RoadRunners Pull off Weekend Sweep

Jan 17, 2022

The RoadRunners made another statement this past weekend proving they will be a team to contend with down the stretch this season.  The Runners completed a three game home sweep of the Atlanta Capitals to improve their record to 21-4-1-1 and only two points behind the first place Texas Brahmas in the South division.

Friday Final:

Atlanta 2 @ TX RoadRunners 8: Dominic Mangiapane potted a pair of goals and added an assist to push the RoadRunners past Atlanta. Nicholas Lucas kicked off the scoring 4:58 into the 1st, Mangiapane and Derek Boutin following him up with goals to add to the lead. Mangiapane and Jack Klunk furthered the lead in the 2nd period with goals. In the final period Matthew Edestrand, Eitan Geralnik, and Samuel Bourdon each lit the lamp to widen the gap. For the Capitals, the two goals came from Kaleb Miller and Carson Holliday. Hunter Hein took the win between the pipes with 21 saves. Paul Jarvis and Hudgel Selk both spent time in net for Atlanta, Jarvis taking the loss making 41 stops on 49 shots.

Saturday Score:

Atlanta 2 @ TX RoadRunners 5: The RoadRunners scored a goal in all three periods to beat Atlanta and inch closer to the Brahmas in the South Division. Matthew Edestrand, Samuel Bourdon, and Jaron Ketterman each lit the lamp, Ketterman potting one shorthanded. Nico Corsaro and Ethan Sodoma also scored their first goals of the season to contribute to the victory. The Capitals’ goals came from Anthony O’Neal and Kaleb Miller, both their 15th of the season. Alexander Opalacz recorded 33 saves for Texas, Hudgel Selk taking the loss while keeping out 45.

Sunday Box Score:

Atlanta 2 @ TX RoadRunners 8: Eitan Geralnik scored a hat trick in the RoadRunners dominant 8-2 win over Atlanta. Geralnik, Derek Boutin, and Tim Marsico all found the back of the net in the 1st to give Texas an early lead. Dominic Mangiapane, Zach Giblin, and Geralnik added more goals to extend the lead in the 2nd. In the final period, Samuel Bourdon and Geralnik both potted a goal for good measure. Atlanta’s goals both came in the 2nd period, each scored by forward Anthony O’Neal. Hunter Hein secured the victory with 32 saves in net. Paul Jarvis and Coleman Garnier shared time in net for Atlanta, Garnier taking the loss with 26 saves on 31 shots.

The Runners are currently sitting sixth overall in the league with a 0.815 winning percentage and are on track for the franchises best finish ever.  In 2015-2016 the “Sugar Land Imperials” had a record of 22-24-1 which was good for a fourth place South Division finish and 22 overall in the league.  The following season the Imperials moved to College Station and were renamed “The College Station Spirit”.  In 2019 the team once again changed name and rebranded.  Don Stone brought in current Head Coach and GM Mike Beavis to rebuild the franchise.  “It’s been a lot of work to get things where we needed.  With Don Stone’s support and the hard work of our entire staff things are finally going well and we are being recognized as a quality organization that is also highly competitive.” states Beavis.

Beavis went onto say that it has been a huge group effort from his assistant coaches and support staff to the corporate side of things as well as a healthy relationship with their NAHL affiliate in Odessa.  Things are looking good for the team but they still have a long road ahead on their quest to bring playoffs and potentially  a Fraser Cup championship back to Bryan / College Texas.

The Runners will begin preparing for the Texas Brahmas this week and will have an off weekend before they travel to Dallas to match up VS the Brahmas January 28, 29.30 at5 NYTEX Sport Centre in North Richland Hills.