‘Runners set for road trip

Dan+The+Man+Forward+Dan+Dupell+looks+to+take+a+shot+during+a+recent+series+with+the+Wichita+Falls+Wildcats.+Dupell+scored+Topeka%E2%80%99s+first+goal+last+Saturday+night%2C+as+Topeka+defeated+the+Springfield+Jr.+Blues+5-1.%0A
Gallery • 2 Photos
Dan The Man Forward Dan Dupell looks to take a shot during a recent series with the Wichita Falls Wildcats. Dupell scored Topeka’s first goal last Saturday night, as Topeka defeated the Springfield Jr. Blues 5-1.

Richard Kelly / Washburn Review
February 14, 2012

The Topeka RoadRunners were able to split their series this past weekend with the Springfield Jr. Blues.

Topeka (31-13-2) held the lead for a portion of the game Friday but could not hold it, as Springfield (20-22-2) rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win 5-2.

Forward Ryan White had another strong effort for Topeka in Friday’s contest, scoring a powerplay goal at 9:10 of the second period to tie the game at one. Defenseman Kevin Patterson scored his third goal of the season at 16:25 to give the RoadRunners the lead, but it was all they could muster. Topeka finished the game with a 34-21 shot advantage. In the loss, goaltender Peter Traber stopped 16 of the 20 shots he faced, with Springfield’s fifth goal coming when the net was empty late in the game. Goaltender Gabe Antoni stopped 32 of 34 shots in the victory.

Saturday proved to be the more successful game for Topeka. Behind a strong second period, Topeka defeated Springfield 5-1 in a game in which they lead throughout.

The RoadRunners scored early when forward Dan Dupell scored at 1:20 of the first period. Antoni turned aside the other 11 shots he faced in the opening period.

In the second period, forward Andrew O’Leary scored a powerplay goal at 6:04 to make it 2-0. Forward Gage Hough scored 28 seconds later to make it 3-0. Late in the period, forward Willem Nong-Lambert scored his first goal with the RoadRunners to give Topeka a 4-0 advantage. Topeka outshot Springfield 17-16 in the second period.

In the final period, forward Sean Gaffney scored at 8:46 to make it 5-0. At 16:33, Springfield forward Josef Pontasch scored an unassisted goal, but it was too late for the Jr. Blues. Traber stonewalled Springfield for much of the contest, stopping 29 of 30 shots. Antoni made 34 saves on 39 shots in the loss.

The RoadRunners continue their six-game roadtrip this weekend, as they travel to Fairbanks, Alaska to take on the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Fairbanks forwards Gabe Levin and JT Osborn lead the North American Hockey League with 71 points and 67 points respectively. Faceoff is at 9:30 p.m.