STOCKTON, Calif. – The Tucson Roadrunners played in their second preseason game in as many nights against the Stockton Heat. The Heat came out on top, thanks to Mark Jankowski’s three goals, with a final score of 3-2.
A hat trick is an infrequent event, however, it is interesting to note that in both of the Roadrunners’ preseason games, a player scored one. In the game against the Barracuda it was Marcus Sorenson. In the game with the Heat, it was Mark Jankowski.
Jankowski is a first round Calgary Flames draft pick from 2012 (21st overall) who, after graduation from Providence College appeared in eight games with the Heat last season (2 goals, 4 assists).
The Roadrunners’ Lindsay Sparks opened the scoring early in the first when his goal beat Jon Gillies glove side. Mark Cooper skated towards the net, then wristed the puck across the crease to Sparks. Cooper and Hunter Fejes were credited on the assist. The Heat trailed until 17:08 into the period, when on a power play, Mark Jankowski caught a loose puck in front of goalie Adin Hill, and snapped it home for the equalizer goal.
Jankowski scored his second goal of the game when Emile Poitier got the puck in the neutral zone, and raced towards the net. Hill stopped the shot, but left the puck on the doorstep too long, allowing Jankowski to snap it in the net, 3:22 into the second period. Tucson’s Kyle Wood scored their second goal, when on a power play at the 11:16 mark; his slap shot from the blue line in the slot beat Jon Gillies, to knot the teams at two-a-piece. Brendan Perlini and Chris Mueller were credited on the assists.
The score remained the same, until 18:53, when Jankowki won a faceoff in the Tucson defensive zone, and threw the puck towards the net, it went high, seeming to hit the top of the net, then bounced back hitting Hill in the back of his shoulder, and rolled into the goal for the hat trick.
Jankowski even seemed a little surprised after the game.
“I don’t know exactly how it went in, maybe it hit the goalie or maybe one of their D coming to the net. I don’t know, I just saw it laying there in the net after, so it was good to get that one and get the win.”
“Obviously, it was good to come back and have success right off the bat and it’s preseason so we have a lot to work on as well,” Jankowski said when asked about how it felt to get the win in this preseason match. ”I’m playing with two really good line mates there in [Andrew] Mangiapane and [Matt] Frattin, so it’s easy to produce with guys like that.”
Gillies earned the win with 19 saves in the game, while Hill was kept busy with 34 saves in the 3-2 win.
Heat Coach Ryan Huska spoke with media following the game. “I think for us there’s a confidence factor, knowing that if we make a mistake that Jon [Gillies] will make a save. And I thought that he was steady again tonight. When we were on our heels, he was there to make a save and I think your backend responds that way. So we know if something happens, that there’s a pretty good chance he’s going to bail us out, so even if you’re younger, you have a lot more confidence because of Jon in the net. It was a good first start for us.”
The Roadrunners head back home, while the Heat has one more preseason match in Bakersfield against the Condors Saturday night.
Opening night is next, when the Heat take on the San Jose Barracuda on October 15 at the Stockton Arena. The Roadrunners will open their inaugural season in San Diego against the Gulls on October 14, 2016.
Roadrunners defenceman Justin Hache (r) covering Mark Jankowski – Photo by Jack Lima
Roadrunner goalie Adin Hill makes a diving stop on a shot from Colby Robak (43) – Photo by Jack Lima
Mike Angelidis (10) fires a back-handed shot at the Roadrunners goalie Adin Hill – Photo by Jack Lima
Mark Jankowski (17) watches as the puck enters the net for his game winning Hat Trick goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Mark Jankowski (17) circles around the back of the net – Photo by Jack Lima
Heat players celebrate Mark Jankowski’s 3rd period goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Hunter Smith (34) makes pass to the front of the net, past Lindsay Sparks – Photo by Jack Lima
Keegan Kanzig (8) looses his stick as he defends Mark Cooper – Photo by Jack Lima
Lindsay Sparks opens the scoring with a first period goal – Photo by Jack Lima
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