Great article, easily one of the most important figures in Arizona hockey history and definitely had an effect on me and my hockey playing days growing up here.
Randy used to play in my 40+ rec league at the now-closed Castle Sports Club. He wasn't speedy, but he would routinely dangle everyone coast-to-coast whenever he wanted to. Inline is played with 4 skaters. They had two in the box, and he still scored against us 2-on-4.
Randy is the best! I've known him since '89 when he was the Runners goalie (along with David Littman, who went on to a career with EA sports working on the NHL video game series). I was a 12 year old working in the Roadrunners locker room and Randy couldn't have treated me better as a kid. He even dragged me along to work at his goalie school at Oceanside one summer. Now, 30+ years later, BTM is outfitting my son for his Squirt league. One of the many amazing things about the hockey community is how small it is, even in metro of 5 million people.
Randy has always treated his customers so well. I started playing a few years ago and he was so kind and helpful when I was picking out some gear. This is a great article!
fun article, my son was outfitted by BTM when he was playing hockey, from the squirts up thru high school, his goalie equipment was top notch..thank you BTM..fun tidbit, my son hates cheese, as well
Great memories of 1989 Roadrunners opener - I was there and we relished the return of hockey after 10 long years of no hockey. The Coliseum was a great hockey venue with excellent sightlines. Small correction - the Roadrunners outdrew the Suns when they were winning championships in the WHL, before they were in the WHA.
Enjoy these articles about the fans. I can remember when inline skates first came out race directors in road running races had the big idea of including them in 5k races.
We’d be bent over with our finger on our stop watch anticipating the starters pistol and look over at these curious racers wearing skates....
Ha! I don’t recall but that was the 2nd act in the watering down of my sport. First was the 5k distance itself. Before 1980 you never saw any race under 10k. Race Director’s wanted to make more money so they shortened the distance to bring in more runners. Pandora’s Box was opened. Then it went to inline skate races, then the big killer...walking.
Then the charities took over. Run for Cancer, Run for Alzheimer’s, Run for this, Run for that..and the original hippie runners, the runners who tied their hair back in a race, worked all the while training 80-100 mile weeks and knew every Velvet Underground song themselves had to once again go underground...ha
Thanks for the articles like this though..that guy sounds like a hard core, where the rubber meets the road athlete.. enjoyed it.
Shout out to the Irish cross country coach that I met while sitting on my bench at Gila River Arena hours before a game. He was carrying his sons kit bag and hockey sticks and was wearing a Mesa Community College cross country shirt! His stories about XC racing in Ireland were great and I hope his boy is still playing hockey!!! ( Hope your still coaching!)
Thanks Craig. Randy deserves every ounce of recognition and accolades sent his way for what he has done for this great sport in Arizona. He is an icon and a legend for those of us who grew up playing hockey here in the valley.
I took a class at Oceanside to learn to skate when I was about 50 years. BTM outfitted me with everything I needed including a Jill, which is a woman's protective hockey cup comparable to a jock cup. Who knew?? It came in handy in class when we played hockey, got hit with the first puck right there! As I told Nick Merkley when he was teaching me to shoot "I dominated that class".....of course they were all 9 years old or younger. Good read, brought back good memories. Kyle talks about his uncle at meet and greets.
Great article, easily one of the most important figures in Arizona hockey history and definitely had an effect on me and my hockey playing days growing up here.
We'll have to get Randy and Kyle on the podcast to spin some yarns.
Randy used to play in my 40+ rec league at the now-closed Castle Sports Club. He wasn't speedy, but he would routinely dangle everyone coast-to-coast whenever he wanted to. Inline is played with 4 skaters. They had two in the box, and he still scored against us 2-on-4.
Ha! Great anecdote.
Randy is the best! I've known him since '89 when he was the Runners goalie (along with David Littman, who went on to a career with EA sports working on the NHL video game series). I was a 12 year old working in the Roadrunners locker room and Randy couldn't have treated me better as a kid. He even dragged me along to work at his goalie school at Oceanside one summer. Now, 30+ years later, BTM is outfitting my son for his Squirt league. One of the many amazing things about the hockey community is how small it is, even in metro of 5 million people.
So true. I have had that same experience my entire life with the hockey community.
Randy has always treated his customers so well. I started playing a few years ago and he was so kind and helpful when I was picking out some gear. This is a great article!
It's a great store. We actually did a Nattie Hattie from one of their locations a while back.
fun article, my son was outfitted by BTM when he was playing hockey, from the squirts up thru high school, his goalie equipment was top notch..thank you BTM..fun tidbit, my son hates cheese, as well
Ha! Birds of a feather.
Great memories of 1989 Roadrunners opener - I was there and we relished the return of hockey after 10 long years of no hockey. The Coliseum was a great hockey venue with excellent sightlines. Small correction - the Roadrunners outdrew the Suns when they were winning championships in the WHL, before they were in the WHA.
I've got another, older Roadrunners memory coming later this offseason...
Outstanding! Just posted my souvenir cup from 1989 opener to your Twitter - loved the Roadrunners.
I watched a game a million years ago with my dad when we were vacationing down here.
Enjoy these articles about the fans. I can remember when inline skates first came out race directors in road running races had the big idea of including them in 5k races.
We’d be bent over with our finger on our stop watch anticipating the starters pistol and look over at these curious racers wearing skates....
Who won?
Ha! I don’t recall but that was the 2nd act in the watering down of my sport. First was the 5k distance itself. Before 1980 you never saw any race under 10k. Race Director’s wanted to make more money so they shortened the distance to bring in more runners. Pandora’s Box was opened. Then it went to inline skate races, then the big killer...walking.
Then the charities took over. Run for Cancer, Run for Alzheimer’s, Run for this, Run for that..and the original hippie runners, the runners who tied their hair back in a race, worked all the while training 80-100 mile weeks and knew every Velvet Underground song themselves had to once again go underground...ha
Thanks for the articles like this though..that guy sounds like a hard core, where the rubber meets the road athlete.. enjoyed it.
Shout out to the Irish cross country coach that I met while sitting on my bench at Gila River Arena hours before a game. He was carrying his sons kit bag and hockey sticks and was wearing a Mesa Community College cross country shirt! His stories about XC racing in Ireland were great and I hope his boy is still playing hockey!!! ( Hope your still coaching!)
Thanks Craig. Randy deserves every ounce of recognition and accolades sent his way for what he has done for this great sport in Arizona. He is an icon and a legend for those of us who grew up playing hockey here in the valley.
I took a class at Oceanside to learn to skate when I was about 50 years. BTM outfitted me with everything I needed including a Jill, which is a woman's protective hockey cup comparable to a jock cup. Who knew?? It came in handy in class when we played hockey, got hit with the first puck right there! As I told Nick Merkley when he was teaching me to shoot "I dominated that class".....of course they were all 9 years old or younger. Good read, brought back good memories. Kyle talks about his uncle at meet and greets.