies-Stockton, Perugini 17-9-1-1 (24 shots-21 saves). Phoenix, Jones 6-11-0-1 (30 shots-26 saves).

A-2,186
Referees-Andy Thiessen (3).
Linesmen-Rick Janco (46), Jeremy Hutchins (40).

 

 

 

ASHTON ROME RE-ASSIGNED TO ROADRUNNERS
Phoenix Visits Ontario at 8:00 p.m. Friday

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, a proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks and the Worcester Sharks, announced today that forward Ashton Rome has been re-assigned to the club by San Jose from Worcester of the American Hockey League. 

Rome, 23, leads the RoadRunners with a career-high 21 goals and is second on the club in scoring with 36 points and third on the club with 103 penalty minutes in 45 games.  The Nesbitt Manitoba native and third-year professional skated in two games with the Sharks during his latest recall and overall has appeared in three games this season with Worcester and recorded a minus-one rating and two penalty minutes.

 Rome was selected by San Jose in the fifth round at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and has totaled 15 goals, 26 points, and 114 penalty minutes in 128 games with Worcester and 36 goals, 62 points, and 217 penalty minutes in 173 games for his career.

 The RoadRunners conclude a season-long eight-game road trip at 8:00 p.m. Friday when they visit the Ontario Reign at Citizens Business Bank Arena.  Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 7:45 p.m. 

 Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Saturday when they welcome the Alaska Aces.

SHORTHANDED ROADRUNNERS TRIP UP IDAHO 3-1

 Phoenix Closes Two-Game Series at Idaho at 7:10 p.m. Saturday

 BOISE, Idaho – Merit Waldrop recorded the first multi-goal game of his professional career and tallied his first ever game-winning goal to propel the Phoenix RoadRunners to a 3-1 win over the Idaho Steelheads before 4,579 at Qwest Arena in ECHL action Friday.  

Following a scoreless first period, the teams traded single goals in the second.  The RoadRunners (21-223) opened the scoring at 4:18 of the period when Kimbi Daniels found Waldrop with a drop pass in the slot and Waldrop slapped the puck past Steelheads’ goalie Matt Climie giving Phoenix a 1-0 lead.  Idaho (26-16-3) netted the equalizer just a little more than two minutes later to tie the score at 1-1.  With the RoadRunners on a power play, Mark Bomersback worked a shot around goalie Kyle Jones along the ice and into the net for a shorthanded tally at 6:21.

 It would remain tied until a stretch of 1:55 seconds in the third period where the RoadRunners scored twice to put the game away.  Waldrop netted his second goal of the evening off a hard working play from Mitch Carefoot in the neutral zone as he snapped a shot over Climie’s right shoulder and into the net at 12:18 of the third to give the RoadRunners a 2-1 lead.  John McNabb iced the game with his second goal in as many games adding an insurance tally off a feed from Daniel Sisca at 14:13 to cap the scoring.

 The RoadRunners out-shot Idaho 36-26.  Jones stopped 25 shots and picked up the win to improve to 2-8-1 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-6 on the power play while Idaho was 0-6 with the man-advantage.

 Notes: Jones snapped a personal 11-game winless streak and earned his first victory since Nov. 18…Phoenix improved to 6-8-1 lifetime at Qwest Arena…The RoadRunners surrendered their 11^th shorthanded goal of the season…This was the first meeting between the RoadRunners and Steelheads since Oct. 24, and the first of six straight match-ups at Qwest Arena…Forward Dan DaSilva was recalled to AHL Worcester prior to the game…The RoadRunners have lost forwards P.J. Fenton, Ashton Rome, DaSilva, defenseman Brett Peterson, and goaltender Craig Kowalski to the AHL in the last five days.

 The RoadRunners continue a season-long eight-game road trip at 7:10 p.m. Saturday when they conclude a two-game series at Qwest Arena in Boise against the Idaho Steelheads.  Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 7:00 p.m. 

 Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 when they welcome the Alaska Aces.

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL. 

Phoenix RoadRunners 3 at Idaho Steelheads 1 - Status: Final
Feb 13, 2009 - Qwest Arena

1st Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - G. Bembridge Idh (high-sticking - minor 60.2) 0:41, M. Stephenson Idh (tripping - minor 57.2) 2:19, D. Crowley Phx (interference - minor 56.2) 5:37, M. Stephenson Idh (tripping - minor 57.2) 11:18, M. Waldrop Phx (slashing - minor 61.2) 19:35

2nd Period
Scoring - 1. Phoenix, M. Waldrop (2) (K. Daniels, M. Carefoot) 4:18  
2. Idaho, M. Bomersback (14) (D. Hay) 6:21 SH
Penalties - B. McGregor Idh (interference - minor 56.2) 5:30, D. Crowley Phx (interference - minor 56.2) 6:35, M. McKnight Idh (holding - minor 54.2) 12:36, M. Waldrop Phx (holding - minor 54.2) 16:19

3rd Period
Scoring - 3. Phoenix, M. Waldrop (3) (M. Carefoot, K. Daniels) 12:18  
4. Phoenix, J. McNabb (6) (G. Burnett, D. Sisca) 14:13  
Penalties - J. Swanson Phx (hooking - minor 55.2) 12:55, G. Bembridge Idh (tripping - minor 57.2) 13:05, J. Swanson Phx (tripping - minor 57.2) 18:33, K. Sparre Idh (game misconduct - abuse of officials 40.5) 19:54

PHX Shots: 12 13 9 TOTAL: 34
IDH Shots: 11 8 7 TOTAL: 26

Power Play Conversion
Phoenix RoadRunners 0-6. Idaho Steelheads 0-5.

Goaltenders
Phoenix RoadRunners
Jones 2-8-0-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 25 GA: 1 [W]

Idaho Steelheads
Climie 16-9-1-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 58:29 SV: 31 GA: 3 [L]

Start : 7:11 PM
End : 9:22 PM
Attendance : 4579

Referee I: Andy Thiessen (3)
Referee II:
LINESMAN I: Scott Ingraham (50)
LINESMAN II: Scott DeBaugh

ROME, KOWALSKI HEADED TO AHL

 Phoenix Visits Idaho at 7:10 p.m. Friday

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, a proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks and the Worcester Sharks, announced today that forward Ashton Rome has been recalled to Worcester of the American Hockey League and goalie Craig Kowalski has been loaned to Norfolk of the American Hockey League.

 Rome, 23, leads the RoadRunners with a career-high 21 goals and is second on the club in scoring with 36 points and third on the club with 103 penalty minutes in 45 games.  The Nesbitt Manitoba native and third-year professional has appeared in one game with the Sharks this season and recorded two penalty minutes.

 Rome was selected by San Jose in the fifth round at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and has totaled 15 goals, 26 points, and 114 penalty minutes in 126 games with Worcester and 36 goals, 62 points, and 217 penalty minutes in 171 games for his career.

 Kowalski, 28, is 17-13-1 in 31 games this season with the RoadRunners with a 2.90 goals against average and a .918 save percentage and one shutout to his credit.  The Clinton Township, Mich. native and fifth-year professional earns his first promotion to the AHL this season after attending training camp with Norfolk in September.

 Kowalski has been twice named the RBK Hockey ECHL Goalie of the Week this season receiving the honor for the weeks of Dec. 1-7 and Jan. 19-25.  He was a 2008 ECHL All-Star and finished tied for the league lead in wins in 2007-08 after posting a 29-11-2 record with a career-best 2.33 goals against average and a career-best .923% save percentage in 44 games with the Gwinnett Gladiators.  Kowalski is 8-12-3 in 24 career appearances in the AHL with a 3.22 goals against average and a .905% save percentage.  

 The RoadRunners continue a season-long eight-game road trip at 7:10 p.m. Friday when they open a two-game series at Qwest Arena in Boise against the Idaho Steelheads.  Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 7:00 p.m.   

Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 when they welcome the Alaska Aces.

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

FENTON RECALLED TO AHL WORCESTER

 Phoenix Visits Las Vegas at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, a proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks and the Worcester Sharks, announced today that forward P.J. Fenton has been recalled to Worcester of the American Hockey League.

 Fenton, 23, tallied nine goals and 11 points in 13 games with the RoadRunners after being loaned to Phoenix from Worcester back on Jan. 13.  The Springfield, Mass. native has one goal and seven points in 30 games with the Sharks this season. 

 Fenton served as an assistant captain last season at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and tallied nine goals and a career-best 28 points in 36 games to finish third on the Minutemen in scoring.  He signed an amateur try-out contract with San Jose on April 1, 2008 and was assigned to Worcester where he appeared in four regular season games.  Fenton finished a four-year collegiate career at Massachusetts-Amherst with 37 goals, 58 assists, and 95 points in 148 games.  He was selected by San Jose in Round Five (#163 overall) at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.     

 The RoadRunners continue a season-long eight-game road trip at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when they visit the Las Vegas Wranglers at the Orleans Arena.  Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 8:15 p.m. 

 Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 when they welcome the Alaska Aces.

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

ROADRUNNERS TAKE A BITE OUT OF GRIZZLIES 6-1

 Phoenix Concludes Three-Game Series at Utah at 7:05 p.m. Saturday 

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Phoenix RoadRunners scored three times in a stretch of 1:48 seconds in the second period and tallied six unanswered goals to rout the Utah Grizzlies 6-1 before 3,395 at the “E”-Center in ECHL action Friday.

 Utah (15-15-13) opened the scoring at 3:12 of the first period when Tom May turned a RoadRunners’ turnover into a two-on-one transition rush, and May beat goalie Craig Kowalski with a shot along the ice to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead. 

 The RoadRunners (20-20-3) responded 4:31 into the second period as Gino Guyer fired a shot from the right-wing circle past Utah goalie Peter Mannino to tie the score at 1-1.  P.J. Fenton gave the RoadRunners their first lead of the game 28 seconds later moving a backhander from the slot past Mannino along the ice at 4:59.  Guyer netted his second tally of the game 1:20 seconds later when Mark O’Leary fed him the puck at the left-wing circle and Guyer ripped a shot over the left shoulder of Mannino and in at 6:19 for a 3-1 advantage.  Ashton Rome later scored on a penalty shot at 17:23 to give the RoadRunners a 4-1 lead going into the second intermission. 

 Mark O’Leary and Dan DaSilva added tallies at 2:47 and 3:04 respectively of the third period to close out the scoring.

 Phoenix out-shot Utah 35-34.  Kowalski stopped 33 shots to earn the win and improve to 17-12-1 the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-2 on the power play while Utah was 0-5 with the man-advantage.

 Notes: With the win the RoadRunners pulled even with the Grizzlies for fourth in the West Division with 43 points apiece…The RoadRunners have killed off 29 of 30 Utah power plays in the five-game series…Kowalski is 7-1 in his last eight starts…The penalty shot goal was the second of the year for the RoadRunners…Utah’s Evan Kotsopoulos was also awarded a penalty shot at 19:37 of the second period but missed.

 The RoadRunners continue a season-long eight-game road trip at 7:05 p.m. Saturday with the finale of a three-game series against the Utah Grizzlies at the “E”-Center in West Valley City, Utah.  Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 6:45 p.m. 

 Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 when they welcome the Alaska Aces.

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

Phoenix RoadRunners 6 at Utah Grizzlies 1 - Status: Final
Feb 6, 2009 - The E-Center

1st Period
Scoring - 1. Utah, T. May (12)   3:12  
Penalties - M. Carefoot Phx (elbowing - minor 46.2) 7:16, M. Pavli Uta (interference - minor 56.2) 8:26, A. Rome Phx (hooking - minor 55.2) 9:16, G. Burnett Phx (interference - minor 56.2) 11:33, R. Hennigar Uta (tripping - minor 57.2) 18:15

2nd Period
Scoring - 2. Phoenix, G. Guyer (8) (J. Jorgensen, D. DaSilva) 4:31  
3. Phoenix, P. Fenton (9) (D. Sisca, M. Carefoot) 4:59  
4. Phoenix, G. Guyer (9) (M. O'Leary, J. Jorgensen) 6:19  
5. Phoenix, A. Rome (21)   17:23 PS
Penalties - J. Swanson Phx (roughing - minor 51.2, roughing - minor 51.2) 12:47, E. Kotsopoulos Uta (roughing - minor 51.2) 12:47

3rd Period
Scoring - 6. Phoenix, M. O'Leary (3) (D. Crowley, D. DaSilva) 2:53  
7. Phoenix, D. DaSilva (6) (D. Crowley, G. Guyer) 3:04  
Penalties - M. O'Leary Phx (tripping - minor 57.2) 5:04, J. Rechlicz Uta (roughing - minor 51.2) 13:01

PHX Shots: 13 11 11 TOTAL: 35
UTA Shots: 13 10 11 TOTAL: 34

Power Play Conversion
Phoenix RoadRunners 0-2. Utah Grizzlies 0-5.

Goaltenders
Phoenix RoadRunners
Kowalski 17-12-1-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 33 GA: 1 [W]

Utah Grizzlies
Mannino 0-1-0-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 29 GA: 6 [L]


Start : 7:13 PM
End : 9:31 PM
Attendance : 3395

Referee I: Shane Warschaw (14)
Referee II:
LINESMAN I: Ed Henderson (86)
LINESMAN II: James McKenna (96)

ROADRUNNERS CONTINUE WINNING WAYS AT HOME

Phoenix Plays Four Games in Five Nights This Week

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – WEEK RECORD 1-2-0 – SEASON RECORD 18-19-3 – 5^TH WEST DIVISION

 ‘RUNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners emerged victorious at US Airways Center last Friday against Utah while dropping road games Tuesday at Las Vegas and Saturday at Stockton.  With a record of 18-19-3 and 39 points, the RoadRunners sit in fifth place in the West Division three points behind fourth place Utah and in eighth place in the National Conference. 

 Tuesday, Chris and Peter Ferraro each tallied goals and Kevin Lalande made 37 saves to lift the Las Vegas Wranglers to a 2-1 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,488 at the Orleans Arena.

 Following a scoreless first period, Las Vegas (18-17-3) struck first with a power play goal at 15:00 of the second.  RoadRunners’ goalie Craig Kowalski tried to clear the puck from behind his net, but his clearing attempt hit the skate of Chris Ferraro and rolled into the empty net for the score. 

 The RoadRunners (17-18-3) would net the equalizer earlier in the third as P.J. Fenton streaking down the left wing boards beat Lalande with a shot through the goalie’s pads at 7:09 to tie the contest at 1-1.  But a second RoadRunners’ miscue 1:01 second after Fenton’s goal proved costly as Tyler Mosienko deflected the puck to Peter Ferraro charging down the slot, and Ferraro fired the puck past the outstretched glove of Kowalski and into the net at 8:10 for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal.

  Phoenix out-shot Las Vegas 38-26.  Kowalski stopped 24 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 14-12-1 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-5 on the power play while Las Vegas was 1-4 with the man-advantage.

 Friday, P.J. Fenton scored two goals and Daniel Sisca had the only goal in a shootout as the Phoenix RoadRunners beat the Utah Grizzlies 6-5 in front of 3,851 fans at US Airways Center.

 The Grizzlies (15-14-12) got on the board first at 5:54 of the first period when Rob Hennigar scored off a rebound by Andy Sertich.  Ryan Kinasewich also assisted on the goal that came 25 seconds after a failed penalty shot attempt by Tim Verbeek on RoadRunners’ goalie Craig Kowalski.

 “We had a breakdown on the fore-check and took the penalty,” RoadRunners’ Head Coach Brad Church said of what led to the penalty shot. “Kowalski came up with a big save.”

 The RoadRunners (18-18-3) tied up the game at 1-1 when Dan DaSilva set up Gino Guyer who scored from the bottom right circle at 6:45 of the second period.  Phoenix took a 2-1 lead when Gord Burnett set up Fenton for a breakaway goal scored at 10:07.  Fenton gave the RoadRunners a 3-1 lead at 11:56 when he tipped in a shot from Mitch Carefoot, taking a two-goal lead into the locker room at the second intermission.

 “We came out hard and capitalized on our chances,” Church said of the second period.  “We had the opportunity to make a bigger gap but their goalie (Dan Turple) made big saves for them.”

 Utah narrowed Phoenix’s lead to one goal at 3:05 of the third period when Sertich scored five-hole on Kowalski from the bottom left circle.  Hennigar and Kinasewich assisted.  Mark O’Leary gave the RoadRunners a 4-2 lead on his first goal of the season at 4:31 when he scored from the top right circle with Grizzly goalie Turple caught out of his crease.  Ashton Rome had the assist. 

Kinasewich countered just over a minute later when he was centered a pass by Tyler Wooddisse and scored at 5:53.  The Grizzlies tied the game at 4-4 on the power play when Verbeek rifled a shot past Kowalski from the top left circle at 9:37.  Sertich then gave Utah a 5-4 lead at 12:26 off a pass from Verbeek.  Hennigar also assisted.  Then with one minute left in the game Jim Jorgenson scored a goal from the left circle with Kowalski pulled for the extra attacker, tying the game and forcing overtime.  Rome and Carefoot assisted.

 “(The Grizzlies) are a hard working team,” Church said.  “There’s a reason they’ve battled back and tied so many games but we were able to keep in it and earned a break in the end.”

 After a scoreless overtime Sisca scored the only goal of the shootout while Kowalski went 5-for-5, giving the RoadRunners a final 6-5 win. 

Phoenix out-shot Utah 44-37.  Kowalski stopped 32 shots to earn the victory and improve to 15-12-1 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-1 on the power play while Utah was 1-3 with the man-advantage. 

Saturday, rookie goalie Andrew Perugini turned aside 32 shots and Damian Surma collected a goal and an assist to propel the Stockton Thunder to a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 6,610 at Stockton Arena.

 Stockton (20-20-5) opened the scoring at 12:03 of the first period when Darryl Marcoux beat Kyle Jones with a long shot through traffic from the right point giving the Thunder an early 1-0 lead. 

Cory Urquhart extended the Stockton lead to two early in the third period when he picked up the loose puck in the slot and fired a shot off the right post and past Jones at 2:20.  The RoadRunners (18-19-3) fought back three minutes later to score when Mark O’Leary picked up John McNabb’s rebound to the left of the cage and threw it past Perugini and into the back of the net at 5:20 to cut the deficit to 2-1.  But failing to score on a five-on-three power play for 1:22 and a four-minute power play in total came back to hurt the RoadRunners in the end as Stockton converted for a power play goal into the empty net when Surma snapped the puck in from the blue line at 19:21.

  Phoenix out-shot Stockton 33-32.  Jones stopped 29 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 1-6-1 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-6 on the power play while Stockton was 1-4 with the man-advantage.

HOME SWEET HOME: The RoadRunners grabbed their 13^th home win of the season Friday and are now just two victories away from matching their ECHL-club record of 15 home wins set back in 2006-07.  Phoenix has outscored their opposition 84-82 at US Airways Center while averaging 3.36 goals per game.  The RoadRunners have also scored 20 of their 28 power play goals this season on home ice, and they maintain the ECHL’s second best penalty kill at home having allowed just 19 goals on 148 chances.   

SHOOTOUT STOPPER: With his perfect five-for-five effort in the shootout last Friday, goalie Craig Kowalski is now 10-for-10 this season in shootouts and leads all ECHL goalies with the best shootout save percentage. 

 BOMBS AWAY: The RoadRunners have averaged 38.25 shots per game in their last four outings and came two shots on goal short Friday of matching their season-high after firing 44 shots on Utah goalie Dan Turple.  Phoenix currently ranks eighth in the ECHL averaging 32.23 shots per game.  

POWER OUTAGE: The RoadRunners’ power play is currently in one of its biggest droughts of the season.  Phoenix has gone just 1-25 (4%) on the man advantage in its last six games and 4-39 (10.2%) in the last 10 outings.  The RoadRunners have had just one multiple power play goal game in their last 22 contests and only six total for the season.   

 NEWS & NOTES: The RoadRunners finished the month of January with a 5-6-0 record, but were 3-2-0 away from US Airways Center…Forward Mark O’Leary tallied his first two goals of the season Friday and Saturday in his first game action since Dec. 27, 2008 after going on the 30-day injured reserve…The RoadRunners have nine shorthanded goals on the season, one shy of their ECHL-club record of 10 set back in 2006-07…Rookie forward P.J. Fenton’s career-best four-game goal streak and seven-game points’ streak came to a conclusion Saturday in Stockton.  Fenton has eight goals and nine points since Jan. 16… Center Kimbi Daniels missed his first game of the season Saturday due to an unspecified upper body injury suffered in Friday’s game against Utah. 

 WATCH THE ‘RUNNERS LIVE IN ’08-09: The RoadRunners have teamed up with B2 Networks to bring you live action of Phoenix RoadRunners hockey in 2008-09.  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 72 RoadRunners broadcasts will be available on-line.  A cable or DSL Internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 are required to view the games.

 UP NEXT: The RoadRunners play four games in five nights beginning with a visit from the Ontario Reign to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.  Phoenix will then travel to Salt Lake City, Utah for a three-game series with the Utah Grizzlies at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from the “E”-Center.  Catch Friday’s and Saturday’s action live on Independent 1310 KXAM and all four games live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” twenty minutes prior to face-off.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL. 

PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS SCHEDULE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2^ND                

• Monday, Feb. 2: Practice 10AM-11:30AM @ Alltel Ice Den

•  Tuesday, Feb. 3: Morning skate 10AM-11AM; Phoenix vs. Ontario 7:05PM

•  Wednesday, Feb. 4: Depart for Salt Lake City, Utah; Phoenix @ Utah 7:05PM

•  Thursday, Feb. 5: Off Day

•  Friday, Feb. 6: Morning skate 11:15AM-12:15PM; Phoenix @ Utah 7:05PM

•  Saturday, Feb. 7: Morning skate 11:15AM-12:15PM; Phoenix @ Utah 7:05PM

•  Sunday, Feb. 8: Depart for Phoenix; Off Day

THUNDER SLOWS DOWN WEARY ROADRUNNERS 3-1

 Phoenix Hosts Ontario at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – Rookie goalie Andrew Perguini turned aside 32 shots and Damian Surma collected a goal and an assist to propel the Stockton Thunder to a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 6,610 at Stockton Arena in ECHL action Saturday. 

Stockton (20-20-5) opened the scoring at 12:03 of the first period when Darryl Marcoux beat Kyle Jones with a long shot through traffic from the right point giving the Thunder an early 1-0 lead.

 Cory Urquhart extended the Stockton lead to two early in the third period when he picked up the loose puck in the slot and fired a shot off the right post and past Jones at 2:20.  The RoadRunners (18-19-3) fought back three minutes later to score when Mark O’Leary picked up John McNabb’s rebound to the left of the cage and threw it past Perugini and into the back of the net at 5:20 to cut the deficit to 2-1.  But failing to score on a five-on-three power play for 1:22 and a four-minute power play in total came back to hurt the RoadRunners in the end as Stockton converted for a power play goal into the empty net when Surma snapped the puck in from the blue line at 19:21.

  Phoenix out-shot Stockton 33-32.  Jones stopped 29 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 1-6-1 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-6 on the power play while Stockton was 1-4 with the man-advantage.

 Notes: The win for the Thunder was the first for either club on their home ice in the season series…Phoenix is 1-25 on the power play in their last six games…The RoadRunners finished the month of January with a record of 5-6 but 3-2 on the road…Center Kimbi Daniels missed his first game of the season due to an unspecified upper body injury suffered in Friday’s game against Utah. 

 The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday when they welcome the Ontario Reign.

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL. 

Phoenix RoadRunners 1 at Stockton Thunder 3 - Status: Final
Jan 31, 2009 - Stockton Arena

1st Period
Scoring - 1. Stockton, D. Marcoux (2) (D. Surma, M. Lalonde) 12:03  
Penalties - A. Rome Phx (hooking - minor 55.2) 15:16

2nd Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - M. Adamek Stk (boarding - minor 42.2) 2:08, J. Swanson Phx (high-sticking - minor 60.2) 4:07, I. Gongalsky Stk (cross-checking minor 59.2) 10:59, D. Surma Stk (hooking - minor 55.2) 18:31

3rd Period
Scoring - 2. Stockton, C. Urquhart (18) (J. Bates, R. Huddy) 2:20  
3. Phoenix, M. O'Leary (2) (J. McNabb) 5:20  
4. Stockton, D. Surma (6) (C. Valette, S. Bisaillon) 19:21 PP EN
Penalties - R. Huddy Stk (hooking - minor 55.2) 7:40, D. Marcoux Stk (high-sticking - minor 60.2, high-sticking - minor 60.2) 8:19, J. Swanson Phx (interference - minor 56.2) 14:15, B. Peterson Phx (tripping - minor 57.2, game misconduct - coach 40.5) 18:23

PHX Shots: 7 8 18 TOTAL: 33
STK Shots: 11 9 12 TOTAL: 32

Power Play Conversion
Phoenix RoadRunners 0-6. Stockton Thunder 1-4.

Goaltenders
Phoenix RoadRunners
Jones 1-6-0-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:31 SV: 29 GA: 2 [L]

Stockton Thunder
Perugini 9-6-1-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:44 SV: 32 GA: 1 [W]

Start : 7:33 PM
End : 10:01 PM
Attendance : 6610

Referee I: Jarrod Ragusin (28)
Referee II:
LINESMAN I: Tim Digby (95)
LINESMAN II: Steven Berry (77)

ROADRUNNERS RALLY PAST GRIZZLIES 6-5 IN A SHOOTOUT

 Phoenix Visits Stockton at 8:30 p.m. Saturday

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – P.J. Fenton scored two goals and Daniel Sisca had the only goal in a shootout as the Phoenix RoadRunners beat the Utah Grizzlies 6-5 Friday night in front of 3,851 fans at US Airways Center.

 The Grizzlies (15-14-12) got on the board first at 5:54 of the first period when Rob Hennigar scored off a rebound by Andy Sertich.  Ryan Kinasewich also assisted on the goal that came 25 seconds after a failed penalty shot attempt by Tim Verbeek on RoadRunners’ goalie Craig Kowalski.

 “We had a breakdown on the fore-check and took the penalty,” RoadRunners’ Head Coach Brad Church said of what led to the penalty shot. “Kowalski came up with a big save.”

 The RoadRunners (18-18-3) tied up the game at 1-1 when Dan DaSilva set up Gino Guyer who scored from the bottom right circle at 6:45 of the second period.  Phoenix took a 2-1 lead when Gord Burnett set up Fenton for a breakaway goal scored at 10:07.  Fenton gave the RoadRunners a 3-1 lead at 11:56 when he tipped in a shot from Mitch Carefoot, taking a two-goal lead into the locker room at the second intermission.

 “We came out hard and capitalized on our chances,” Church said of the second period.  “We had the opportunity to make a bigger gap but their goalie (Dan Turple) made big saves for them.”

 Utah narrowed Phoenix’s lead to one goal at 3:05 of the third period when Sertich scored five-hole on Kowalski from the bottom left circle.  Hennigar and Kinasewich assisted.  Mark O’Leary gave the RoadRunners a 4-2 lead on his first goal of the season at 4:31 when he scored from the top right circle with Grizzly goalie Turple caught out of his crease.  Ashton Rome had the assist.

 Kinasewich countered just over a minute later when he was centered a pass by Tyler Wooddisse and scored at 5:53.  The Grizzlies tied the game at 4-4 on the power play when Verbeek rifled a shot past Kowalski from the top left circle at 9:37.  Sertich then gave Utah a 5-4 lead at 12:26 off a pass from Verbeek.  Hennigar also assisted.  Then with one minute left in the game Jim Jorgenson scored a goal from the left circle with Kowalski pulled for the extra attacker, tying the game and forcing overtime.  Rome and Carefoot assisted. 

“(The Grizzlies) are a hard working team,” Church said.  “There’s a reason they’ve battled back and tied so many games but we were able to keep in it and earned a break in the end.”

 After a scoreless overtime Sisca scored the only goal of the shootout while Kowalski went 5-for-5, giving the RoadRunners a final 6-5 win.

  Phoenix out-shot Utah 44-37.  Kowalski stopped 32 shots to earn the victory and improve to 15-12-1 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-1 on the power play while Utah was 1-3 with the man-advantage.

 Phoenix concludes the weekend when the visit the Stockton Thunder at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Stockton Arena.  Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM beginning with “RoadRunners Countdown” at 8:15 p.m. 

 The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday when they welcome the Ontario Reign. 

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

 Utah Grizzlies 5 at Phoenix RoadRunners 6 (SO) - Status: Final SO
Jan 30, 2009 - US Airways Center

1st Period
Scoring - 1. Utah, R. Hennigar (4) (A. Sertich, R. Kinasewich) 5:54  
Penalties - J. Hart Uta (kneeing - minor 50.2) 14:41, K. Daniels Phx (hooking - minor 55.2) 16:47

2nd Period
Scoring - 2. Phoenix, G. Guyer (7) (D. DaSilva) 6:45  
3. Phoenix, P. Fenton (7) (G. Burnett) 10:07  
4. Phoenix, P. Fenton (8) (M. Carefoot) 11:56  
Penalties - No Penalties

3rd Period
Scoring - 5. Utah, A. Sertich (5) (R. Hennigar, R. Kinasewich) 3:05  
6. Phoenix, M. O'Leary (1) (A. Rome) 4:32  
7. Utah, R. Kinasewich (16) (T. Wooddisse) 5:53  
8. Utah, T. Verbeek (20)   9:37 PP
9. Utah, A. Sertich (6) (T. Verbeek, R. Hennigar) 12:26  
10. Phoenix, J. Jorgensen (3) (A. Rome, M. Carefoot) 19:00  
Penalties - E. Kotsopoulos Uta (roughing - minor 51.2) 6:41, M. Carefoot Phx (slashing - minor 61.2) 6:41, D. Crowley Phx (high-sticking - double minor 60.3) 7:32

OT Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - No Penalties

Shootout
Round 1 - UTA - Rob Hennigar - No
Round 1 - PHX - Ashton Rome - No
Round 2 - UTA - Ryan Kinasewich - No
Round 2 - PHX - Daniel Sisca - Yes
Round 3 - UTA - James Sixsmith - No
Round 3 - PHX - John McNabb - No
Round 4 - UTA - Tim Verbeek - No
Round 4 - PHX - P.J. Fenton - No
Round 5 - UTA - James Brannigan - No
Round 5 - PHX - Dan DaSilva - No

UTA Shots: 10 16 9 2 0 TOTAL: 37
PHX Shots: 18 12 9 4 1 TOTAL: 44

Power Play Conversion
Utah Grizzlies 1-3. Phoenix RoadRunners 0-1.

Goaltenders
Utah Grizzlies
Turple 0-0-0-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 64:56 SV: 38 GA: 5 [SOL]

Phoenix RoadRunners
Kowalski 15-12-1-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 64:48 SV: 32 GA: 5 [W]

Start : 7:04 PM
End : 9:38 PM
Attendance : 3851

Referee I: Jason Nissen (25)
Referee II:
LINESMAN I: Ken Bonham (41)
LINESMAN II: Chris Zorza (98)

FERRAROS, LAS VEGAS HOLD OFF ROADRUNNERS 2-1

 Phoenix Hosts Utah at 7:05 p.m. Friday 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Chris and Peter Ferraro each tallied goals and Kevin Lalande made 37 saves to lift the Las Vegas Wranglers to a 2-1 victory over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 3,488 at the Orleans Arena in ECHL action Tuesday.

 Following a scoreless first period, Las Vegas (18-17-3) struck first with a power play goal at 15:00 of the second.  RoadRunners’ goalie Craig Kowalski tried to clear the puck from behind his net, but his clearing attempt hit the skate of Chris Ferraro and rolled into the empty net for the score. 

 The RoadRunners (17-18-3) would net the equalizer earlier in the third as P.J. Fenton streaking down the left wing boards beat Lalande with a shot through the goalie’s pads at 7:09 to tie the contest at 1-1.  But a second RoadRunners’ miscue 1:01 second after Fenton’s goal proved costly as Tyler Mosienko deflected the puck to Peter Ferraro charging down the slot, and Ferraro fired the puck past the outstretched glove of Kowalski and into the net at 8:10 for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal.

Phoenix out-shot Las Vegas 38-26.  Kowalski stopped 24 shots but suffered the loss to fall to 14-12-1 on the season.  The RoadRunners went 0-5 on the power play while Las Vegas was 1-4 with the man-advantage.

 Notes: The Wranglers evened up the season series at 4-4 with the victory…Fenton’s goal extended his points’ streak to six games.  Kimbi Daniels scoring streak came to an end at five games tonight…Phoenix wrapped up their three-game road trip over six days with a record of 2-1-0…The RoadRunners have not won in Las Vegas since a 5-4 shootout victory Dec. 18, 2007 and are 3-13-1 lifetime at the Orleans Arena…A reminder that the RoadRunners’ game originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Wednesday against the Utah Grizzlies at US Airways Center has been cancelled due to the ceasing of operations by the Fresno Falcons. 

 The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Friday when they welcome the Utah Grizzlies. 

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

 Phoenix RoadRunners 1 at Las Vegas Wranglers 2 - Status: Final
Jan 27, 2009 - Orleans Arena

1st Period
Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - G. Burnett Phx (hooking - minor 55.2) 3:33, C. Ferraro Lv (delay of game 63.2) 7:11, G. Burnett Phx (roughing - minor 51.2) 13:27, H. Carpentier Lv (roughing - minor 51.2) 13:27, S. Limpright Lv (high-sticking - minor 60.2) 19:03

2nd Period
Scoring - 1. Las Vegas, C. Ferraro (13)   15:00 PP
Penalties - A. Rome Phx (interference - minor 56.2) 0:30, K. Czuy Lv (slashing - minor 61.2) 5:41, K. Czuy Lv (hooking - minor 55.2) 13:05, B. Peterson Phx (boarding - minor 42.2) 13:52, D. Crowley Phx (hooking - minor 55.2) 14:35, J. Swanson Phx (roughing - minor 51.2) 14:35, S. Makway Lv (roughing - minor 51.2) 14:35

3rd Period
Scoring - 2. Phoenix, P. Fenton (6) (D. Sisca, B. Peterson) 7:09  
3. Las Vegas, P. Ferraro (9) (T. Mosienko) 8:10  
Penalties - J. McEwan Phx (roughing - minor 51.2) 5:54, S. Makway Lv (roughing - minor 51.2) 5:54, M. Madill Lv (interference - minor 56.2) 13:06

PHX Shots: 13 8 17 TOTAL: 38
LV Shots: 9 9 8 TOTAL: 26

Power Play Conversion
Phoenix RoadRunners 0-5. Las Vegas Wranglers 1-4.

Goaltenders
Phoenix RoadRunners
Kowalski 14-12-1-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:18 SV: 24 GA: 2 [L]

Las Vegas Wranglers
Lalande 6-7-0-2 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 37 GA: 1 [W]

Start : 7:40 PM
End : 10:03 PM
Attendance : 3488

Referee I: Jarrod Ragusin (28)
Referee II:
LINESMAN I: Todd Owen (51)
LINESMAN II: Wally Lacroix (89)

ROADRUNNERS ACQUIRE DEFENSEMAN SCHAEFFER FROM READING
 Phoenix Hosts Las Vegas at 7:05 p.m. Friday

 PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, a proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks and the Worcester Sharks, announced today the acquisition of the ECHL rights to defenseman Kevin Schaeffer and future considerations from the Reading Royals in exchange for center Peder Skinner, forward Chris Stevens, and defenseman Brett Thurston. 

 Schaeffer, 24, is currently on loan to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League after signing a professional try-out offer on Nov. 21.  The South Huntington, N.Y. native and second-year professional has one assist and four penalty minutes with the Bruins, and recorded six penalty minutes in six games with the Royals.   

Schaeffer split the 2007-08 season between Providence and Reading appearing in 31 games with the Bruins while recording one goal and one assist and also collected two goals and seven points in 19 games with the Royals.  A four-year product of Boston University, Schaeffer totaled 17 goals and 54 points in 152 career collegiate games. 

 Skinner tallied one goal and six points in 16 games with the RoadRunners and one goal in three games with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League.  Stevens had one assist and 12 penalty minutes in seven games, while Thurston recorded one assist and 42 penalty minutes in 20 contests with Phoenix.

 Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:05 p.m. Friday when they conclude their three-game home-stand and three-game series with the Las Vegas Wranglers. 

 Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office.  Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2008-09 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.