TOPEKA, Kan. – Topeka’s Max Harper netted his first career hat trick and the RoadRunners exploded for three goals in the first period Friday night en route to a 5-2 NAHL victory over Kenai River at the Kansas ExpoCentre.
The victory raised the RoadRunners’ record in the NAHL South to 9-13-2-1, while Kenai River slipped to 4-17-2. The two teams play again Saturday night in the series finale. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
Harper got things rolling just 4:07 into the game when he drove down the right wing and rifled a shot that slipped through the pads of Kenai goalie Robbie Goor. Defenseman Trevor Zins and forward John DeRoche assisted.
Eight minutes later, Jeff Makowski made it 2-0 when he one-timed a feed from Nick Granowicz from 35 feet out. Less than two minutes later Harper upped the lead to three after some nifty passing in the offensive zone from DeRoche – who had three assists on the night – and captain Marshall Bowery.
After Marcus Russell (Alex Frye and Andrew Hart) gave the RoadRunners a 4-0 lead just 1:30 into the second period, Kenai River got back into the game on goals less than three minutes apart from Ryan Mezera and Jonathan Marzec. But Topeka Ryan Snowden (24 shots) came up with several big saves to keep the Brown Bears off the board the rest of the way.
Harper finished off his three-goal night with a tally with 1:46 left in regulation.
