Austin Poganski first became a Tucson Roadrunner last season on a tryout contract. Now, he’s the American Hockey League team’s captain.
Last week, the Roadrunners announced Poganski as the team’s sixth captain as Tucson opens the home slate on its ninth season in Southern Arizona this weekend at Tucson Arena.
Last September, the St. Cloud, Minnesota, native signed a professional try-out contract with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, who sent him to Tucson on a PTO contract.
“It’s a huge honor when you can be a leader or a captain of any organization or any team, but to be the captain of the Tucson Roadrunners here, it’s pretty special,” Poganski said. “It’s a great area to play hockey down here in the desert. It’s a special group of players that we have and it’s a special organization, especially with the addition of the Utah Hockey Club here.
Tucson Roadrunners forward Austin Poganski (41) tries to skate his way between Calgary forward Adam Klapka (43), left, and defenseman Yan Kuznetsov (37) in the third period of their AHL matchup on March 5 at Tucson Arena.
“So it’s’s really cool,” he added. “It’s gonna be a fun year.”
The Roadrunners (1-1), the AHL affiliates of the NHL’s new Salt Lake City-based franchise, play host to the Texas Stars (1-1) Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.
Roadrunners right wing Austin Poganski (41) has to work out of the hug from Calgary right wing Adam Klapka (43) during the first period of Game 2 of their best-of-three Calder Cup playoff series on April 26 at Tucson Arena.
On Dec. 16 of last season, Poganski signed a standard players’ contract, ending that stressful PTO status. Last season, he had career highs with 31 points and 14 goals.
“I think it’s part of the excitement about him being the captain,” Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin said. “He came in with zero expectations last year. He was trying to make the hockey club and he did. And then he just literally came in every day looking to earn his position and here we are now — he’s our captain and I think that, for us. is a good sign for our players watching.”
Poganski is in his seventh AHL season.
He also played for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Manitoba Moose and San Antonio Rampage. With Coachella Valley in 2022-23, he reached the finals of the Calder Cup playoffs, playing 24 postseason games.
“He’s a player that just fits the mold of our culture and our identity. It wasn’t a difficult decision,” Potvin said. “He’s a player that comes up every day, shows up ready to compete.
Tucson Roadrunners right wing Austin Poganski (41) can’t quite deflect the puck past Colorado forward Spencer Smallman (38) and goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (1) in the second period of their AHL game at Tucson Arena on April 13.
“He’s got a lot of good insight and he’s just an honest player day in and day out,” Potvin added. “If (you) ask him for feedback, he’s gonna give you his honest opinion and that’s what we look for in a leader, and I know he’s gonna be able to do a good job with our young guys coming in.”
Last year’s captain, defenseman Steven Kampfer, left for Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Traktor is in Chelyabinsk, Russia, and Kampfer previously played for Kazan Ak-Bars in Russia and the KHL.
Poganski said he was “super excited” when he heard the news that he had been named captain.
“I really didn’t give much thought into who was gonna be the captain with Kampfer coming out, but when coach Potsie shared the news it was a huge excitement,” Poganski said. “It’s kind of a new thing to bring some new players in and kind of see that at the pro level, but I’m ready for it, I’m excited for it, and I think we got a group to make a push here.”
Before joining San Antonio in 2017-18 after that year’s NCAA season concluded, he starred at the University of North Dakota, one of college hockey’s historically dominant program.s
The St. Louis Blues drafted him in 2014 in the fourth round. Poganski has also played for the Blues and the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL.
“It’s great. I think it’s a great pick — such a good man, such a good leader, such a good player,” Tucson forward Travis Barron said about Poganski. “Everyone has a different journey, right? And you know, a lot of guys actually don’t make it past the stage that he did and to do what he’s done is really impressive and the way handled himself is even more impressive.”
Barron, fellow forwards Andrew Agozzino and Ben McCartney and defenseman Kevin Connauton were selected as Tucson’s alternate captains for the 2024-25 season.
“With Connauton, who’s been in the NHL for quite a while and Agozzino, who’s been in the NHL and American league for quite some time, we got guys that have a lot of experience,” Poganski said. “And with Travis Barron and Ben McCartney, who have been here for four or five years, they know what it takes.
“I think we got a good mix of old, young and experienced all around that’s gonna come together and be a good group of leaders.”
Roadrunners forward Austin Poganski (41) tries to lean his way to the puck against Calgary defenseman Colton Poolman (5) in front of the Wrangler net in the second period of their Calder Cup playoff game on April 24 at Tucson Arena.
