TOPEKA, KS   JULY 3,  2008:   In conjunction with the NAHL, the Topeka RoadRunners today released their schedule for the 2008-09 season, the teams second season in Kansas.  

            Earlier in the week, the NAHL announced the schedule for the leagues annual Showcase Tournament held in Blaine, MN which has become the official start to the season. This years Showcase begins on Wednesday, September 17, and the RoadRunners first opponent will be the Alpena (MI) Ice Diggers. This will mark the first time these two teams have ever met. On Thursday the RoadRunners face the Marquette (MI) Rangers, also for the first time. Friday sees the ‘Runners face off with the North Iowa Outlaws, followed on Saturday by a game with the US National Development Team.

            The RoadRunners Home Opener will be played Friday September 26 against the now division rival Springfield Jr. Blues. During a pregame ceremony, the ‘Runners will hang their South Division championship banner to the rafters at the Kansas Expocentre. The teams will play again Saturday, September 27, after which specially designed game worn uniforms will be sold to fans in a live auction. “This years Home Opener jerseys are distinctly different from our normal game jerseys”, said Director of Media and Broadcasting Arch Ecker. “We think the fans will really enjoy them”. The jersey design will be on display on the teams website as Opening Weekend draws closer.

            Other highlights in the home schedule include the two time defending Robertson Cup champion St. Louis Bandits coming in for a weekend set October 24 – 25,  a New Years Eve game with Springfield, and the expansion Wenatchee (WA) Wild making their only visit to Topeka in January. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs took the RoadRunners to overtime in a decisive Game 5 in April before Topeka put the game away, and the ‘Dogs return to the Capital City on January 15^th. The season ends on the final weekend of March, with playoffs commencing the first week of April.

            The remainder of the schedule was a complicated process with the recent division realignments and addition of three expansion teams, another franchise relocating,  and then the dormancy of the Texas Tornado franchise because of facility renovations. For Topeka, seeing the Alaska teams move into their own division didn’t take away from the 2 trips the ‘Runners will make to the Last Frontier, once in October to Fairbanks and Wenatchee, then again in December to Wasilla and Kenai.  Historically, the RoadRunners have fared well in the 49^th state, going 16-4-3 in games played there.

            In all, the RoadRunners will play 27 games at Landon Arena, 27 games away, and 4 at the Showcase Tournament, for a 58-game schedule. Season tickets are available now by calling 785-286-7825 or by visiting the RoadRunners office on the west side of the Expocentre. The RoadRunners in their first season posted a record of 39-11-8 (.741) which was not only a franchise record, but also the most successful hockey season ever in the city of Topeka. They also won the South Division regular season AND playoff title. Attendance rose sharply in the second half of the season as hockey fever caught on in northeast Kansas. Averaging nearly 1,300 fans a night in the first half, the ‘Runners drew and average of 1,847 down the stretch, with a record setting crowd of 2,922 to close out the regular season.

NOTES:  

• The RoadRunners have excelled at the Showcase in prior years, going 10-2-4.
• Topeka’s second and final open tryout camp is set for July 17-20 in Woodridge, IL.
• Players will begin reporting to Topeka in mid-August.
• The team will host free-to-the-public the 2^nd Annual “Blue-White Game”. Details to be posted online.
• Head Coach Scott Langer begins his 5^th season at the helm. He has amassed a total record of 148-84-23 (.625) , including 11 wins against 10 losses in postseason play.