The Tucson Roadrunners have faced the San Diego Gulls more times than any other American Hockey League opponent the last two seasons.
Yet, as the 2018-19 campaign kicks into high gear, technically speaking — at least thanks to the AHL’s scheduling overlords — the Roadrunners and Gulls aren’t “rivals” any longer.
Yeah, right.
The rivalry almost certainly feels closer than the 409 miles that separate Tucson Arena and San Diego’s Valley View Casino Center.
The teams will hit the ice yet again Friday night, this time in San Diego.
It was just days ago when the teams met in a wild game in Tucson.
The Roadrunners fell behind early in the teams’ season opener, but roared back with four third-period goals for a come-from-behind, 6-4 win. Tucson newcomer Adam Helewka scored a pair of goals in the third, with the game-winner coming off the stick of first-year pro Matteo Gennaro.
Even Gennaro, just one game into his pro career, could already tell there’s a difference when these teams take the ice.
“It was a pretty wild night. … A high-speed game, and it was pretty chippy, too,” Gennaro said, subtly acknowledging a third period that saw 11 combined penalties in addition to Tucson’s scoring barrage. “Yeah, I think you’re beginning to see what is a big rivalry between these two teams.”
Gulls right wing Corey Tropp (12) takes a swing at Roadrunners right wing Hudson Fasching (24) during an altercation that got Tropp tossed from the game and Fasching a couple of minutes in the box in the third period of their AHL game at the Tucson Arena, Saturday, October 5, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
This next meeting, as it turns out, will be the fifth consecutive regular season game Tucson has played against San Diego. The Roadrunners took three straight from the Gulls in April to clinch the club’s first Pacific Division title and secure the Western Conference’s top seed heading into the Calder Cup Playoffs. The regular-season-ending sweep eliminated San Diego from playoff contention.
Tucson won 8 of 12 overall against San Diego in 2017-18, capturing the perpetual “I-8 trophy” given to the series winner. The Gulls had the Roadrunners’ number a year earlier, winning 10 of 12.
San Diego and Tucson will face off four fewer times this season.
The AHL has effectively changed Tucson’s natural rival to the Colorado Eagles. The Eagles are the defending champs of the “Double-A” ECHL, but made the offseason move to become the “Triple-A” AHL’s 31st team this offseason.
Tucson and Colorado will play 12 times this season, with San Diego and its 110-miles-to-the-north neighbors, the Ontario Reign, also squaring off in a dozen games to earn their new “rivalry” distinction.
The Roadrunners and Gulls will take the ice Friday after a five-day layoff. After the opener, Tucson skaters said if they had it their way, they’d already be back on the ice.
“That’s why we play the game. We want to play as many games as we can,” Helewka said.
The Roadrunners’ next two games come on a quick turnaround. They’ll bus to Bakersfield on Saturday for a game with the Condors. They’ll face Helewka’s old team, the San Jose Barracuda, on Monday. Tucson eliminated San Jose in the opening round of last season’s Calder Cup Playoffs.
The puck drops for all three games at 7 p.m.
New Roadrunners play-by-play voice Adrian Denny will call the games locally on Fox Sports Radio 1450 AM.
Additionally, road game “watch parties” will be held at Brother John’s BBQ, 1801 N. Stone Road, with the live video stream presented on the restaurant’s television screens. Fans can also watch via AHLTV, the league’s pay subscription streaming option.
