With the shaky history of past Topeka hockey teams, it was important for the RoadRunners to continue the momentum the team built while winning the division championship last season.

After six games in the 2008-09 season, there is little doubt that last year’s playoff run was a fluke.

The RoadRunners have scored 28 goals in the span of 10 days, including eight in their weekend series against the Springfield Jr. Blues.

If anything, the Topeka squad has looked even better than they did a year ago, in large part to forward Alec Hagaman.

The new acquistion leads the team in goals with seven.

“I played for Peoria (Ill.) last year, so it helps that I’m real familiar with the competition,” said Hagaman after scoring twice in Saturday’s 4-2 win against Springfield. “I feel like it’s been a good transition, and obviously the offense is working out.”

After edging out the Jr. Blues in a shootout Friday, the RoadRunners put their opponents away early in the second game.

Topeka scored the game’s first three goals, and Springfield didn’t score their second goal until the third period, when the game was already out of reach.

The team now has two weeks off before traveling to Alaska for two games against Fairbanks.

Facing off against playoff-caliber teams early in the season is a test for the RoadRunners, but with 14 returning players, the team finally has some consistency and expects to win.

“We like the way we’ve started off this season,” said coach Scott Langer. “(Saturday’s) game could have been better. We haven’t reached our potential yet, but we’ve been able to win against quality competition. We need to continue that now in Alaska.”