The Texas RoadRunners kept their hold on first place in the NA3HL South Division this past weekend with a three game weekend sweep of the Austin Ice Bats. The much needed six points kept the Roadrunners four points up on both the Texas Jr Brahmas and the Louisiana Drillers but the Runners have two games in hand vs the Brahmas and four games in hand over the Drillers. The final three weeks of the NA3HL season may be needed to determine who will be on top going into the playoffs. Atlanta, New Mexico and El Paso are battling for the fourth and final spot in the division with Austin and Mid Cities out of contention.
Game one recap:
TX RoadRunners 4 @ Austin 0 – Hunter Hein had to make just 8 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the RoadRunners beat Austin, 4-0. Texas took a 2-0 lead in the 1st period thanks to goals from Porter Wolk and Tristen Elmhurst. Derek Boutin would add a 2nd period goal and Grant Hanifen scored in the 3rd period. Ice Bats goalie Bryson Frazee made 67 saves in the loss. The RoadRunners outshot the IceBats 71-8 in the contest.
Game two recap:
TX RoadRunners 10 @ Austin 0 – Recent NCAA commit Eitan Geralnik had five points as the RoadRunners outshot the Ice Bats 66-8 in a 10-0 win, which officially clinched a playoff spot for the RoadRunners. Nine different players scored for Texas, which included 1st period goals from Jack Herron, Matvey Ivanov, and Geralnik. In the 2nd period, Texas added three more goals from Kyle Portlock, Derek Boutin, and Ivanov. In the 3rd period, the RoadRunners added four more goals from Noah Easterson, Adrian Sanchez, Nick Lucas, and Tristen Elmhurst. Nash Wilson made 8 saves in the win, while Owen Reeve made 56 saves in the loss.
Game three recap:
Austin 1 @ TX RoadRunners 4 – The RoadRunners outshot the Ice Bats 73-8 as they picked up a 4-1 win and three-game weekend sweep. Austin was first to score on a goal from Nathan Clark. It was all RoadRunners after that as goals from Brandon Wicker and Tyler Love later in the 1st period made it 2-1. After a scoreless 2nd period, the RoadRunners pulled away in the 3rd period with goals from Noah Easterson and Kyle Portlock. Hunter Hein made 8 saves in the win, while Bryson Frazee made 69 saves in the loss.
“It was good that we were able to work on a few things over the weekend and get some great opportunities with higher than normal shot counts but we still have a way to go both mentally and physically. it was also a good feeling knowing we will be around for the post season but now our focus is winning the regular season for the South.” stated Roadrunners Coach Mike Beavis.
The Runners still have a bit of work to do before entering the post season with ten regular season games to go. The team will take on the Texas Jr. Brahmas Tuesday afternoon at 12:00 before heading to New Mexico this coming weekend to take on the Ice Wolves in a three game set. As always you can catch all of your Texas RoadRunners games live @ hockeytv.com