The Texas RoadRunners completed the weekend sweep of the Mid Cities Jr.  Stars this past weekend to open up the 2021-2022 season with a perfect 3-0 start.  The Runners showed that they could just be a team that sticks around for awhile this season.

Game one:

Mid Cities 0 @ TX RoadRunners 9 – Hunter Hein posted a 29-save shutout as the RoadRunners opened up South Division play with a 9-0 win over Mid Cities. Jason Ketterman scored the first two goals of the game and Travis Denton also scored to put the home side ahead 3-0 after the 1^st period. Tyler Love scored twice and Derek Boutin, Kyle Portlock, and Samuel Bourdon added 2^nd period goals and Jack Herron scored in the 3^rd period. Mid Cities goalies Drew Donohue and Adler Hoagland made 65 saves in the loss.

Game Two:

Mid Cities 3 @ TX RoadRunners 6 – Tyler Love scored twice to lead the RoadRunners to their second straight win over the Stars. The RoadRunners scored twice in each period, including two goals in the 1^st period from Love, goals from Ty Neckar and Eitan Geralnik in the 2^nd period, and goals from Spencer Platt and Derek Boutin in the 3^rd period. Mid Cities got two goals from Ilnur Madiarov and another from Ty Neckar in the loss. Nash Wilson made 15 saves in the win, while Adler Hoagland made 61 saves in the loss.

Game Three:

Mid Cities 1 @ TX RoadRunners 5 – The RoadRunners completed a three-game home sweep of the Stars thanks to 17 saves from goalie Hunter Hein. The Stars led 1-0 after the 1^st period with their lone goal from Blake Lind. The RoadRunners stormed back in the 2^nd period with four goals from Tim Marsico, Eitan Geralnik, Derek Boutin, and Samuel Bourdon. Jack Herron would complete the scoring with a goal in the 3^rd period. Stars goalie Adler Hoagland made 57 saves in the loss.

The RoadRunners are back to work this week in preparation for their next series VS the El Paso Rhinos, who come to town on October 1st through the 3rd.  ” We showed alright the first weekend but have lots of work to do to be ready for El Paso.  We need to be faster and more physical and begin to play to our strengths.  We have depth and have proven we can put pucks in the net but need to work on details a bit more.” states Runners coach Mike Beavis.

The Runners are also beginning to stir up a lot of excitement in the Bryan / College Station area as opening weekend showed decent crowds and some great fan support.  “We are in the community and are looking to show everyone that we are here to stay and want this to be an event that people talk about.  We are expanding our fan base as well as our involvement within the community.  It is paying off this season as we have quite a few sponsors and are working with several other interested parties that we hope will join our family.” States assistant coach Caleb Fitzpatrick.

The Runners also had two players named to the players of the week awards for the NA3HL.  Take a look !

Hein, recently returned to the team by the Odessa Jackalopes, NAHL for a bit more work before being given an opportunity to compete at the next level.  “Scott Deur was impressed with Hunter but also wanted him to feel the puck a bit more in game situations before calling him back up.   He has not faced game situations since last November when he sustained an injury that he has now completely recovered from.” states Coach Beavis

Love showed that he was everything the staff thought he would be by adding four goals over the three game weekend.  “Last season he was a two point a game guy and we are hoping that this year will be the same as that would be huge for us for sure” states Fitzpatrick

The Runners had several other players that could have been named to the Stars of the week including Captain Jaron Ketterman who had eight points over the weekend including two short handed goals on the same penalty kill shift to spark the team and lead by example in game one.  “Ketts was literally on fire this weekend, just dominant on the PK and the PP as well as both ends of the ice on his regular shifts.” states Beavis