After a seven-game road trip, the Tucson Roadrunners return home looking to repeat a feat from December.
The Roadrunners (19-15-1-0) dropped a pair at the first-place Calgary Wranglers on Dec. 6-7. Then last week they were swept in a two-game series at Calgary, 5-2 on Tuesday and 4-3 on Wednesday.
“I thought our first game … we had a lot more but I thought (Wednesday) we played, I thought we played great,” said Tucson forward Kailer Yamamoto to Roadrunners personnel after the game. “Obviously hoping for a different outcome, doesn’t always happen, but no, I really liked how we played and I think if we bring what we brought (Wednesday), I think we’re gonna be good.”
After their first series at Calgary, the Roadrunners turned around and won six in a row, starting with a sweep of the Henderson Silver Knights.
Following a road trip of nearly 6,000 miles, the Roadrunners start a season high six-game home stand by hosting Henderson (10-25-2-0) for a two-game set on Monday and Tuesday. The Silver Knights are the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Kailer Yamamoto pictured during the Tucson Roadrunners game against the Colorado Eagles on Dec. 29, 2024.
In addition to the games against HSK, Tucson will also host the Abbotsford Canucks and Ontario Reign in the current home stand. Henderson is in last place in the Pacific Division while Abbotsford is sixth, one point ahead of the Roadrunners. Ontario is fourth, four points ahead of Tucson, as of Sunday morning.
The Silver Knights, Reign and Canucks were 22-25-2-1 on the road heading into the weekend.
The Roadrunners went 3-4 on their seven-game road trip.
They also have another seven-game road trip to coincide with the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. The Roadrunners’ 3-4 road trip compares favorably to past long road trips they’ve had.
Last year Tucson went 3-1-1-0 on their gem show road trip, but in 2023 they went 1-6-0-0, in 2022 they went 2-4-0-0. Preceded by 2-4-0-1 in 2020, 2-3-0-1 in 2019, 4-2-0-0 in 2018 and 1-5-0-0 in 2017.
In January, the Roadrunners have five home games and seven on the road.
Tucson, who swept Calgary on Nov. 22-23, plays the Wranglers again on April 1-2 at home.
Kids night
Monday’s game will serve as a kids day in addition to MLK Day.
Fans 14 and under get in free on Monday and the Roadrunners will also give out workbooks to kids. To get a free kid’s ticket, kids have to come with an adult and the ticket has to be picked up on Monday at the ticket office.
Finally, the puck will drop at 6 p.m., an hour earlier than most Tucson home games and half an hour before their usual weeknight start times.
The free kids game comes after Tucson’s Kid’s Day Game, originally scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., had to be moved to Tuesday at the usually 6:30 p.m. slot.
“We are disappointed in moving away from the Kid’s Day Game this season but are excited to plan for a return of that game during the 2025-25 (sic) season,” said Tucson Roadrunners President Bob Hoffman in a press release. “Several factors made this year’s planned game logistically challenging forcing us to revisit and ultimately move the game versus Henderson up a day and at a normal start time.”
Last season, Tucson hosted their second field trip day game in their history. The other time the Roadrunners hosted one was in 2018, both against the San Diego Gulls.
Cameron Hebig nets his second goal of the night and fourth in three games during Tucson’s 4-3 loss to the Calgary Wranglers at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday evening.
The big road trip
Tucson forward Cameron Hebig shined on the seven-game road trip, scoring seven goals and adding an assist.
He had two multiple goal games, including his first hat trick on Jan. 3 at the Texas Stars. He also scored a pair in the most recent game at Calgary.
“It’s phenomenal, man, hardest worker I think I’ve ever seen,” said Yamamoto said of Hebig. “His shot’s great, great guy off the ice, nothing but the best words for that guy right now, so happy he scored two goals and hopefully keeps it going.”
Hebig has tied his career high of 13 goals, set in 2021-22 in 68 games. He has played in 30 this year.
He’s on pace to end up with a career high 49 points.
Doan recalled
Roadrunners forward Josh Doan celebrates after scoring his eighth goal of the season in Tucson’s 4-1 victory over Coachella Valley at Acrisure Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2024.
On Jan. 10 Utah Hockey Club called up right wing Josh Doan.
Doan learned of the call up after he scored in Tucson’s win over the 4-1 Coachella Firebirds on Jan. 8 at the site of the AHL All-Star Classic. Doan replaced Dylan Guenther, who is out indefinitely with a lower body injury.
It is Doan’s second all-star selection. He replaced Guenther after the Arizona Coyotes called up Guenther last season.
The All-Star Classic is Feb. 2-3.
Doan, who is from Scottsdale and went to ASU, scored a goal against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 14.
Half and half
The Silver Knights series marks the halfway point of the season for the Tucson Roadrunners.
Going in the series, the Roadrunners have played 35 games and have 37 remaining in the regular season.
As of press time, Tucson is in position to make its third straight postseason. The Roadrunners are four points (two wins) out of hosting in the first round of the playoffs.
Tucson is in ninth place in the 17 team Western Conference and has the 19th most points in the 32-team AHL.
The Roadrunners are 10-5-1-0 at home so far and 9-10 on the road.
Tucson started the season 5-7 but have gone 14-8-1-0 since, including a season-high six-game winning streak from Dec. 13 to Dec. 21.
