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RoadRunners Week In Review

October 24, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


Phoenix, Ariz. - WEEK RECORD 1-2-0 - SEASON RECORD 1-2-0 - 4TH WEST DIVISION

ﾂ然UNNERS REWIND: The Phoenix RoadRunners welcomed 5,207 fans to America West Arena on Saturday in their return to the Phoenix sports scene, and put together a spirited comeback only to fall to the Utah Grizzlies 5-4 as part of an opening weekend series that saw the Grizzlies win two out of three games.

Friday, the RoadRunners scored an even-strength, power play, shorthanded, and empty-net goal, and made a winner out of Head Coach Ron Filion in his ECHL Coaching debut by defeating the Utah Grizzlies 4-2 before 5159 at the E-Center. B.J. Gaustad opened the scoring at 2:01 of the first period with the first goal in RoadRunners (1-0-0) ECHL history. Gaustad curled out to the right-wing circle and fired a low wrist shot that deflected off Utah goaltender Alfie Michaud's left pad and trickled into the net to give the RoadRunners a 1-0 lead. Cory Pecker made it 2-0 with first power play goal in Phoenix ECHL history at 10:06 of the period. Pecker took a cross-ice feed from Ed Hill at the weak side of the net and slammed the puck past an out-of-position Michaud to increase the RoadRunners advantage. Chris Leinweber brought the Grizzlies (0-1-0) to within one with a two-man advantage power play goal at 14:32 of the second period. Leinweber fired a one-time blast from the right-wing circle off the feed from Tom Reimann over RoadRunners goaltender Mathieu Chouinard's right shoulder to make the score 2-1 after two periods. Joe Dusbabek extended the RoadRunners lead back to two goals at 3-1 when he connected with the first shorthanded goal in Phoenix ECHL history at 3:55 of the third period, beating Michaud over the glove with a shot from the left-wing circle. Utah would counter with another power play goal at 13:49 of the frame. Louis Dumont found an open Jeff Miles in front of the cage, and Miles lifted the puck over a sprawled Chouinard to cut the deficit to 3-2. The RoadRunners would finish off the Grizzlies though as Cory Pecker netted his second goal of the night with an empty-net tally at 18:47 to make the final 4-2. Utah out-shot the RoadRunners 44-31. Chouinard stopped 42 shots to earn the win. Michaud turned aside 27 shots in suffering the loss. The RoadRunners went 1-4 on the power play, while Utah went 2-7.

Saturday, Utah's Tom Reimann tallied a pair of goals and the Grizzlies held off a late Phoenix charge to defeat the RoadRunners 5-4 before 5207 at America West Arena. Like they did on Friday, the RoadRunners (1-1-0) struck quickly with a pair of goals in the opening ten minutes of the contest. Adam Kostichka picked off a clearing pass in the slot and beat Utah goaltender Alfie Michaud with a shot along the ice just 17 seconds into the first period to give the RoadRunners a 1-0 lead. Captain Dean Tiltgen gave Phoenix a 2-0 advantage at 9:43 of the period. Cory Pecker stripped his man of the puck and fed Tiltgen ahead on a breakaway, and Tiltgen slipped the puck through Michaud's pads for the score. The Grizzlies (1-1-0) would respond at the end of the period. Travis Rycroft jammed home Brad Herauf's rebound at 17:25 of the first past Phoenix goaltender Mathieu Chouinard to cut the RoadRunners lead to 2-1. Utah would grab the lead with a pair of goals in the second frame. Off a RoadRunners turnover, Jeff Miles found Anthony Battaglia in front of the cage, and Battaglia fired one past Mike Mole on in replace of Chouinard 1:48 into the second period to tie the game at 2-2. Reimann potted his first goal of the game with a one-time blast on the power play at 5:33 of the second to give Utah their first lead of the game at 3-2. Utah would increase their advantage to 4-2 early in the third period. Rycroft found an open Reimann in the slot, and Reimann spun and fired a shot over Mole's left shoulder at 2:31 of the third to increase the Grizzlies lead. Matt Craig made it 5-2 just 1:10 after the Reimann goal when off another RoadRunners turnover, Craig split the pads of Mole with a wrist shot at 3:41. Phoenix would fight back with a pair of power play tallies. Ben Knopp scored his first of the season when he took a pass from Pecker to the left of the cage and tipped the puck through Michaud at 8:40 to cut the deficit to 5-3. Pecker then got the RoadRunners to within one with another power play tally at 14:17 of the third, but it was not enough as the Grizzlies held on for the victory. Phoenix out-shot Utah 35-28. Mike Mole made 16 saves in suffering his first loss of the season while Alfie Michaud turned aside 31 shots for his first win. The RoadRunners went 2-8 on the power play, while Utah went 1-3.

Sunday, Utah's Matt Craig and Louis Dumont each had a goal and two assists and the Grizzlies scored three times in the second and third periods to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 7-3 before 2791 at America West Arena. Utah (2-1-0) opened the scoring with a power play goal 8:36 into the first period. Chris Leinweber re-directed Brad Herauf's shot past RoadRunners goaltender Mike Mole for a 1-0 lead. Phoenix would counter at 12:49 of the period when Ben Knopp tipped B.J. Gaustad's centering pass by Utah goaltender Justin Eddy to tie the score at 1-1. Cory Pecker gave the RoadRunners a 2-1 advantage when he scored 39 seconds into the second period. The lead was short lived though as Barett Eghoezt netted the equalizer at 5:10 beating Mole over the right shoulder to tie the game at 2-2. Tom Reimann gave Utah a 3-2 at 7:17 of the second on the power play when his drive from the point trickled off Mole's pads and into the net. The Grizzlies increased their lead to 4-2 by the end of period after a Matt Craig slap shot from the left-wing boards at 15:48 beat Mole along the ice. Utah made it 5-2 at 13:43 of the third period. Garett Cameron collected Craig's rebound in the slot and slammed it past Mole to increase the Grizzlies lead to three. Louis Dumont and Anthony Battaglia added separate empty-net goals at 18:27 and 19:35 respectively sandwiched around a Jason Deskins tally at 19:11 with the RoadRunners having an extra attacker. Phoenix out-shot Utah 34-22. Mole stopped 15 shots in dropping to 0-2. Eddy recorded 31 saves for the win. The RoadRunners went 0-4 on the power play while Utah was 2-4.

MVP STEVE NASH BACK AT AMERICA WEST: Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash will be the RoadRunners honorary captain at Friday's game vs. San Diego as part of NBA Weekend. Nash will drop the ceremonial first puck. The RoadRunners will wear Phoenix Suns themed jerseys during both games against San Diego, which will be available for purchase through an online auction at www.phxroadrunners.com. All proceeds from the auction will go directly to Phoenix Suns Charities.

OFF AND RUNNING: Forward Cory Pecker put together an opening weekend to remember, tallying four goals and seven points in three games to lead the ECHL in scoring after the first set of games. Two of Pecker's goals came on the power play, including the first power play goal in RoadRunners ECHL history. Pecker was the 2002 Ontario Hockey League Overage Player of the Year after potting 53 goals and 99 points in 56 games with the Erie Otters. He also tallied 25 goals and 42 points in 21 playoff games that season leading Erie to the OHL championship. Pecker is a former sixth round draft choice of the Calgary Flames at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

TOP OF THE HILL: Defenseman Ed Hill is tied for the ECHL lead in assists after collecting four in his first three games with the RoadRunners. Hill is also second among ECHL defensemen with three power play points.

WELCOME BACK: After an 18-month stint away from competitive hockey, RoadRunners captain Dean Tiltgen returned in fine form by recording a point in each of the three games and tallying his first goal of the season on Saturday. Tiltgen, who spent all of last season attending to family matters, has accumulated 381 points in 441 career games. In his last full season in 2002-03 as a member of the San Diego Gulls, Tiltgen tallied 28 goals and 66 points in 64 games.

BREAKING THEM IN: Five RoadRunners got an opportunity to make their professional debuts this past weekend. Defensemen Dusty Demianiuk, Taylor Christie, and Brad Woods, and center Shawn Snider were all in the line-up in Friday's win at Utah, while defenseman John Fieweger dressed in Sunday's home loss to the Grizzlies. Of the five true rookies, only Taylor Christie managed to crack the score sheet, collecting his first point with an assist on Joe Dusbabek's game-winning shorthanded goal on Friday.

NEWS & NOTES: Rookie center Chris Hodgson was placed on the seven-day injured reserve this afternoon. He will not be available for the upcoming weekend series with San Diego...The RoadRunners claimed forward Blake Robson off of waivers from the Columbia Inferno last week. Robson skated with Shaun Snider and goaltender Mike Mole at St. Francis Xavier University during the 2003-04 season, and tallied 13 goals and 24 points in 27 games. The Calgary, Alberta native led the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League in scoring in 2002-03 with a career-high 31 goals and 86 points in 68 games...Forward Adam Kostichka tallied a goal on his only shot of the weekend. He leads the ECHL with a 100% shooting percentage.

COMMUNITY UPDATE: Rocky and the RoadRunners will be the Phoenix Suns Tip-Off Gala from 11AM-3PM Sunday at America West Arena. Stop on by for your chance to meet the team, take pictures, and get autographs.

WATCH THE ﾂ然UNNERS 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 welcome former International Hockey League foe San Diego to America West Arena for a two-game series at 7:11PM on Friday and 7:11PM on Saturday. It's NBA Weekend at AWA as the RoadRunners will wear Phoenix Suns themed jerseys during both games. NBA Most Valuable Player and Suns guard Steve Nash will be the RoadRunners honorary captain at Friday's contest and drop the ceremonial first puck. The first 2,000 fans through the gates on Friday will receive RoadRunners Thunderstix. Saturday, the first 2,000 kids through the gates will receive RoadRunners Backpacks sponsored by Dr. Michael Zacher, DDS. For more information or to order tickets, call a RoadRunners Sales Representative at (602) 462-GOAL. Catch all three games live on News Talk Radio 1100AM KFNX and Pro Sports Radio.

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