Tucson Roadrunner goalie Matthew Villalta’s uncertainty about where he would play this season went away quickly, as did the question of how much playing time he would get.
Now he’s one the AHL’s best goalies.
Four days before the AHL season started, the Colorado Avalanche claimed Tucson’s projected No. 1 netminder, Ivan Prosvetov, off waivers when the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes were trying to send him to Tucson. So instantly Villalta went from No. 2 (or maybe 1A) to No. 1 in goal.
“When a player like that goes on waivers there’s always a good chance of them getting picked up,” Villalta said, “so the conversation I had with our coaching staff, especially (Arizona goaltender development coach) Charlie McTavish is that it’s a real big opportunity and it’s an opportunity to take the net, prove that I can play here and be a starter here. I think I’m more than capable of doing that and it’s just about doing that on a consistent basis every day.”
As of Thursday morning, Villalta is one of only seven goalies in the league to have played four games and Villalta is best among those in save percentage, at .939, and goals against average, at 1.77.
Tucson Roadrunners’ All-Star goaltender Matthew Villalta (31) absorbs a shot from the visiting San Diego Gulls, holding his team’s one goal lead while defending a six-on-five scenario in the final minutes of the third period of the teams’ Oct. 24, 2023 matchup at Tucson Arena.
“It’s obviously huge. I don’t think we win these 2-1 games ... if he’s not playing that way,” said Tucson forward Dylan Guenther. “So he’s played unbelievable.”
Villalta, who’s played every minute in goal for Tucson (3-1-0-0) heading into a two-game series this weekend at home against the Bakersfield Condors (2-1-0-0) is tied for first in wins with 2023 AHL MVP Dustin Wolf.
Villalta had 22 saves in the Roadrunners' 2-1 win over San Diego on Tuesday, despite the Gulls’ attempts at screening Villalta’s view out front.
“Matt’s been great,” Tucson head coach Steve Potvin said. “It was hard for him to see the puck (Tuesday), because they always come with two guys at the net front and they make it really hard.”
The Godfrey, Ontario, Canada, native played for four seasons for the Ontario (California) Reign after the Los Angeles Kings drafted him 2017 in the third round.
Tucson Roadrunners' goaltender Matthew Villalta (31) makes a kick save on a close range shot against Coachella Valley in the second period of their AHL game at Tucson Arena on Oct. 21. Villalta, the first Tucson goaltender ever selected to the AHL All-Star Classic, has the Roadrunners in a battle for first place heading into this year's All Star break.
In 2021-22 Villalta went 28-10-7-0 but last season he only played in 22 games as the Kings moved Cal Petersen back to the AHL in December; Petersen took the reins of Ontario’s goalie position, playing in 40 games.
When he parted ways with Kings organization, it would have normally been an anxious time but Arizona signed him to a one-year, two-way contract on July 1 — the first day of free agency.
“Thankfully the wait was fairly short,” Villalta said. “So very grateful for that.
“It’s obviously a great opportunity here in Tucson.”
In addition to his play, Villalta’s Arizona themed pads and mask have already been a hit. His Vaughn pads feature saguaros.
“The design team there kinda whipped up a few graphics for me,” Villalta said. “I just wanted to do something clean and simple and obviously the cactus here — saguaro I think it’s called — it’s a pretty well known cactus here in Arizona, so I just thought it was cool and the design turned out and I was like, ‘I love it.’”
His mask has the Coyotes’ kachina logo with the Looney Tunes’ Wile E. Coyote with an idea light bulb on one side and the coyote chasing the Looney Tunes “Road Runner” character. However, his mask wasn’t ready for the start of the season and so he wore his Los Angeles Kings themed helmet at first; that led some Roadrunners, like right wing Josh Doan, to tease about it.
“When I was going to Texas he was like ‘I better not see you in the net with that L.A. helmet on,’” Villalta said. “So shout out to Dave Fried my mask painter, I think he killed it this year with the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote so definitely feels good to have the full kit now and be decked out in Tucson gear.”
Slap shots
The Roadrunners hot starts continue in 2023-24, as Tucson is 30-13-1-1 all time in the month of October — the first month of the AHL season each year.
Friday is the Roadrunners’ first NASCAR night at Tucson Arena. The Phoenix Raceway will be have their NASCAR Showcar there and their race trophy for a chance to take a photo with. Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m.
Saturday is “Fright Night,” kids 12 and under will receive a Roadrunners Trick or Treat Bag. Saturday’s game also starts at 7, but trick-Or-Treating will begin at 6:10 p.m. for kids under 12 in costume.
VIDEO: Tucson Roadrunners goaltender Matthew Villalta makes a sprawling save — one of 35 he had on the night in a 2-1 Tucson win Oct. 14 at the Texas Stars to start the 2023-24 season 2-0 overall. (Video courtesy Tucson Roadrunners/AHL)
