The Rail Yard Dawgs announced on Tuesday that goaltender Austyn Roudebush has signed a contract to return to Roanoke, and will join the team immediately. Goalie Cody Karpinski was also released from the roster on Tuesday.
Roudebush appeared in 13 games for the Dawgs during the 2019-20 season after being loaned from the Mentor Ice Breakers in the FPHL. The six-foot-two net-minder went 5-2 with a goals against average of 2.50 and one shutout before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. The 2021-22 season will be his third in the Southern Professional Hockey League.
“During the 2019-20 season, Roudebush established himself as a starting goaltender for us,” said Rail Yard Dawgs head coach Dan Bremner. “Last season with Knoxville, he proved that he can play in the SPHL with consistency. I’m excited to see what he does in the net this season.”
Roudebush started the season with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, and even had the opportunity to play the third period of a preseason game in his hometown this past weekend. He was able to stop eight of the nine shots that he faced in Toledo’s 4-1 loss to Kalamazoo on Saturday night.
“It was exciting,” said Roudebush on playing in his hometown. “I had a lot of friends and family up in the suite watching. I had my dad up there. There were some guys here that I grew up playing hockey with. It was cool to be on the main stage in Toledo, give them a show, and prove myself.”
The Toledo, Ohio native played the majority of the 2020-21 season with the Knoxville Ice Bears after the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs opted not to play due to COVID-19 mandates in Virginia. During his time with Knoxville, he went 13-4 with a .943 save percentage and earned All-SPHL Second Team honors.
Karpinski was signed to Roanoke’s training camp and was a member of the Opening Night roster for the Dawgs. Prior to joining Roanoke, the six-foot-one goaltender played four professional seasons, primarily in the ECHL (Indy, Rapid City) and FPHL (Columbus, Delaware, Port Huron, Watertown).
Roanoke is back in action on Friday, October 22, against the Fayetteville Marksmen. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Season tickets, packages, group tickets, and single game tickets are on sale now!