| Phoenix Roadrunners | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Phoenix, Arizona |
| League | ECHL |
| Conference | National |
| Division | West |
| Operated | 2005–2009 |
| Home arena | Talking Stick Resort Arena |
| Colors | Carolina blue, black, sunflower gold, white |
| Owner(s) | Legacy Partners, LLC. (headed byRobert Sarver) |
| Head coach | Brad Church |
| Media | Arizona Republic East Valley Tribune |
| Affiliates | Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) San Jose Sharks (NHL) San Antonio Rampage (AHL) Worcester Sharks (AHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 2005–2009 | Phoenix Roadrunners |
ThePhoenix Roadrunners were a minor leagueice hockey team based inPhoenix, Arizona. They played in theECHL from the2005–06 season until the end of the2008–09 season when they ceased operations.
Barry Kemp, the majority owner of theLong Beach Ice Dogs, was awarded anECHL expansion franchise to play inOntario, California. In 2004, Kemp partnered with Rick Adams, David LeFevre, John Butler, and Mike Nelson to create Bloomington Partners[1][2] and transferred the Ontario ECHL franchise rights toBloomington, Illinois, with the intention to begin play in the2005–06 season.[3] After an apparent fallout among the Bloomington Partners,[4] the city voided its contract with the ownership group for the arena.[5] The ECHL franchise was sold to Legacy Partners, LLC, headed byPhoenix Suns' majority ownerRobert Sarver and the franchise was relocated to Phoenix. FormerPhoenix Coyotes starClaude Lemieux was named as the club's first president.[6]
In 2005, after four years without a minor league hockey team following the demise of thePhoenix Mustangs, the Phoenix Roadrunners' name was revived. In their first season, 2005–06, the Roadrunners began the season well but dropped throughout the year because of injuries and finished with the league's worst record.
In the off-season of 2006–07, the Roadrunners cemented an affiliation deal with thePhoenix Coyotes of theNational Hockey League. The Roadrunners once again started very well, staying above .500 for the beginning of the year. The team climbed up the National Division, topping out at fifth place. However, after several mid-season trades, the team ended up with a 27–40 record. Furthermore, with eight games left in the regular season, head coachRon Filion and general managerRay Delia resigned, Filion being replaced by assistant coachBrad Church.[7] The Roadrunners still qualified for their first trip to theKelly Cup playoffs. However, in the first round the team was swept 4–0 by their rivals, theLas Vegas Wranglers.
After the season ended, the Roadrunners decided to keep Church as head coach.[8] In the front office,Claude Lemieux chose to resign as president, but stated that he would continue to act as a consultant to the team.
ThePhoenix Coyotes chose not to renew their affiliation agreement for the 2007–08 season and instead went with the other minor league hockey team inArizona, theArizona Sundogs of theCentral Hockey League. The Roadrunners then signed a two-year affiliation agreement with theSan Jose Sharks and itsAmerican Hockey League affiliate, theWorcester Sharks on October 19, 2007.
The 2007–08 season started off well for the Roadrunners, with a sweep of their three-game series against theUtah Grizzlies. However, by November, the team was only able to win three of their thirteen scheduled games, taking the team lower into the standings. In December, the team went 4–7, although the team was finally able to muster a win against the Wranglers in their annual Midnight game. Despite the team's struggles, both Peder Skinner and Brian Yandle were named to the All-Star Team. By the end of the season, the Roadrunners fell short of making the playoffs and finished with a record of 24 wins, 39 losses, five overtime losses, four shoot-out losses, and 57 points. The team finished in fifth place in West Division.
The fourth and final season, 2008–09, started with the Roadrunners facing off against their rivals theVictoria Salmon Kings, with the three game series going two-of-three to the Runners. October ended with the team going 3-2-1 giving the team seven of a possible twelve points on the month. November ended with the team going 5-8-1, giving them 11 of a possible 28 points, bringing the team to fourth in their division. In December the team rallied around the outstanding goaltending ofCraig Kowalski and won two consecutive contests at home against the team's rivalLas Vegas Wranglers. The two game performance by Kowalski earned him the ECHL Goalie of the Week award, becoming the first Roadrunners Goalie sinceCody Rudkowsky in 2006 to win the award. The team also sawMike Fornataro and Michael Wilson go to the ECHL All-Star Game in January. The team finished the month going 4-6-0 and gave the team eight of a possible 20 points, and staying at fourth in their division. The team finished January with a 5-6-0 record, winning 10 of a possible 22 points. However, a series near the end of the season against theAlaska Aces did not go well, as they were outscored 18-5 throughout the series, and were swept, dashing the Roadrunners' playoff hopes.
The team then ceased operations after the 2008–09 season.[9]
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | SOL | Pts | Standing | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 72 | 20 | 47 | 5 | — | — | 45 | 6th of 6, West Div. | Did not qualify |
| 2006–07 | 72 | 27 | 40 | — | 2 | 3 | 59 | 4th of 5, West Div. | Lost in Conference quarterfinals, 0–4 vs.Las Vegas |
| 2007–08 | 72 | 24 | 39 | — | 5 | 4 | 57 | 5th of 5, West Div. | Did not qualify |
| 2008–09 | 72 | 30 | 37 | — | 2 | 3 | 65 | 5th of 5, West Div. | Did not qualify |
List of Phoenix Roadrunners alumni who played over 25 games in the ECHL and 25 or more games in theNational Hockey League.
Rocky Roadrunner is themascot of the Roadrunners. Rocky, who has been with the team for decades, is a mainstay from the early years in the desert. His service dates back all the way to 1967.[11] TheECHL team brought a major change of the entire costume, most notably the skin, which turned a bright yellow compared to a shade of brown in previous years.[12] Furthermore, rather than continuing the more lifelike version of previous years, theECHL's version chose to make a more cartoonish version of Rocky. The2007–08 ECHL season coincided with Rocky's 40th year of service, which was by far the oldest mascot in the history of any pro sports team inArizona.[13]
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