'Mayor' of Tucson Roadrunners Hebig ready for AHL All-Star Classic

The accolades continue to roll in for the “mayor” in his career year for the Tucson Roadrunners.

Last week, center Cameron Hebig was selected to represent the Roadrunners Feb. 2 and 3 at the AHL All-Star Classic in Coachella Valley, replacing Josh Doan, who is in the NHL.

The fifth-year Roadrunner said it is “super exciting to represent Tucson.”

“I was so excited, just really looking forward to getting the opportunity to go down to Palm Springs and take part in the All Star,” Hebig said. “It was just super exciting and so awesome.”

Last April, Hebig won the Roadrunners Man of the Year award for his contributions to the community off the ice and won the Roadrunners Hardest Working Player of the Month award for January.

“We call him the mayor in the locker room, and it couldn’t go to a more deserving guy, unbelievable character, great leader, he works extremely hard, one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen,” said Tucson goalie Matthew Villalta. “He does everything the right way. When he’s on the ice, I think everyone sees it, how hard he leaves it all on the ice every shift.

“And he’s had a great year this year, he’s been outstanding and he’s always been a hard player to play against and he definitely deserves this opportunity and he has an exciting future ahead of him.”

With 14 goals and 14 assists, Hebig is a point shy of his career high set in 2018-19 in 67 games. He has played in 34 this year.

“He’s been working so hard and doing the right things and showing up every day with the real intent to get better, it’s a hard thing to do that,” said Tucson head coach Steve Potvin. “No matter how the team is playing or what’s happening in the standings or call ups or contracts or who he’s playing with, he’s just showing up every single day the same person.”

The Roadrunners (19-18-2-0) look to end their six-game winless streak when they face the second-place Ontario Reign (24-13-1-1) on Friday and Saturday in their last home games until Feb. 22. The Reign are the Los Angeles Kings’ affiliate.

The streak came despite the efforts of Hebig who is on a career-high eight-game point streak with five goals and six assists.

“It’s been an awesome couple weeks,” Hebig said. “Had the birthday and I think got the (all-star) news two days later, yeah, it’s been awesome and looking forward to going.”

Hebig celebrated his 28th birthday on Jan. 21.

“He may say he’s getting a little older, but he’s showing no signs of age at all,” Villalta said.

Hebig is first on the team in goals (14) and second in points (28).

“It’s awesome to see him have a breakout year,” said Tucson forward Kailer Yamamoto, a linemate of Hebig. “I played with him in Bakersfield when I was younger, so to just see him have a breakout year like this, it’s awesome and I hope he really keeps it up.”

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In 2018-19 and 2019-20, Hebig and Yamamoto played together in Bakersfield.

Yamamoto said Hebig has grown a “tremendous amount” since their days together in Bakersfield.

“He’s more confident,” Yamamoto said, “shot’s amazing, he sees the ice a lot better now, so yeah, I give a lot of praise to him, great player.”

After playing juniors for the Saskatoon Blades and the Regina Pats, Hebig wasn’t drafted and then signed with the Edmonton Oilers, playing for their ECHL affiliates and then the Bakersfield Condors before joining the Roadrunners in 2021.

“I think it has been a long journey and fifth year here in Tucson and I’ve loved every minute of it,” Hebig said. “Seventh-year pro and I have learned a lot over the years and just the mental side of the game and the physical side. Getting that experience brought me here today and I think still lots of work to go.

“I’m always trying to strive and get better and learn. I always keep working and yeah, it’s good fun.”

Villalta, who played for the Reign, a division rival for four seasons before coming to Tucson, said Hebig was known for his work ethic, even among opponents.

“He’s one of the first guys to the rink each day and he’s the last guy off the ice,” Villalta said. “He leads by example and he’s a great guy for younger guys to look up to and he deserves every single bit of the opportunities that he’s getting right now and even more and so I could not be more happier for him.”

On Wednesday night, the Roadrunners held an event for season ticket holders to get autographs, and the line for Hebig stretched across the room and bent around.

“It’s been nice, fans are coming up and congratulating me and so it’s nice that they have that support,” Hebig said. “I’ve always said that we have the best fans in Tucson and an event like this coming out and just such a big turnout and they were happy for me and congratulating, so it’s nice to hear and nice to see them all.”

Slap shots

On Tuesday, Utah Hockey club placed forward Milos Kelemen on waivers and on Wednesday they mutually agreed to end his contract.

Kelemen had 69 points in 129 games for the Roadrunners from 2022-23 to 2024-25, including six points in 11 games this season. Utah loaned the Slovak to Pardubice HC of the Czech league, where he had seven points in 13 games.

The theme of Friday’s game is El Lazo Night, and Saturday’s is Wizards and Witches Night. El Lazo is when the Roadrunners take on their more Tucson-centric persona with a lasso in their logo like the City of Tucson had and Saturday is a Harry Potter-themed promotion.