Tucson, Arizona - The Tucson Roadrunners drop their home opener to the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Saturday, October 21st. Goaltender Matthew Villalta stopped 23 of 27 shots on goal and gave Tucson a chance until the final horn sounded.
//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/for-web.png400495Cole Schoepke//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Roadrunners-Wordmark-on-Dark-300x84.pngCole Schoepke2023-10-21 23:29:132023-10-21 23:29:14Game #3: Tucson Roadrunners (0) vs Coachella Valley Firebirds (4)
The Tucson Roadrunners square off against the defending Western Conference Champions Coachella Valley Firebirds for their home opener of the 2023-24 season. The Roadrunners began the season with a strong two-game sweep over the Central Division Champions Texas Stars with five different goal scorers contributing to the sweep. The Firebirds dropped their one and only game of the opening weekend to the Bakersfield Condors by a score of 3-2 and look to grab their first win of the season on the road. This will be the first time the two desert teams meet since the opening round of the 2022-23 Calder Cup Playoffs.
//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/495_40010_21-GAME-DAY.jpg400495Jonathon Schaffer//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Roadrunners-Wordmark-on-Dark-300x84.pngJonathon Schaffer2023-10-21 07:00:002023-10-21 10:59:10Game #3: Tucson Roadrunners vs Coachella Valley Firebirds
Tucson, Arizona – The Tucson Roadrunners were victorious 2-1 against the Texas Stars on Saturday night as they improved to 2-0 to open the season in the weekend sweep of the Stars. Goaltender Matthew Villalta appeared in both games this weekend and five different players scored goals in the weekend sweep in 120 minutes where Tucson never trailed. It took just over 10 minutes for scoring to change when Dylan Guenther, the 9th overall pick for Arizona in the 2021, ripped one past the Texas net minder to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead. Guenther was assisted by Zach Sanford and Jan Jenik on the play. Shots were even through the period at nine a piece and the Roadrunners killed off three penalties successfully heading into the locker room with the goal advantage.
Tucson would get their first power play of the night in the second period but were unable to do any damage. It wasn’t until 21-year-old Tucson defensemen Max Szuber scored off the offensive zone draw adding a big goal to the Roadrunners lead. Guenther found himself with the primary assist and Justin Kirkland added to his point total as well.
The Roadrunners began the season Friday with their sixth-straight opening night win in a 3-2 result over the Stars in game number one of the series. Tucson will now look to start the season with a win streak and a sweep of the Stars while Texas now looks to even out the series and avoid a losing streak to start 2023-2024; a night after hanging their Central Division Championship banner from last season.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on the radio on FOX Sports 1450AM in Tucson and the iHeartRadio app. Coverage begins at 4:45 with Roadrunners Warm-Up hosted by Jonathon Schaffer, before “Voice of the Roadrunners” Adrian Denny has all of the action from the H.E.B Center as the AHLtv Freeview continues. Setup an account at AHLtv.com and watch all of tonight’s AHL action for free.
Tucson, Arizona – The Tucson Roadrunners kicked off the 2023-2024 regular season with two points and a tally in the win column. Tucson held off the Texas Stars 3-2, scoring a goal in each period and killing off 4 of the 5 Texas power-plays they faced. Jan Jenik, Josh Doan, and Milos Kelemen all found the back of the net for the Roadrunners and goalie Matthew Villalta made his presence felt in Cedar Park, Texas; stopping 25 of the 27 shots against him. The two teams will drop the puck tomorrow at 5:00pm for round two of the weekend series.
The Tucson Roadrunners open their season on the road against the Texas Stars to start the 2023-24 season. It will be Tucson’s first of three series matchups against Central Division Teams and its only trip to Texas all season. The Roadrunners look to build off of its strong 2022-23 campaign, following a playoff appearance while the Stars will try to continue their dominance and clinch first place in the Central Division for the Dallas Stars affiliate’s second straight season.
Tucson, Arizona- The Arizona Coyotes closed out the preseason with a dominant 7-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in front of 5,180 fans in attendance. Arizona had seven different players hit the back of the net with 10 total hitting the scoresheet. All seven former Roadrunners dressed for the game including Michael Carcone, Brett Hayton, Matias Macelli, Lawson Crouse, Victor Soderstrom, J.J. Moser, and Ivan Prosvetov who was the backup goaltender. Carcone finished the night with two assists as he was voted the first star of the game in his return to Tucson after leading the AHL in scoring last season with 85 points. Other players who had two points for the Coyotes were Jason Zucker (0+2=2), Matias Maccelli, (0+2=2), former third-overall-pick from the 2022 NHL draft Logan Cooley (1+1=2) and former longtime Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (1+1=2).
The Tucson Arena and the Tucson Roadrunners are proud to host preseason action as the Arizona Coyotes will host the Anaheim Ducks for the third time since 2018 and for the second-straight year.
Tucson, Arizona – The Tucson Roadrunners dropped the preseason opener against the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday evening. The game went to a shootout where Henderson prevailed by a final tally of 3-2. Tucson had goals from defensemen Vlad Koloyochonok and forward Cameron Hebig. In net for Tucson was Matthew Villalta for the first two periods, and Jared Moe for period three, overtime and the shootout. Villalta stopped 12/14 shots against and Moe stopped 14/14 including two of three in the shootout. Three Roadrunners forwards ended the night with assists: Ryan McGregor, Curtis Douglas, and Aku Raty.
The Tucson Roadrunners head to Henderson for their first and only preseason game against the Silver Knights at The Dollar Loan Center. Out of now 24 original players on the training camp roster, 14 of them are returning from last year’s Roadrunners squad. Seven players on the roster have appeared against the Roadrunners in previous seasons for other Pacific Division Teams. As for the Silver Knights, their training camp roster began with 39 players, including 17 of them who appeared for at least one game with the Silver Knights last season.
//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/zzz.png400495Jonathon Schaffer//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Roadrunners-Wordmark-on-Dark-300x84.pngJonathon Schaffer2023-10-06 07:00:002023-10-06 22:52:58Preseason Game #1 – Tucson Roadrunners at Henderson Silver Knights
Tucson, Arizona – The Tucson Roadrunners took on the Coachella Valley Firebirds in a win-or-go-home Game Three on Sunday in Palm Desert, where the Firebirds advanced with a 5-1 victory over Tucson. Coachella Valley jumped out to a quick lead with four goals in the span of 3:33 to make it 4-0 in the opening 7:22 of the first period. Captain Adam Cracknell lit the lamp for Tucson in the final 2:28 of regulation for his first goal of the 2023 Playoffs, while Tyler Parks was in net for the final 52:38 of the contest and stopped all 24 shots faced in his AHL postseason debut.
//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/495-4.23-recap.jpg400495Jimmy Peebles//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Roadrunners-Wordmark-on-Dark-300x84.pngJimmy Peebles2023-04-23 19:01:272023-04-23 19:01:29First Round, Game Three: Tucson Roadrunners (1) at Coachella Valley Firebirds (5)
The Tucson Roadrunners will take on the Coachella Friday Firebirds in a winner-take-all Game Three Sunday afternoon at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California. The best-of-three series between Tucson and the AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken is even at 1-1, with Sunday’s winner advancing to the Pacific Division Semifinals. The Roadrunners are one of just two teams in the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs to force a decisive Game Three after falling in Game One, joining the Charlotte Checkers who won Games Two and Three over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to advance to the Second Round.
//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4.22-preview-495.jpg400495Jimmy Peebles//www.tucsonroadrunners.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Roadrunners-Wordmark-on-Dark-300x84.pngJimmy Peebles2023-04-23 06:29:002023-04-23 07:27:03Game Three – Tucson Roadrunners at Coachella Valley Firebirds
