The Tucson Roadrunners will be without one of their top players Saturday night, when they take on the Ontario Reign in Southern California.
Forward Nick Merkley was called up to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday, the club announced.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound first-year forward ranks third in points and is second in goals among AHL rookies. Merkley collected at least one point in 14 of his 20 games with the Roadrunners.
The Coyotes took Merkley with the 30th overall pick in the 2015 Entry Draft.
The Roadrunners (12-7-2-1) will face Ontario at 7 p.m. in a game broadcast on 1450-AM. The club will return home Friday for a weekend series with the Stockton Heat. Both of those game start at 7:05 p.m. at Tucson Arena. The Dec. 23 game is Star Wars Night.
