Roadrunners Set for Opening Weekend

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. AZT, Tucson Arena
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. AZT, Tucson Arena

Officials
Saturday – Referees: #95 Nolan Bloyer, #49 Riley Brace | Linespeople: #71 Harrison Heyer, #54 Anthony Caruso
Sunday – Referees: #95 Nolan Bloyer, #49 Riley Brace | Linespeople: #71 Harrison Heyer, #35 Andrew Leonardo

Broadcast Info
Saturday: WATCH on AHLtv on Flo Hockey 
Sunday:vWATCH on AHLtv on Flo Hockey 

Tucson, AZ – The Tucson Roadrunners will open their 2026-27 regular season at home for the first time in seven seasons this weekend, hosting the Colorado Eagles for a two-game series at Tucson Arena. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. AZT, while Sunday’s game is set for 4 p.m. AZT.

Last weekend, Tucson hosted the Southwest Showdown, an AHL preseason series featuring the Colorado Eagles, Henderson Silver Knights and Texas Stars. The Roadrunners split their two preseason games, falling 4-1 to Henderson before rallying for a 3-2 comeback victory over Texas.

The home-opening weekend marks the first of eight regular-season meetings between Tucson and Colorado this season.

Last season, the Roadrunners finished seventh in the Pacific Division with a 34-28-10 record for 78 points. Tucson went 2-3-1-0 against Colorado, which finished second in the Pacific Division. The last time these teams met, the Roadrunners earned a 5-2 win before falling 3-2 in overtime last April.

While Tucson went 1-1-0 in preseason, Colorado enters the weekend coming off two preseason losses to Henderson and Texas. Both teams will look to start the 2026-27 regular season on a winning note.

The Roadrunners Weekend Tune-Up, presented by Semper Fi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, has you covered with some of the key storylines to watch heading into the weekend.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

BACK IN THE DESERT
The Roadrunners return 16 players from last season, including forward Julian Lutz, who opened the scoring in Tucson’s second preseason game and was one of two returning Roadrunners to find the back of the net during the preseason.

Lutz tied for fifth on the team in game-opening goals during the 2025-26 season.

BEHIND THE BENCH
After a 15-season professional playing career across the NHL and AHL, including two seasons as an assistant captain with the Roadrunners, Andrew Agozzino is stepping behind the bench as Tucson’s assistant coach.

Agozzino served as an assistant captain during 10 AHL seasons and ranks 26th in AHL history in goals. This weekend will mark his first official AHL appearance behind the bench, where he’ll join head coach Steven Potvin.

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Rookie defenseman Cal Thomas, No. 42, scored the game-winning goal with 56 seconds remaining against the Texas Stars to close out the preseason.

Thomas was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the sixth round (No. 171 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. He spent the past four seasons playing NCAA hockey at the University of Minnesota, where he recorded 30 points (3g, 27a) and 30 penalty minutes in 136 games.

NUMBERS TO KNOW:

3 – Rookie defenseman Tomas Lavoie, Utah’s third-round pick (No. 89 overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, recorded his first unofficial point as a Roadrunner with an assist on Julian Lutz’s goal during his first game with Tucson. Last season, Lavoie and fellow Tucson rookies Caleb Desnoyers and Gabe Smith faced off in the QMJHL Finals, with Lavoie’s Chicoutimi Saguenéens defeating Desnoyers and Smith’s Moncton Wildcats, 4-2.

9 – Rookie forward Gabe Smith was named the 2026 QMJHL Playoff MVP after leading the league with 19 postseason goals. Smith was drafted by Utah in the fourth round (No. 103 overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. He recorded his first unofficial professional assist during his Roadrunners debut.

18 – Rookie forward Caleb Desnoyers was named Tucson’s second star of the final preseason game after scoring his first unofficial professional power-play goal to tie the game during his Roadrunners debut. Desnoyers was selected fourth overall by the Utah Mammoth in the 2025 NHL Draft. He is Tucson’s only 19-year-old player coming from the QMJHL and reunites with his former junior teammate, Gabe Smith.

WE’RE DOING IT LIVE
Both games this weekend will be streamed on AHLtv on FloHockey. Coverage for Saturday’s matchup begins at 6:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Sunday with Roadrunners Warm-Up hosted by James Mackey.

Fans can secure their seats online at Ticketmaster.com.