by Arch Ecker
Long time RoadRunner defenseman Bob Marx will continue his hockey career in college for the St. Mary’s University Cardinals, a Division III program in Winona, MN.
Marx has the lone distinction of appearing in each of the first four seasons the ‘Runners played in Topeka. The Sioux City, IA native was playing Midget AAA hockey for the Russell Stover Stars in Overland Park, KS when injuries on the RoadRunner roster sent Head Coach / GM Scott Langer searching for capable defensemen to fill the gap. “We’d heard good things about Marx and felt that in our situation he could handle the job”, Langer recalled. He stayed with the ‘Runners for three games, picking up a pair of assists and registering a plus 1. The following season he made the team and became a fixture, playing in over 50 games a year for the next three seasons until aging out of Junior A. Over the course of his junior career, he tallied 13 goals and 49 assists along with a plus 33 rating, appearing in 165 regular season games. The 165 game mark is second most in franchise history, second only to Aaron Gens (171). He also added 13 points in 30 playoff games.
Marx is entering school in Pre-Dentistry. When he arrives on campus, he will see a few familiar faces, as the Cardinals roster has at least 14 NAHL veterans, including former RoadRunner Stu Jacobson, and one-time RoadRunner prospect Austin Balko. The Cardinals play a 25-game schedule in the MIAC (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).
Reflecting on his time in Topeka, Marx is quick to praise his coaches. “I’ve gotten a lot of help from everyone along the way, but I’m most grateful to Smack (Coach Langer) for believing in me and helping become the person I am today.” He went on to add, “It’s true what they say here. We’re a family, and I’m a RoadRunner for life."
Marx is the tenth RoadRunner from the 2010-11 roster to make college plans.