Sunday Wrap-Up: Texas RoadRunners Open Season With Victory

West Texas 1 @ New Mexico 4 - The New Mexico Ice Wolves defeated the West Texas Wranglers on Sunday, 4-1, inside Outpost Ice Arena. The Ice Wolves opened up the scoring just under three minutes into the opening frame as Hunzeker Piersimoni netted a power-play goal to take a 1-0 lead for his third goal of the season. Tanner Ross extended the New Mexico lead to two as he lit the lamp for his fifth goal of the season five minutes into the middle stanza. West Texas cut the deficit in half two minutes after the even strength goal when Viviaan Sood corralled a puck in the slot off the stick of Jack Banion. Ross tallied his second goal of the game and the second power-play goal of the contest to give New Mexico a 3-1 lead as both teams headed into the second intermission. In the third period, Kai Shepard scored the insurance marker to conclude the scoring and secure a 4-1 New Mexico victory. In net, New Mexico’s Chase Rayburn made 20 saves and was credited with the win. The Wrangler’s netminder Arden Crowser turned aside 21 shots in the loss.

Oklahoma City 5 @ Tulsa 6 (SO) - The Tulsa Oilers bested the Oklahoma City Warriors on Sunday, 6-5, inside WeStreet Ice Center. London McDougall scored the lone goal of the first period to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead at the 19:03 of the first period. In the second period, Jesse Mismash netted his second goal of the season to give Oklahoma City a 2-0 lead. Rodion Dubrovin responded for the Oilers to cut the score to 2-1. In the third period, both teams netted seven total goals and two goals via special teams. Tulsa took a 5-2 lead with goals from John Scown (2), William Saunders and Luka Yahola. The Warriors secured the win with three goals in the nine minutes with Elijah Gilbertson, King McDougall and Carter Kelley lighting the lamp. In net, Tulsa’s Derek Hetland made 29 saves in the win. Oklahoma City’s Sean Biebrich turned aside 37 saves in the loss.

Texas 7 @ Atlanta 3 - The Texas Roadrunners beat the Atlanta Capitals on Sunday, 7-3, inside Atlanta Ice Forum. In the first period the Roadrunners took a 3-0 lead with goals from Memphis Palmer-Gummer, Kristopher Pope and Nathan Pickett. Ben Parker got Atlanta on the board in the final 30 seconds of the first period to make the score 3-1 going into the first intermission. Atlanta extended the lead to 5-1 in the second period when Benjamin Deutsch and Vincent Colangelo lit the lamp. Atlanta’s Joseph Hendix-Trubhe made the score 5-2 in the final three minutes of the middle frame. In the final frame, Charles Lemon put Atlanta back within two as he was sprung on a breakaway 40 seconds into the period. Four minutes later, Kristopher Pope extended the Texas lead to 6-3 as he converted on the power play. Texas continued to put on the pressure as Bradley Hart made the score 7-3 and scored his first junior hockey goal. At the 7:08 mark of the third period the Roadrunners thought they extended the lead to five but Schweitzer’s goal was waived off due to Goaltender Interference. In net, Colby Lee made 33 saves for the Roadrunners and secured the victory. Atlanta’s Max Pelton made 37 saves and was credited with the loss.