by Roger Pongratz

If you’re a regular Roadrunners fan, no doubt you’ve seen a young towhead on the scoreboard, usually several times a game. Reporting that he’s been on the big screen “100, maybe” times, “at least once” per game, this boy is 11-year-old 6th Grader Marvin Simmons.

“I grew up with it; I was three months old when I saw the old Roadrunners play”. A lifelong hockey fan, Marvin’s family are season ticket holders and he attends games with his mother Linda and father Dennis. The youngster names the Roadrunners as his favorite team and the Stockton Thunder as his least favorite of their ECHL rivals. Choosing Jeff Kyrzakos and Daniel Sisca as his favorite Roadrunners players, Marvin calls Paul Kariya his NHL idol.

Not just a fan, Marvin has been playing since age five and is budding hockey star. “My team is called the Ozzie Ice Bears, and I’m a pee-wee “A” ”, coached by “Sean Whyte, from the old Roadrunners”. Regarding Phoenix fan favorite Whyte, Marvin comments that “ he screams, but he’s cool”. An Ozzie Ice league MVP, the young center posted 52 goals last season, despite sustaining an injury where “a skate went over my finger and I had to get like nine stitches”.

When asked if the young fan would like to play in the NHL, “Oh yeah, and If I can’t I’ll probably just be a herpetologist; I really like reptiles”.

See you at the games, Marvin!