Topeka’s NAHL hockey team, formerly know as the Roadrunners, have scheduled the unveiling of the new team name on Tuesday, June 5th at the Kansas Expocentre. The event will be from 4pm-7pm at the Southeast Entrance of the Expocentre. There will be a Meet and Greet with new owner Lamar Hunt, Jr., Head Coach Simon Watson, and all the new staff for the team.
Burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks will also be available. Season Ticket information and pricing will be available on site. Season tickets may be purchased with cash, check, or card.
Lamar Hunt, Jr. announced in April that his company, Loretto Sports Ventures, had purchased the Topeka RoadRunners hockey team from Don Stone. Stone had owned the team since 2009. Hunt’s Loretto Sports Ventures also owns the Kansas City Mavericks, a professional team who plays in the ECHL.
“We are excited to complete the purchase of the Topeka RoadRunners,” Hunt said. “This is much more than just our company buying a hockey team. This is an important step in our ongoing mission to promote and grow the sport of hockey in our region. The model we are building in Kansas City to expand hockey at all levels is what we want to do with the RoadRunners franchise in Topeka,” said Hunt.
“We are thrilled to see hockey continue in Topeka,” said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “Lamar Hunt, Jr. and Loretto Sports Ventures are one of the biggest and well-established names in the sports industry and bring a wealth of experience to the NAHL. It’s always a big win for everyone involved, but especially the players that are entrusted to us to have such an experienced operator join the NAHL. We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership between Loretto Sports Ventures and the NAHL.”
Chiefs and hockey prizes will be given away in a free raffle
Three prizes will be given away in a free raffle:
Prize 1: 4 Club Level seats to the Chiefs Preseason Game August 9th, plus a pregame visit to the field with Lamar; parking pass included.
Prize 2: 6 people get to sit on the bench for warm-ups at the Home Opener. Club Level seats for the game.
Prize 3: $50 merchandise gift card for NEW Topeka Hockey merchandise.
The new Topeka hockey team will still play in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The Roadrunners placed more than 200 players in NCAA Division 1 hockey programs since their inception in 2007. The RoadRunners won three division titles in their 11 years on the ice in Topeka.
“I am pleased to announce that our General Manager/Head Coach for the Topeka team will be Simon Watson,” said Hunt. “Simon played Division I Hockey for St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York and played professionally in the Central Hockey League (CHL) for 5 seasons. He retired from the Missouri Mavericks in 2011 after being named CHL Man of the year. Simon has continued to be closely involved in youth hockey throughout the greater Kansas City area and it is my conviction that he has the background as a coach and player to lead the Topeka team to great success. He has pursued and lived the dream that the players in the NAHL hope to achieve by having both a successful college and professional hockey career. He is a great fit for this team and for the NAHL,” Hunt said.
GreatLIFE manager is passionate about Junior Golf
