Document Actions
Recruiting Staff
Scott Langer - Head Coach
Scott Langer enters his seventh season as Head Coach of the RoadRunners in 2010-11. He has guided his teams to the postseason in 5 of his 6 years behind the bench. His overall record (243-113-33) includes a postseason record of 20-19. He has won the NAHL South Division Regular Season Title twice, made it to the Division Finals three times and advanced to the Robertson Cup Tournament once. His RoadRunners were named NAHL Organization of the Year in 2007-08 and Langer was named NAHL GM of the Year in 2009-10.
Born and raised in Islip, NY, he has dedicated his life to the game of hockey. After a successful junior career as a player himself, he moved directly to the bench as an assistant coach for the AWHL /NAHL Bismarck Bobcats from 1997-2002. He spent one season as an assistant coach for the USHL Chicago Steel before accepting an assistant coach position with the expansion Lone Star Cavalry in 2003-04. After one season in Texas, the franchise was purchased and moved to Santa Fe, NM and the RoadRunners were born. Coach Langer assumed the Head Coach position after the relocation and has been at the helm ever since.
After three seasons in the Land of Enchantment, the franchise moved to Topeka, where it has grown to be the most successful franchise in Topeka's hockey history. In the first three seasons, the ‘Runners are an amazing 125-31-18, a winning pct. Of .770. Coach Langer is most proud of a different number, and that's a constantly growing number of RoadRunner players who have moved on to colleges, which is currently over 60.
RJ Enga - Assistant Coach
R.J. Enga returns for his second year with the RoadRunners in 2010-11, and comes from a long, distinguished hockey background. In Coach Enga's playing days at Colorado College, he earned a spot on the All-WCHA Academic Team as a junior in 1993-94, when he helped the Tigers win their first of three consecutive regular-season championships. He also received honorable mention in the all-league voting that season. He missed only one of a possible 159 games while at Colorado College. A veteran of the United States Select-17 and -18 programs before enrolling at CC, he skated for Team USA at Finland's Tampere Cup competition in August 1994. In both North America and Europe Coach Enga went on to play professionally, and was drafted in 1990 by the New York Islanders. Though he never played a regular season game, he did skate in preseason games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He retired after the 2002-2003 campaign, which he finished with the San Diego Gulls of the East Coast Hockey League. He earlier spent four seasons with the Colorado Springs Gold Kings and a year playing pro in Germany. His approach to the game complements that of Head Coach Scott Langer well, and together they are regarded as the brightest young coaching tandem in the league.
Tom "TK" Kelly - Head Scout
Tom Kelly is the Director of Player Personnel and Head Scout for the Topeka Roadrunners. He has been involved in recruiting Midget hockey players from around the country and especially the Dallas area in the last seven years. He has helped many players advance to the Junior A and Division 1 college levels.
Tom grew up playing hockey in the Philadelphia area and is a 1991 graduate of Shippensburg University. He played his youth midget and junior hockey in Philly and relocated to Texas as part of a job relocation. He still resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and is very active in youth and midget hockey in the Dallas Area. He was assistant coach for the Texas Attack AAA U18 team in 2007 and coached the U16 Dallas Stars AAA in 2008.
Tom is also the assistant coach of the Dallas Ice Jets AAA Midget Major team. Coach Kelly holds a Level 4 USA hockey certification.
Tom and his wife Alyson reside in Keller, TX and have a son Jack who also is an avid hockey player. In his spare time Tom enjoys hunting, fishing and is also a martial arts instructor.
Steve Jennings - Eastern Scout
Steve Jennings has been a scout with the Roadrunners since 2006. Steve originally began working with the Roadrunners as a traveling scout while living in Texas. In 2007, Steve relocated with his family to Pennsylvania where he serves as the East Region Scout.
Born and raised in the Boston area, Steve has been around hockey all his life. A 1991 Graduate of the US Naval Academy, Steve was a 4 year letter winner and Assistant Captain his Senior Year, helping to lead the team to the National Championship Tournament. Following graduation, Steve immediately began coaching, serving almost two seasons as Assistant Coach at Navy before being transferred to sea duty. Following his departure from active duty, Steve recommenced his coaching activity, serving as Assistant Coach at Lehigh University for 6 seasons, and also taking an active role in Youth Hockey in the Lehigh Valley Area of Pennsylvania. While living in Texas, Steve continued his active role in Youth Hockey while also taking on his scouting activities.
Steve and his wife Kris reside in Easton, PA with their two children, Matt and Meghan.
Denis Stephenson - Regional Scout
Denis brings 30 years of coaching and player development to the Roadrunners. Denis has coached at the Collegiate level in Canada - where he was the assistant coach for the ACAC champions Red Deer College Kings. While in Alberta Denis coached in the Maple Leaf Athletic Club and the Red Deer Chiefs organizations.
Denis moved to Dallas TX in 1996 and served as the Coach Mentor for the Dallas Jr Stars program, while in Dallas, Denis worked with the Dallas Stars to create the High School hockey program.
In 1997 Denis moved to Atlanta Georgia and has been active as a coach with the Junior Thrashers, Atlanta Fire, and Thunder hockey programs. Denis is a founding member of the Georgia High School Hockey League and serves as the Coach Education Program prime.
Denis is the Roadrunners scout for the NAPHL and Southern USA.
Jim Yette - Hockey Operations Manager
Jim enters his 4th season with the RoadRunners, and his 9th season with hockey in Topeka.
Orignally for upstate New York, Jim is no stranger to the game. His family have been long time hockey supporters. Jim's youngest daughter Cheyanne plays hockey for the Topeka Jr. RoadRunners, Pee Wee Division. Jim's son Chris is an Assistant Equipment Manager for the RoadRunners. In his spare time Jim coaches for the Topeka Jr. RoadRunners organization.
During the season, Jim's duties include team travel, equipment management and other hockey operations. In the off season, Jim works with the recruiting staff as the camp manager.