It's been a while since Tucson has had a winner — and even longer since that team wore something other than red and blue.
The Tucson Roadrunners are still finding their footing in the Old Pueblo. Players and team officials are finding, however, that the city has a genuine love for hockey.
“It’s just different,” Roadrunners fan Trey Nicholson said before Friday's Calder Cup Playoff game. “Ice hockey in the desert, it’s just amazing for the city — especially with the team winning.”
Roadrunners superfan Jeff Anderson remembered the Tucson Gila Monsters, a West Coast Hockey League club that played at Tucson Arena from 1997 to 1999. Anderson created the Gila Monsters fan club, but lost interest in the sport once the club folded. It took a full decade for him to buy Arizona Coyotes season tickets. He was ecstatic when the Springfield, Massachusetts AHL team was sold and moved to Tucson two summers ago.
Anderson started the Dry Ice Nation, a Facebook group created for Roadrunners fans.
“This is pure hockey. Baseball is too slow, so it’s harder to stay focused on the game. It’s boring,” Anderson said. “This is fast-paced and has better action for fans that attend sporting events.”