Tucson Roadrunners rookie forward Noel Nordh has made himself right at home in Tucson, getting points in three of his last four games.
The Söderhamn, Sweden, native scored his first AHL goal and got his first assist in Tucson’s 5-4 home opener win over the Calgary Wranglers. On Saturday, he scored the Roadrunners’ goal in their 3-1 loss to the Bakersfield Condors.
“It’s been good, I’m fighting for my time here like everybody does,” Nordh said. “So, now I’m trying to be better every day and want to show every game what I’m capable to do.”
The Roadrunners (3-2-1-0) close out the first home stand of the year when they host the Manitoba Moose (1-4-1-0) for a two-game series starting on Tuesday night. The Moose are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets.
In six games this year, Nordh has four points, a pair of goals and a couple of assists. He’s tied for 10th in the league for points among rookies and tied for fifth in Tucson in scoring.
Tucson Roadrunners forward Noel Nordh has scored points in three of his last four games. The rookie, originally from Sweden, is making himself at home in Tucson.
The Arizona Coyotes drafted him in the third round in 2023.
“He has a lot of hockey sense, right? I think he’s understanding of what it takes to take the next step at this level, but it’s going to require a north/south type game and playing simple and direct hockey,” said Tucson head coach Steve Potvin. “And it’s comforting to see that he has the hockey IQ and the know how around the net, he knows how to find it, I’m sure he’s going to be able to put himself in some good positions here coming up against Manitoba.”
After playing a couple of games for the Roadrunners in October, Nordh played for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. He had 52 points, including 21 goals for the Greyhounds in 47 games before getting called back up to Tucson for the playoffs, although he didn’t appear in any postseason games.
“I was there a little bit last year so I know how the league is and everything, but yeah, for sure, it’s different compared to juniors,” Nordh said. “I mean, they’re smarter, bigger, stronger, so yeah, you have to be smart, (with) quick hands out there.”
Noel Nordh, a Söderhamn, Sweden native, scored his first AHL goal and got his first assist in Tucson’s 5-4 home opener win over the Calgary Wranglers.
Potvin said playing in North America is helping Nordh get better.
“I think it’s helping his awareness, and what I like seeing is that he’s being consistent. He’s looking for answers, and he’s staying in his game. It’s not easy when you’re not always getting top minutes that you’re actually used to getting,” Potvin said. “He’s a player that’s able to advance the puck and make the next play, and he’s definitely done well so far, and last year in camp, he had a similar start, but I think he had three or four points and four games.
“So, it’s nice to see and I think he’s going to be able to factor and contribute offensively here.”
Tucson’s roster features three rookies: forward Owen Allard, who Utah drafted last season in the fifth round, Nordh and forward Daniil But, who Arizona picked 12th overall in 2023.
Potvin thought the Roadrunners’ rookies have been playing well, and when prepared with veterans like right wing Austin Poganski, center Cameron Hebig, and forward Ben McCartney, Tucson is dangerous.
On Saturday, Tucson Roadrunners rookie Noel Nordh scored the Roadrunners’ goal in their 3-1 loss to the Bakersfield Condors.
“What I like about our team is they’re they’re able to skate and put pucks in behind the defenders, you can see we’re hard to play against,” Potvin said. “Especially when you look at how our top line play, Pogo, Hebig, Ben, those guys are 200-foot players that are really aggressive and they play a hard style, so you mix that in with some youthful energy that can skate, it can be dangerous.”
The Roadrunners host the Moose in a rare matchup
It’s the first meeting with the Moose for the Roadrunners since their inaugural season in 2016-17.
“I think it’s interesting for everybody, right? I think it breaks up a lot of the monotony,” Potvin said. “We just started the season, so I don’t think anybody at this point is looking to break free from monotony, but I think it’s exciting when you do get to play a different team, there’s no doubt, especially when they’re coming in from Canada and we’re going to get our opportunity to go over there and probably, encounter a little snow.
“So, we’ll see how that plays out.”
After the series against the Moose, the Roadrunners travel to face the Iowa Wild. The Wild and Moose are the only non-Pacific Division teams Tucson plays this year.
The Wild, of course, the affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, come to Tucson in January and the Roadrunners go to Manitoba in March.
Last season, the Pacific was 38-20-4-2 against the Central and 2-2 so far this year.
The Pacific teams generally only play other Western Conference teams.
In the last three seasons, the Western Conference champion came out of the Pacific, with the Abbotsford Canucks winning the division’s first Calder Cup last season.
The AHL is made up of four divisions: Pacific and Central in the Western Conference and Atlantic and North in the East.
The Pacific Division was first formed in 2015 when Western NHL teams started buying and moving their AHL affiliates closer. In 2014-15, the league’s westernmost team was the San Antonio Rampage (who became the Henderson Silver Knights in 2020).
The Roadrunners moved from Springfield, Mass., in 2016.
Tucson is the Moose’s one Western stop on this road trip. They played three at Grand Rapids, then one at Chicago, before coming to the Old Pueblo.
Tucson went 2-1-1-0 against Manitoba that first season, including two 5-2 wins at home.
New Wednesday promotion
Game 2 of the Moose series features the debut of Winning Wednesdays for the Roadrunners.
Fans in attendance for Roadrunners home games on Wednesday win a ticket to their next Wednesday game if the Roadrunners get a victory.
They haven’t announced the details, but the Roadrunners indicated Wednesday’s game will also have a Halloween theme.
