Bulls Big First Bowls Runners 4-1
You can’t lose a game in the first period but starting slow can hurt you. The Bulls came to Topeka Friday night and opened with a bang, scoring four in the first on their way to a 4-1 victory over the RoadRunners.
Tyler Gernhoffer broke the seal for Amarillo when the game was still young, sending the puck past Drew Vogler at :55 of the first period. Brett Szajner made it 2-0 almost three minutes later, finding the net on a power play goal after a cross checking call on Andrew Roye. Mitchell Vanderburgh was whistled for hooking at 14:22, which led to James Ring’s power play goal at 14:31 (assisted by Tomas Nechala and Jasen Fernsler) that cut the score to 2-1. But the Bulls answered with two more goals to end the period (by Roman Amirato and Brady Ferguson respectively) that sent the Runners into the intermission reeling 4-1.
PJ Bridges assumed goal duty after the break and the Runners held serve in the second but were unable to close the gap with any scoring of their own. For his part in the game, Bridges all 15 shots against him. The third period went much the same as the one before it as the Runners played inspired defense but were unable to chip away, eventually falling by the score of 4-1.
The Runners and Bulls return to the ice for game two Saturday night at 7pm. The game will be the second of a double-header as the Topeka Capitals take on the Dallas Junior Stars at 3pm. Tickets for Caps game are only $5 and parking is free. There will also be a Pancake Feed on Sunday morning at the Expo’s Exhibition Hall at 8am. Adults can eat for $5, children can eat for $3. For more information on the games and tickets, call 785-286-PUCK or visit www.TopekaRoadRunners.com.