Tucson Roadrunners defenseman Maveric Lamoureux packed on the pounds over the summer, and it’s paying off in the winter.
After the 22-year-old had a “weird” first professional season, he worked over the summer, which included trying to add 15 pounds by eating about 5,000 calories a day.
“It was a big summer, I mean, like a healthy summer," Lamoureux said. "Having the full summer, I had four months back to train, eat a lot of food, put some weight on, so that definitely was a good summer for me.”
The Roadrunners (19-14-7-0) host the Colorado Eagles (26-10-1-3) for a two-game series starting Friday in their last home games before their gem show road trip. The Eagles are the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.
In consultation with Utah performance nutrition coach Carl Bombardier, Lamoureux worked on adding to his 6-foot-6, 196-pound frame he had last season.
“That's great, I think that's always going to be something that he keeps an eye on," said Tucson head coach Steve Potvin. "He's the kind of guy that it's going to fluctuate for him, especially at a young age, he's playing a lot of minutes, so he's got to make it like it's his job. He's got to keep putting the groceries in his belly and make sure that he's on the on the right side of nutrition all the time.”
Now listed at 6-7 and 217 pounds, the Laval, Québec, native said the added weight has helped.
Tucson Roadrunners' Maveric Lamoureux (10) hits the ice vs. San Jose, Jan. 17, 2026.
“I'm just winning way more battles now, I’m more strong on my feet,” Lamoureux said. “I'm really quicker now, too, so I'm getting more of my adult body.”
This season, he has 14 points in 33 games for Tucson, eclipsing the 13 he had in 45 games last year.
Last season, Lamoureux played 15 games for Utah, getting a call-up after injuries to Hockey Club’s defensemen. He had a goal and a couple assists.
He injured his hand and then was sent back to Tucson.
“It was it was a weird first pro year," Lamoureux said. "I loved it, I played with Utah for my first couple games, but with that injury, with going up, down, going up and down again I feel like my mind was a bit all over the place. So, I feel like right now, this year, my mind is in the right space. I know I'm here and I'm going to play here before going up to Utah, and I'm putting all my focus playing here and helping the team out, here in Tucson.”
Potvin said Lamoureux has become a leader off the ice, too, and is playing more aggressively this season.
“This year I think his attitude and his behavior has been really good, I think he's playing where his feet are, and he's understanding what's necessary and what's expected of him and what habits he needs to continue to grow,” Potvin said. “I mean that's part of the American Hockey League, the benefit of it is trying to develop winning habits. You get to do it while you're playing this significant role and that's important, he’s understood it and he's really, he's running away with it, he’s doing a heck of a job out there.
“It's hard to play against.”
Lamoureux has played five NHL games this season, getting an assist. He was called up in December.
“It wasn't my first game, I knew what the league was like right from the start, I was way more confident,” Lamoureux said. “I think it played there pretty well when I was up there.”
Potvin said Lamoureux's time in the NHL has helped him understand how to get the best out of himself.
“I think last year there was a little bit of maybe false expectations when he was here that maybe he was an NHL player and wasn't necessarily playing here and now he’s went through that process and he fully understands, you got to be able to be in the moment and where your feet are to be able to get the best out of yourself,” Potvin said.
“And I think it was a necessary part of his process and he's benefited from it the most, he's learned from it the most and now he's able to not only help our team, but he's learning to become a pro and eventually that's gonna help us win games up there.”
The Arizona Coyotes selected Lamoureux in the first round, 29th overall, in the 2022 draft.
“I'd say in my second year there's no first, second, third rounder, it’s whoever plays best is going to have the chances, I feel like I'm playing really well right now, so I'm getting good opportunities here,” Lamoureux said. “I feel like that pressure of being a first-round pick is gone, like there is no need for that anymore … I just got to deliver it.
“I just got to play better than everyone else.”
Slapshots
– On Tuesday, Utah recalled rookie defenseman Dmitri Simashev and sent center Cameron Hebig back to the Roadrunners.
The 20-year-old has 20 points in 20 AHL games with the Roadrunners, earning him an AHL all-star selection. Simashev’s points per game average led all AHL rookie defensemen and was among all the league’s blueliners with at least 10 games played at the time of his call-up.
Cameron Hebig in action for the Tucson Roadrunners vs. the San Diego Gulls, Jan. 20, 2026.
In his first NHL call-up, Hebig, who was an all-star last year, didn’t appear in a game for the Mammoth.
– Friday’s game is Country Night. An Old Tucson and Roadrunners train whistle is available in a ticket pack, and Tucson and Colorado will wear vintage-looking jerseys.
There will be a black cowboy hat contest with the winner getting premium seats to the Clint Black Concert.
Then Saturday is Star Wars Night, where fans are encouraged to dress like Star Wars characters, and the Roadrunners will wear special warm-up jerseys that will be auctioned off.
