Goal-scoring defenseman Vlad Kolyachonok sparking Tucson Roadrunners since return

Defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok is making up for lost time of late, and it’s been especially helpful to the Tucson Roadrunners’ offense.

Kolyachonok missed 32 consecutive games after suffering a lower-body injury while playing for the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes; while he’s been back on the ice with the AHL’s Roadrunners for a couple of weeks now, his greatest offensive impact was felt this past weekend. The 22-year-old, already in his fourth year of pro hockey in North America, scored both of Tucson’s goals against the Bakersfield Condors on Friday and the Roadrunners’ first against the Condors on Saturday.

“It’s all about my partners,” Kolyachonok said. “The first two goals (Friday) were just beautiful passes, which I only need to finish and it was a great screen, too, so I really appreciate their help and effort.”

The Minsk, Belarus, native returned to the lineup at Iowa when the All-Star Break ended.

“Vlad’s been good,” Tucson captain Steven Kampfer said. “He’s doing well. It just shows through his work ethic and the preparation he does every day and how hard he works, and it’s great to see him get rewarded for his efforts and we’re lucky to have him back here.

“I think he was a guy that we were missing for a little bit so it’s good to see him playing,” Kampfer added. “It’s good to see him playing well, getting back to himself. Hopefully he keeps it going.”

Kolyachonok’s goals against Bakersfield all came on special teams — two on the power play and one shorthanded.

He became the 10th Roadrunner this year to score at least two goals in a game and the first blueliner to do it. Kolyachonok is Tucson’s second-highest-scoring defenseman despite playing in just 17 AHL games so far this season.

“Koly’s been great,” Tucson head coach Steve Potvin said. “He’s moving the puck a whole lot quicker. Obviously he’s been contributing more offensively. I know he’s been working hard on his offensive game and we’re happy to have him back and we’re happy to see him have success. This is a kid that works extremely hard every day and you like seeing people that work as hard as he does get rewarded.”

The Roadrunners (29-17-2-1) face the Bakersfield Condors (26-17-2-2) again Wednesday — the third straight and seventh overall, game against each other — this time on the road.

With five goals on 24 shots, Kolyachonok is first in the league for shooting accuracy for defensemen.

“He’s not a player that shoots the puck quite a bit,” Potvin said. “He’s more of a possessor and playmaker, so it’s nice to see him get shots through.

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“I guess he’s being selective on his shots and they’re going in.”

It’s Kolyachonok’s third season in Tucson after 10 games with the Syracuse Crunch in 2021. The Florida Panthers picked him in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

Kolyachonok has played 35 NHL games over the past three seasons. He said Arizona and Tucson’s systems allow players to be comfortable when they go up.

“We have great coaches here. We work on it every day and I really thank them for help and I think it’s gonna be even better.”

Kampfer has been Kolyachonok’s defensive pairing frequently of late.

“I like playing with Vlad,” he said. “Between him and I we have a good relationship and Koly and I we do a lot of stuff before practices together and just kinda talk and see the game and see how each other view the game or talk on the bench.”

Slap shots

The Roadrunners will host a watch party for Wednesday night’s game starting at 7:30 p.m. at Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers, 7315 N Oracle Road. There will be food and drink specials and raffle items.

Losers of five of their last six, the Roadrunners have slipped to third place behind the Colorado Eagles, who have won five in a row. Former Roadrunner goalie Ivan Prosvetov has won seven in a row since returning to the AHL from the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.