December 2, 2024 • 43 mins
Voice of the Roadrunners Jonathon Schaffer and Arizona Daily Star's James Kelly recap Tucson's stretch of 5-1-0-0 in the last six games. They discuss the recent play of Kailer Yamamoto, Austin Poganski and the rest of the Roadrunners: while hearing from Goaltender Matthew Villalta in an interview with Johnny.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
When you want more road Runners, We've got more road Runners.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Insider Podcast. Welcome, Welcome, Welcome
everybody to this week's edition of the Two Sun Roadrunners
Insider Podcast. My name is Jonathan Schaeffer, along with me
Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. We have a pretty a
nice week to recap for you guys, for the Roadrunners,
(00:26):
kind of a weird different schedule. We had the sweep
over the Wranglers. James and I got a quick show
for you. Then we had two more games against the
Coachella Valley Firebirds. We had Thanksgiving, and then quickly after
that the Roadrunners went on to San Diego for a
single game series, came back, got home Sunday morning around
(00:48):
five thirty am. I got sick in the process, so
currently fighting off a cold at the moment. Took the
rest day yesterday, and then now James and I are
back here on this money Day afternoon. If you are
listening right now Monday afternoon, it's another big week for
the Roadrunners. Holiday schedules coming up, you know, getting the
(01:09):
players out there in the community.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
We have a holiday skate.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
This upcoming week as well, holiday party next week Teddy
Bear Toss coming up. Lots and lots of things happening
in the Roadrunners season, James, we are officially officially officially
a quarterway into the season at eighteen games, ten to eight,
zero to zero right now, on a hot streak, winners
(01:34):
of five of our last six going into the month
of December. It was a great week for the Roadrunners,
you know, talked about the homestand three and one in
the home stand against two of the hottest teams in
the division. Overtime victory against the Coachella Valley Firebirds after
getting thumped the game before, three nothing, victory against the
San Diego Goals in a game where the Roadrunners just
(01:56):
controlled the entire game. And now back at home here
for a couple of days, a couple of practices, getting
the guys out there in the community with the time
we have here, and then we're off to Calgary once
again to face off the Wranglers. But man, we're really
now starting to see this Roadrunners team come together as
(02:16):
of late.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah, I don't know if it's too early to say
that they're back to where we expected them to be,
back to where they were last year, but they've they've
had a great run lately. And not only that, but
when when they did you know, they did have those
trouble that troubles on Tuesday when they when they got
basically whipped, you know, they came back, came back strong,
recovered well on Wednesday, and then and Matt Mattie's next
(02:38):
start on Saturday, he pitched a shut out.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
So it's I think it be pretty it's pretty clear
the road Runs are.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Doing well and they're back to get at least getting
close to back to where they were last year.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
So, James, I have a couple of good stats for
you that I was working on in our weekly blog
that will be released tomorrow morning again if you're listening
on this Monday, early afternoon, late evening. But so this
is interesting. So we're ten and eight right now, right,
ten wins, eight losses. Last season to end off November,
the Roadrunners were ten to six one in one. So yes,
(03:16):
we had a we had the points from the overtime
loss and a shootout loss foraring the record. Because for
some reason in the NHL, or sorry for some reason
in the AHL, they don't combine the overtime and the
shootout losses. They make them two separate numbers. So in
the NHL you might a record might be, you know,
ten six and two, whereas the Roadrunners last season end
(03:37):
of November the team was ten six one and one
and the team had a seven to three one in
one November last season. This year a seven to four
to zho to Oh month of November, and now the
team with ten wins once again going into December. Last year,
Duson a nine to two December, best month of the season,
(03:57):
going hot into the month of this December, tuson ten wins,
eight losses.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Everything's mirroring each other right now. It's weird.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I don't know why. But and again it feels different
because the team's so different right now, and I think
the slower start that we had makes it a little different.
And you know, it's not how you start, it's how
you finished. And the Roadrunners finished off the month again
five and one in the last six games.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
You know, going.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Four and two are part of going three and one,
sorry against the two best teams in the AHL's Pacific
Division in a four game homestand and then obviously beating
the San Diego Goes three to nothing. But yeah, the
team's on a good run right now, and it's in
this exact same scenario as last season. Ten wins going
into the month of December, and we saw that month
(04:44):
propel the Roadrunners into a top spot in the Pacific
Division going into January, and we're starting to kind of
see that once again, the team's playing its best hockey
right now. Yes, we have another big series against the
top team in the Pacific Division, but if the Roadrunners
are able to get a couple of wins against the Wranglers, uh,
you know, they'll be put in a good spot into
(05:06):
the vision. They're you know, in the potential of getting
up to twenty four points, which would uh you know,
propel them in this division right now where a lot
of teams are finally starting to get hot as well.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Yeah, that's a that's a wild set.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Really, I know, right, I got it all yet, I
got all my bus ride overnight and I'm like, this
seemed really, this seems familiar. I'm gonna look at I'm
gonna look at our season from last year, and then
I'm just like, this is crazy.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
This is insane. It's literally just like last season.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Yeah, I was just thinking for separate reason, it was
I felt like last year because you dun walls up there.
You know, I'm serving us back up and then Matt
I'm doing well and you know, getting those shutouts someone
and wins. You know, I was thinking about that last
night when I was watching the rerun of the San
Diego game. It's like, Wow, this really feels a lot
like last year, where you have you have the two
edit Goli Coombo, which that was Dylan and and Matt.
(05:59):
I was you had early in season was Jackson in Matt,
but now Jackson's doing really well up in the NHL.
But that was really interesting, and you know, I would
just that just came in the mind. I was like, well,
this feel a lot like last year, even though there's
so many different players and such a different start to season,
such a mindset. But yes, it's really weird how they
kind of ended up that same.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, but again it still feels different because the team
is so different and I think the maybe the slower
start going to where the team is right now has
been great. I mean, you know, not that long ago,
the team was five and seven after losing a big
match for the first games of the back to back
against the Henderson Silver Knights team lost six to two.
(06:44):
Team was five and seven, had one more game left
of that road trip, and I'm not saying it was
the end of the world, but the team definitely was
having that moment of come on, guys, we're better than this,
We should be playing better than this, and we're not
playing to our identity. Then the team goes on the
three game winning streak, beating Anderson in the last game
(07:04):
of that road trip, sweeping the Wranglers. Yes, losing big
ticket to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, but responded with an
overtime victory and then the three nothing shut out on
the San Diego goals. We'll talk about that momentarily, but yeah,
I think the team definitely had like a moment of
realization of like, we're not playing to our potential right now.
(07:26):
We're five and seven, Yes, only two games under five hundred,
but again, you look at the games in the beginning
of the season, James, and they're big ones, and you know,
we might be looking at that sweep on the Wranglers
later on the future. If the road Runners, then Wranglers
are fighting for a first place spot in the division
by the time of the end of the season. That's
why the games this weekend are just as big because
(07:47):
if the Wranglers find a way to sweep the road
Runners back, then all of a sudden, season series is
evened up, or the Roadruners are even able to split
the series, they still have a three one advantage over
the Wranglers, or of course the sweep the best thing ever,
and then all of a sudden, you have four straight
wins against the best team in the AHL's Specific Division.
But with that being said, yeah, these games are just
(08:08):
as big as the once before. But you know, you
look at those wins in the beginning of the season.
We're even gonna look back at the bad losses at
the beginning of the season, like the series against the
Texas Stars. If the Roadrunners close those games out, they
would have a much better record. But then there's also
been other games which they have been able to close
out with victories.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
So yeah, good spot.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
The Roadrunners are in right now seventh place in the
AHL Specific Division. A couple of other teams on little
win streaks right now, but yeah, Tucson's doing what they
can control at the moment.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yeah, I mean, technically, if you want to get really technical,
a game against Calgary They're.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Always technical here, James, We're always technically here.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
The game against Calgary, first place Calgary count the same
as a game against tenth place Henderson. But in reality
it's a lot more other than you know, obviously the
psychological advantage you might get from getting an edge on
a team or you sweep them, or you get split
that split split at their barn. But in reality, if
you think about it, it's a lot more valuable to
a win against Calgary because you know, if you beat Henderson, okay,
(09:10):
you get I mean, you get the points, but Henderson
might might get a win this, I mean Calgary might
get it win the same time, so that would cancel
your went out. But if you beat Calgary, then you
get those You beat Calgary or San Jose or Colorado
coach ol one of those really team teams at the
top of the standings, then you get that, you get
those points, you get the bragging right sort of, you
get that at the psychological edge, and then you also
(09:32):
prevent them from getting points. So obviously those are really
big games. Another big stretch, you know, another big, big
series coming up this weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, no, I think that was I think when we
swept the Wranglers. The Roadrunners still were like in eighth
place because all the other teams just kind of had
to share points. You know that that means like in
overtimes and all that stuff. So that was kind of funny.
It's like, how are you going to sweep the best
team in the league and not be able to get
up in the standings, because again, that's divisions just so competitive.
(10:02):
But now we're starting to see teams start to get
it together a little bit. Ontario four game winning streak
right now, ten and seven Abbotsford. The only reason they're
in fifth place right now is because they played three
more games than the road Runners. Two Sons only one
point behind them, so we have three games in hand
on Abbotsford. So once teams catch up to them, they're
(10:22):
gonna drop a lot in the standings. Coachella Valley they
are still on their point streak right now at ten games,
seven to oh one and two in their last ten,
so they keep continuing to stack up points. Colorado's on
a six game point streak five to oh one and
oh in their last six, six street one and own
their last ten. San Jose's on a three game winning
(10:45):
streak now they're at twelve and six. Wringlers are the Wranglers.
They've won a couple games since that sweep by two Sons.
So yeah, all the teams we talked about in the
beginning of the season, it's been a little bit of
a slower start for the division that what we're used to.
But we did say these teams are going to get high.
It's bound to happen, whether it's now we're you know,
(11:06):
middle of the season, and now we're starting to see that.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
But now you have teams that are falling off a
bit again.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Abbotsford five and five in the last ten, zero to
two on a two game losing streak. Bakersfield has been struggling,
lost losers of their last three games, and now they're
currently out of that playoff pickture right now. And still
we're in a quarter into the season. But now you
can kind of you can kind of start looking good
standings a bit. We always say end of November is
you know, it's kind of where team's gonna be at.
(11:34):
And again it's still really early on, but i'd say
quarter of the season you can definitely start taking peaks
at the standings a bit and kind of seeing where
teams are starting to align where they're struggling again. The
Pacific Division top seven spots get a bit to the playoffs,
so you know, not saying it's easy to make the
playoffs in this division, but at the same time, it's
(11:55):
so good that this just knows no margin for error
in this Pacific Division.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
And also your starting to, like you said, they're they're
starting to get a little bit separation where everything was
all the teams are just so packed in a beginning
other than Calgary, but now you're starting to see San
Diego dropping off a bit, Sanders and dropping off a bit,
and then you know, Henderson three points back at Tucson.
But if you really look at it, Tucson has twenty
points and second place San Jose has four points. So
(12:25):
that's you know, that's a weekend they could move up. Technically,
the runners can move up the second place if they
if you have the sets, if the standing say the same,
they can move up, move up the second place with
a good weekend like that. With San Jose loses, you know,
and I actually called around was twenty four points too.
But and if you look Calgary at thirty one points
far away, ahead of the second places San Jose and
(12:49):
all the other team's division. But they have twenty one
games played, whereas most teams have about eighteen nineteen. Runners
have played nineteen, so they have a few games in hand.
But you know, it's it's it's get getting closer, getting
backed in, but you're starting, but you are still starting
to see the playoff caliber team start now, not not
pull away, but micking getting all those separation from the
from the San Diego, from Henderson, from those type of teams.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Yeah, it's a really good point, James.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I mean it's only separated by four points from second
place to seventh place right now in the Pacific Division.
And that was the entire story of last season. And
I think the big difference is now all of a sudden,
San Jose is a good team. Uh And but that
we kind of knew that. We kind of saw that
coming even then with Colorado as well. And Colorado has
had a lot of guys get called up this season,
(13:35):
so they're doing a phenomenal job in finding ways to
win still with the roster that they have. But uh, yeah,
I mean San Jose's kind of like this year's road Runners.
San Jose last season, near the bottom of the league. Uh,
you know, just kind of struggled to defend the nets
and because they had a good offense, but the goaltending
was a bit of a of an issue, uh, you know,
(13:56):
kind of some way to win. The road Runners, yes,
we made the playoffs, but one of our issues was,
you know, just keeping that puck out of the net.
The scoring was there, but everything else just wasn't there.
Of course, the road Runs still made the playoffs, which
was great, but again that's because this division allows the
top seven teams to make it. But now San Jose's
emerged as a top team in the division. They're twelve
(14:17):
and six right now, winners of their last three. They're
playing great Askarov, their biggest off season acquisition has been
stellar and net for them. And also kind of like
us because we got Matthew Loloalta last season and he
carried the crease for us in the early or really
the entire season. So yeah, standings are ever so close,
as always, no margin for error, you know, in this
(14:40):
league as always. But yeah, it's two huge games for
the Roadrunners this week, and you know it's against a
team that's going to be mad, a team that's going
to be angry at Tucson for sweeping them. You kind
of feel like the Wranglers are now trying to get
revenge back on the Roadrunners for this weep after Tucson
got it back on Calgary them.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
So we traded sweeps.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
James Regulars got the first weep, we got the next one.
Hopefully the pattern doesn't continue because that means the Regulars
would get the next week on Tucson.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
But Road Runs just have to keep it going.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
And if you get four wins in a row against
the best team in the division, that's huge for the team.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah, it's a tough trip, not only to play at Calgary,
but to fly up there and then you have to
you know, make that trip again, you know too. You
know it's gonna be a tough top trip for the Runners,
but it's one that they're certainly prepared for. You know,
they have the you know, there was a game on Friday,
but on Saturday, excuse me, where they play at San Diego.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
But now they have a practice week.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
You know, they travel, You said they travel on Thursday,
so it's a little time to get to get adjusted
to the to the big weather change. It's about like
eighty today, isn't.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
It Tucson, Ah, Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Yeah, it's insane and Calgary is going to be very cold,
so yeah, it's a big adjustment. Luckily, hockey's not outdoor sports.
You know, it's not gonna be like the Miami Dolphins
having to go play in Green Bay on Thanksgiving in
cold weather.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Regardless it's cold at the arena.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
So that's like a big advantage for any hockey team,
whether it's a team in Arizona or a team all
the way in Calgary.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
James.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
We've had a couple players on really good runs as well.
Kyler Yamamoto scoring a goal in that three nothing victory
now the top player with the season high point streak
of seven ten points in that stretch with four goals
six assists. He has twelve points in ten games this year.
Andrera Gazino didn't play in the San Diego game, but
(16:40):
scored that overtime winner against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He
has a four game point streak right now with three
goals and two assists. Igor Sokolov hasn't been on the
points sheet much as of late, but he's still been
on a good stretch. He had a point in that
San Diego game as part of that Kyla Yamamoto goal.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
No, all good. Robbie Russo and akur Ratu have been
for the team as well. Uh.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
The scorer is all starting to come together. Josh Jones
gone his feedback. He's now up to eight points. Uh
in twelve games. He had four points over that uh
or party. Yeah, I had four points over that homestand
well five points actually over that homestand versus the Wranglers
and the Firebirds and uh, you know that it's been
great for Tucson. The scoring is really starting to come
(17:28):
together for the Roadrunners at this moment. And once again
your top three scores on the team, soakle up, Agazino
and Yama Moto all off season acquisitions, uh for the team.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
And they continue that Runners Cortina the trend of you know,
it's that one of those seasons where you have a
couple of guys just dominating the dominating the stats.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Dominus called Carconi.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Yeah, Carcon Yeah, stories about him, you're good man.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, I know he wrote too many stories about him
that his name has a has fizzled in your head. Yeah, James,
we you know that was a big success of us
last season. We didn't have the Michael Karconi. Last year,
you know, we had the the Josh Done and the
Aker Ratu and and the Justin Kirkland. You know, we
had those players, the Matthew Vilalta. And this season, you know,
(18:16):
at first, you know, when so clob was went on
the crazy run to start the year, he was putting
Carconi numbers up. And yes it's gone down a little bit,
but he's still producing for the team. You have Andrew Agazino,
who's seventh in the league and scoring last year fourteen
points in sixteen games. Of course, the Kylie Yamamoto if
he had played, if he's up, if he had played
the eighteen games, like Igor Soklov, who knows what his
(18:39):
numbers would be right now for the team. He came
in later in the year, kind of around the beginning
of October, I believe when he joined the join the team,
or sorry, the end of October when he joined the team.
Uh So, with that being said, yeah, you know you're
starting to still see all the contributors of the points,
especially as of late.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Yeah, you see Kyler has twelve points and ten games,
and there's five guys who have double digit points and
there's what is it eleven guys that have at least
seven points, so it's really spread out, and I think
it's something that you're really starting to see him settle
in and kind of they're kind of settling on the roster.
(19:21):
I mean, you saw earlier earlier last week where they
they sent Milos Kellman and Patrick kochover to Loan to
to the Top To to the Top League in Checcia,
where you see that, and they're kind of getting the
point where the where the team is kind of settling
in and kind of settling in figuring out who's who
(19:42):
you're gonna have. You know, it's a it's a loss
to those guys like that, but and let's benefit for
them obviously to get more playing time, but it's also
I think it's a good, good move and good thing
for the road runers and long run that they're able
to settle down and kind of figure out who who
are the guys because it's it's a little bit tough
when you have so much talent, you know, to figure
out who to play now, who are gonna scratch you know,
(20:03):
what lines are going to be that are kind of
settling in and kind of figuring out what the roster
is going to be more like. So that's that's another
factor that they're I think you're seeing the last few
last couple of weeks where they're getting better, where they're
kind of figure out more who to go to. Even
though they have so much variety in scoring, so much,
so much depth, you have something to go to guys.
It's it's it's it's it's so nice to have the
(20:25):
option of settling in and figuring out who you who
are the guys you're gonna go with.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Speaking of options, James, how about Austin mcganski right first
eleven games of the season, one point, you know, he's
he's still been playing great, but the scoring just has
wasn't coming for him just yet. But there's still the
little things you would see out there that he was
doing to help the team win their games. But starting
(20:50):
off with that, he's been a big part of this, uh,
this streak for the road Runners right now with the
five and one in the last six games, started off
with a three game point streak in which he got
five points in with one goal and four cists. Three
points all coming on assists in that November twenty third
game against the Wranglers. In that second match, had a
(21:11):
point in the Coachella Valley series. In that overtime winning game,
he scored the first one for the road Runners after
Coachella Valley took an early one nothing league, he tied
things up in that game. Now, all of a sudden,
he's up to seven points in seventeen games this season,
kind of about the line of what he was able
to do last year for the team.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
But you just have to feel good for him.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
You know.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Again, we've always said you don't put your captain out there,
you know, to put up the score sheet.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
You know, that's what they're not out there for.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
They're out there because they're leaders, they're mentors, they're great
on and off the ice. But when you have someone
like Paganski producing now like that for the road Runners,
especially what his journey has been coming to the team
from last season, he's now starting to play like the
Bagansky that we saw last year with the team.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Yeah, he's you know, you get excited about that guy
guy like that goes on a run like that because
he's he's a great leader and everything. But he's also
it was interesting that if you look at it. He
played for the year before last year of Coachella when
they made that run to the to the Color Cup finals.
He he was on that team and got a lot,
(22:24):
a lot of experience in that one. But it's also
nice to see him get a you know, get a
goal against Coachella in that on Wednesday game. So it's
not only that he's been playing really well last few games.
He got those, he got that tality against he got
in the scoreesheet against Coachelle, So that was really really
interesting to.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Say, Yeah, exactly like he he he didn't start this
run against you know, the Henderson Silver Nights. Well he
technically did, actually he got a point in the first game,
but uh, you know, he didn't do this over you know,
a stretch in which the Roaders were playing bad teams. No,
he did it against the two hottest teams in the division,
(23:04):
some of the two hottest teams in the entire league,
and he was able to just accomplish all of that
for Tucsons. So yeah, really good that your captain's starting
to produce the points. Another guy who's been I wouldn't
say flown under the radar, but another one who's contributing
a lot for two soon lately, Ben McCartney two shorthanded
(23:27):
goals over the homestand James the Road Runs were so
close to scoring their third shorthanded goal against the San
Diego Goals last Saturday. They had a lot of chances
in front of the net. But the PK crew has
started to find ways to get to the net. McCartney
four points over that homestand as well two goals and
to assists two of his goals coming as shorthanded. Didn't
(23:49):
get a point in that San Diego game, but again,
just another leader of the team. You have another captain
for the team who's producing well. Travis Barron got a
in that San Diego series.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
In that one game, Kevin cannad in a goal against
the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
And of course we know how great Andrew Agazino has
played for Tucson, but all the captains right now James
for Tucson have been putting up points on the score sheets,
and that's good for a team. Again, we know they're
not captains because of their scoring capabilities. It's who they
are as people. But when they add the scoring to it,
that really uh. Juven juvenates a bench, and I think
(24:28):
it's great for Tucson right now to have all your
captains contribute like this.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Is it a coincidence that they started that run where
especially you're talking about how Austin he started his streak
against in that second game as Henderson where he got
an assist on that goal in that in that game.
Is the coincidence that they did that after the players
only meeting where they had after that rough first first
game and Anderson and then they have that streak and
(24:55):
then you see the captains and the all the leadership
group was stepping up and really ned to lead to
my example, and in addition to setting up other guys
like obviously you know Moota or setting up guys like Moto.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Yeah, no, it's it's it's kind of just been all
setting up with each other. And you know, we said
the if we wanted to get wins in that stretch
with Calgary and Coachella Valley, Oh excuse me, we said
it was going to be a full staff effort, and
it really was. It was a full staff effort. Guys
(25:29):
have been rewarded, Uh, they've been rewarded with the wins
got rewarded an extra day off today, which was nice
for them with how they've been playing lately, especially in
that game versus the goals, which just felt like a
clean sweep of a game pretty much. But yeah, nice
stretch right now for Tucson, five and one in their
last six, and yeah, the only way to keep it
(25:51):
going is to literally just keep doing what you're doing
and just keep playing hard and uh, you know, just
keep having great practices because you know, obviously stretches like
this don't last forever in a season. You know, there'll
be a time where the Roadrunners go on their next
cold stretch. It's just inevitable because every team goes through
it before the Roadrunners alert right now. As Matthew Balalta
(26:14):
said last week when we had them on the Happy
Hour Show, you know, you you have loads in a year,
but hopefully you keep the loads short and sweet, and
then you keep the highs long and rolling as long
as possible. And that's what the Roadrunners had been doing
right now in these last few weeks.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Yeah, that's one thing I remember Brett said last year.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
What he was talking about is you have to if
you're gonna be a really good team, you have to
take care and you obviously you're gonna do well gainst
the good teams, but you have to take care of
the teams like San Diego. And that was really impressive
to me that they were able to get a dominant
win like that, because you know, it's really kind of
that pro typical trap game when it's in between the
series against Coachella and the road to Calgary, so it's
(26:55):
it's it's a one, not even a series, it's it's
a technically on a series, it's a it's a solo game.
So you could go over there and you don't get
a chance fordeem yourself. You have to do everything in
one game. So it was really kind of the trap game.
So they really showed well and really impressed with the
shutout one like that.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Yeah, and another thing that's been very impressive James, is
the Roadrunners power play. Right now, it's a power play
that is currently second in the entire American Hockey League
at twenty three point three percent.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
This is insane.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
I mean, Charlotte Checkers have the number one in the
league at thirty six point one, so you know they're
they're just insanely good at the power play. But you
take that away, you take them away, then the Roadrunners
have the best power play percentage in the Western Conference
with you know, with more evened out teams like Hershey
twenty two point eight, San Jose twenty two point two.
(27:49):
Yutuk has a good power play, which I don't understand
because the record does definitely not show for it. But
with that being said, yeah, the Roadrunners, your Tucson Roadrunners
have the best power play right now in the entire
Western Conference, best power play in the HL Specific Division,
obviously best or second best in the entire league. But
then sae thing is James that when it comes to
(28:11):
power play opportunities, the Roadrunners are twenty seventh in the league.
They've only been given sixty power play opportunities. They only
had two against San Diego. I believe it's nine straight
games now in which the Roadrunners haven't been given more
than three power play opportunities in the game. And I say,
maybe three might be average, but that just means that
(28:32):
two sons not drawing the penalties. And you know, maybe
it's just the style of play that we're having right now.
And it's fine because we're winning. We're winning games, obviously,
but yeah, you know, or whether it's the just the
referees you have or really just anything. There's so many
contributors and why you're not drawing the penalties. Luckily two
Son's been playing really clean hockey on their end as
(28:53):
well and not drawing penalties on their end. Matthew will
have to mention that in the interview. That will play
for you shortly. But uh, yeah, twenty seventh in the
league and power play opportunities twenty three point three percent
on the power play fourteen. They've scored fourteen times on
the power play and the sixty chances resulting in that percentage.
And if that's not taking advantage of your opportunities, I
(29:15):
don't know what is.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Yeah, it's just such a wild stat to see, you know,
just to see them just doing so well in the
power play.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Like that too, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
That's uh, that's how you win games too, especially when
you're not getting a lot of penalties. To just be
so proficient, so so efficient and so so good at that,
it's really really investive to me.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Yeah, it really is.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
And I talked to Steve Pavin about it, I think
even before the Coachella Valley series in one of our
pregame shows, and I'm like, how do you find ways
to get reps on the power play when you don't
even get the reps? I mean, because you can practice
that as much as practice as you can, but you
need the live you need the live game field to it,
you know. And you know, let's say a team gets
(29:59):
eight power Play tries the game, It's like, well, at
least they got their practice, That's what people usually say.
But the Roadrunners haven't been getting that lately. They haven't
even been getting the reps to do good on the
power Play. Ask Steve about it, and he's like, well,
it's because we're excited to go on the power Play.
And when you're excited for something, obviously you take full
advantage of it, right. You know, if you if you
(30:19):
spend a day at Disneyland, you're gonna do everything you
possibly can that day you're at Disneyland, or if you
have a day off from work, you're gonna take advantage
of that day off at work. And I think the
same goes for a power play. For Tucson. You're excited
to go on the power Play. It's an opportunity to score,
It's an opportunity for the power play unit guys to
get on the score sheet for themselves. So I think
(30:42):
that's why it's been so good and the short amount
of opportunities we get because now, you know, I think
the mentality is, well, guys, you never know, we might
be only given one or two power play opportunities.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Let's make the most of it.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
And the reason why the percentage obviously has been so
high is because the Roadrunners have been scoring in these
low percentage chance I mean they're about fifty percent in
a stretch at home in that homestand of course went
down a little bit, but then all of a sudden
the team scores on a one for two chance on Saturday,
nine percentage goes way back up. So yeah, it's been
(31:14):
really impressive for the Roadrunners, uh to be really taking
advantage of their power play tries in the coming of
late and James, it's a good point. That's how you
win games, right, you know, you win games from power
play goals. You win games by sitting out of the
box but drawing penalties on your side, And though the
Roadrunners have been beginning a lot of those, they're so
taking advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yeah, there's there are social teams have been really good,
not not only social teams, but at the end of
game when they're facing extra man when Dali Jampole's a goal.
They last few games, they've just been even facing that lot.
Obviously winning so many games lately, but it's just to
me been real impressive how they've been able to really
shut down the other teams and knocking up goals late
(31:57):
even though you know, like Sending pulled the goalie with
with when they're down three to zero, so probably wasn't
going to decide the game or anything, but they were
still able to hold that, keep that keep that shut out.
But you know, I think that this successful special teams,
particularly with with the with the power play, You're you're
seeing that because it's it's just such a veteran team
and they're they're really poised and they really they really
(32:21):
know what attack, they really know how to dissect the.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
The other team's PK unit because you can really you're seeing.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Goals that they have on the power play where they're
having long distance goals, where they're having goals where they
snake around, they do they do fakes, and they're having
goals where they force it in and when they're right
by the crease. So it's really well, I think when
the keys to that is they have a lot of
variety in their power play goals too.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
Yeah, and that was a big shutout for Matthew Vilalta,
his first of the season, his fourth as a Roadrunner,
entering his second year with the team. Uh, he's out
up to Ford six on the season. Uh, three and
one in his last four starts, if I'm not mistaken, Well,
let's see, let me do the math. Got the sweep
(33:04):
against Calgary. Okay, yeah, three so three and one, Yeah,
three and one in his last four starts. Sorry, I
had to do math on the air with my brain
being dead. Three one in his last four starts. The
winds are starting to come together for him. Didn't face
a lot of shots against San Diego, but still made
a lot of great a chance saves and James Yeah,
(33:25):
that's a good point. Yeah, san Diego pulled their goaltender
with the Roadrunners were able to, you know, kind of
clear things out and not make it hard for Valalta.
I don't know if you saw it, but Maddie at
one point and actually lost his lost his stick. Leaden
Moore notices it gives his stick to Matthew Volalta and
Maddy made like one.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Really good save with a regular skater stick.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
And you know, it's easier said than done, you know,
for for you fans out there, you know, maybe might
think like, oh, well, he doesn't need a stick to
make safe.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Well they do.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
They used that stick to blow the five hole and
they also use that stick to kind of keep them bounce.
They're so used to making saves with the sticks, so
uh and even with a skater stick gets so much
lighter and so much different to you.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
So that was a funny sequence.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Heads up play by Lane more and getting his stick
to Matthew Valta Uh as quick as possible. We even
had a double shutout Jackson Stoburt the first shutout in
Utah Hockey Club history.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
After being called up to the hockey club.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
It's been about a week now, uh, if I'm not
mistaken or no, it's been a little longer now than
a week since Stobur has been called up, about two weeks.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
So uh, you know, he finally gets his opportunity to play.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Who saw Dylan Wells get a win in that overtime
victory against the Coachella Valley Firebirds double shut out for
both Jackson Stober and Matthew Volalta and James. We're now
seeing why Tucson went out and got a guy like
Stobur while also keeping a guy like Wells and also
of course Matthew Valta as well. You know, now we're
(34:59):
starting to see why we got so much goaltending death
because now it's helping both teams get wins.
Speaker 1 (35:04):
Yeah, you saw one of the things last night we
saw from a tweet from Adrian up and up in
Utah that he he noted that the organizational parallels between
Jackson getting twenty nine saves shut out in their six
zero one over Vegas and then matt getting twenty two
saves and net three to zero went over San Diego,
which honestly not not not as didn't face as many shots,
(35:27):
but in a lot of ways it's tougher because you're
you're dominating the game, your your your team on the
other end scoring much of goals.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
You have to kind of stay stay focused.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
And so to me, getting a shut out like that
without as many staves still chiller impressive. And then he
noted that Utah is three one and one in the
last five games, and then Tucson is has one five
or six. So another good tweet from from Adrian representing
Tucson still even though he's up in Salt Lake.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Oh yeah, Tucson, he's a He's a Roadrunner for life.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
Uh and yeah, it's it's nice to see that the
hockey club, a Utah Hockey Club is, you know, it's
playing a good stretch right now, and they just beat
a really good team six to nothing. The road Runners
have just went three and one against two really good
teams in our respective leagues as well. So yeah, great
(36:18):
job by Jackson Stauber. Congratulations to him, first shutout in
Utah Hockey Club history. Congrats to Matthew Blalta getting his
first shutout of the season, fourth as a road Runner.
It is now up to four and six on the year.
I caught up with Matthew Bolalta after the game to
talk about the three nothing went for Tucson, and now
(36:39):
we have our exclusive postgame interview here for you folks
on this show with me and Matthew Balalta.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
Maddie, congrats on the shutout.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
I mean, you know, kind of just felt like one
of our cleanest games of the year, you know, didn't
take a lot of penalties.
Speaker 3 (36:52):
You know, goals created chances, but it.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Just feels like you steered them aside or whether our
defense played good in front of the net.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
It just felt like a clean game for us. And
how did I want you out there?
Speaker 6 (37:00):
For you? Yeah, it felt great.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
You know.
Speaker 6 (37:03):
I think it was a full team effort. Everyone I
think did their job very well and everyone was, you know,
working really hard out there. Either was you know, backchecking hard,
guys in the right spots, you know, getting out over
his zone, you know, pretty clean and quick. So I
feel like anytime you get out of your zone quick
like that tonight, it's uh, it's more time in the ozone.
(37:25):
And I think we saw, you know, plenty plenty of that.
You know, I thought from a team standpoint, everyone everyone
played awesome and just wanted to be back there and
you know, keep the bucket on the net.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Laymore played great tonight, first multiple point game in his career.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Uh, you're living him with with him this season, if
I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Just what's it been like for him to have him
as a teammate and seeing him develop in a game
like he had tonight.
Speaker 6 (37:50):
Yeah, Moores, He's unbelievable guy. He's a great teammate. You know,
classify him as a blue guy, and you know he's,
uh plays a big role in our team. And you
know he's we saw flashes of him last year when
he got to play in you know, he's you know,
getting his chances now this year and you know he's
playing unbelievable and you know he's he's a great young pro.
(38:13):
He shows up every day, he works hard and be
just very fun to be around and be able to
with him to treat and it's definitely awesome companies. So
I'm gonna be more happy for him. And uh, he's
been playing awesome and we're gonna keep working hard and
enjoying enjoying our time you know, away from the wreck
together as well.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
It's a great stretch for us right now. Five wins
in our last six games. What's been working for us lately?
And uh, how do we keep this going now into
another tough series against Calgary. We just swept him, but
they're gonna be angry about it. They're gonna want to
get some wins on us. So just uh, how do
we just keep it rolling for ourselves? And uh, just yeah,
keep this train going.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
I think it's Uh.
Speaker 6 (38:52):
The first thing is we've been pretty disciplined. I feel
like from the start of the year to our last
couple of games here have been taking a lot less
pat and anytime you're not on the bounty kill, it's
obviously more time even strength or time on the power plays.
So that's how we want to play the game, you know,
as I think it just guys are consistent or have
(39:12):
been consistent in this last little stretch, and you know,
I think just overall, everyone's been doing a great job
every night, sticking to our structure, doing their job. And
I think the biggest thing for us is that, you know,
we beat Calgary twice, but you can't can't be complacent,
and they're you know, they're gonna be bringing their best game,
especially out there, so you know, we're just gonna have
(39:33):
to keep doing what we're doing. You can't get too high,
can't get too low, and we're just gonna have to
keep working hard and you know, earning earning the results
we need.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Thanks Mandy, congrats on the shutout.
Speaker 6 (39:43):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
So me with Matthew Volaltza after the game. Team's on
a good run. Right now, James, both Utah and Tucson.
We saw the double shutout with Jackson, Stobur and Maddie
as well. And you know last season with nine and
two in December with ten wins this year ten wins
hot streak right now going into December once more. And uh,
(40:09):
I wouldn't say it's a make or break month for Tucson,
but I I just have a good feeling. And James,
you know, I'm an optimistic I'm very optimistic about everything,
but I just have a good feeling. Uh, come this time,
end of the month, you and I will be on
this podcast and we're gonna see Tucson in one of
the top spots in the division.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
Yeah, it's the you know, most vulnerable time of the year,
you say, but it's a fun time for There's a
lot of a lot of big games coming up, a
lot of cool promotions coming up that they have throwners
have and you know the team's playing well. It's you know, guys,
you're seeing guys like Laighton Moore I'm doing stepping up
(40:51):
for during real while you know you're seeing the captain's
doing really well. You know, It's it's something that's a
really exciting time.
Speaker 4 (40:59):
To be a Roader.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
Yeah, exciting time right now to be a Roadrunners fan.
We have Swifty Night coming up on December thirteenth, Teddy
Bear Toss on December fourteenth, both of those games coming
against the Henderson's Silver Nights on a Friday Saturday series.
If you don't know what Teddy Bear Toss is, highly
recommend you get a ticket and come. You know, you
(41:21):
come with the stuffed animal of your choosing. When the
Roadrunners score their first goal, you throw the teddy bear
onto the ice and then all of them go to
proceeds of local charities. We have our holiday party coming
up on December tenth. We have a little surprise for you,
so we'll keep it a secret for now, but taking
(41:42):
it might be taking the guys somewhere to make some
bears that we're gonna be auctioning off as well. So yeah,
really fun December coming up. It's going to be busy,
but that's what the holidays are all about, James. It's
getting out there in the community and just having fun
while also playing hockey.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
You take a break from shopping and come down to
the Two Sin Arena check out the road Runners. It's
a fun night and it should be fun end of
the end of the calendar year.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
Well, good stretch coming up for the Roadrunners. It all
comes or really starts this upcoming weekend against the Calgary Wranglers,
and then we're back home for two games against Anders
and Silver Knights for Swifty Night and uh and Teddy
Bear Toss Night. Well, James, thanks again for joining me.
It's been a good stretch for the Roadrunners. They'll continue
to roll it on here. Kim, Coderolas and I will
(42:34):
be back on Tuesday nights. We're trying to get you
the Captain or the assistant Captain rather Andrew Agazino for
our usual Tuesday night get together and that will be
a fun show as well. Before we head off to Calgary,
we'll throw things out with Roadrunners Rock and we will
see you later on this week everybody, as the Roadrunners
December starts this weekend.
Speaker 6 (42:57):
Come after one of these.
Speaker 5 (43:00):
Need a lot more friends.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
We've seen U skate before. We know how this story is. Tonight,
We're rising up tonight. You go down, you try to
run nothing on us.
Speaker 4 (43:12):
We're gonna run you down.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
Get on the bus, go back to where you came from,
getting on the bus dropped far far away. Hang up
your skates, drop your gloves.
Speaker 3 (43:27):
Put just this a way. You got beat down tonight.
That's the Two sad Way.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Road right from.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
Road Rider from road Righter from road right from that's
the Two sad Way
When you want more road Runners, We've got more road Runners.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Insider Podcast. Welcome, Welcome, Welcome
everybody to this week's edition of the Two Sun Roadrunners
Insider Podcast. My name is Jonathan Schaeffer, along with me
Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. We have a pretty a
nice week to recap for you guys, for the Roadrunners,
(00:26):
kind of a weird different schedule. We had the sweep
over the Wranglers. James and I got a quick show
for you. Then we had two more games against the
Coachella Valley Firebirds. We had Thanksgiving, and then quickly after
that the Roadrunners went on to San Diego for a
single game series, came back, got home Sunday morning around
(00:48):
five thirty am. I got sick in the process, so
currently fighting off a cold at the moment. Took the
rest day yesterday, and then now James and I are
back here on this money Day afternoon. If you are
listening right now Monday afternoon, it's another big week for
the Roadrunners. Holiday schedules coming up, you know, getting the
(01:09):
players out there in the community.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
We have a holiday skate.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
This upcoming week as well, holiday party next week Teddy
Bear Toss coming up. Lots and lots of things happening
in the Roadrunners season, James, we are officially officially officially
a quarterway into the season at eighteen games, ten to eight,
zero to zero right now, on a hot streak, winners
(01:34):
of five of our last six going into the month
of December. It was a great week for the Roadrunners,
you know, talked about the homestand three and one in
the home stand against two of the hottest teams in
the division. Overtime victory against the Coachella Valley Firebirds after
getting thumped the game before, three nothing, victory against the
San Diego Goals in a game where the Roadrunners just
(01:56):
controlled the entire game. And now back at home here
for a couple of days, a couple of practices, getting
the guys out there in the community with the time
we have here, and then we're off to Calgary once
again to face off the Wranglers. But man, we're really
now starting to see this Roadrunners team come together as
(02:16):
of late.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah, I don't know if it's too early to say
that they're back to where we expected them to be,
back to where they were last year, but they've they've
had a great run lately. And not only that, but
when when they did you know, they did have those
trouble that troubles on Tuesday when they when they got
basically whipped, you know, they came back, came back strong,
recovered well on Wednesday, and then and Matt Mattie's next
(02:38):
start on Saturday, he pitched a shut out.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
So it's I think it be pretty it's pretty clear
the road Runs are.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Doing well and they're back to get at least getting
close to back to where they were last year.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
So, James, I have a couple of good stats for
you that I was working on in our weekly blog
that will be released tomorrow morning again if you're listening
on this Monday, early afternoon, late evening. But so this
is interesting. So we're ten and eight right now, right,
ten wins, eight losses. Last season to end off November,
the Roadrunners were ten to six one in one. So yes,
(03:16):
we had a we had the points from the overtime
loss and a shootout loss foraring the record. Because for
some reason in the NHL, or sorry for some reason
in the AHL, they don't combine the overtime and the
shootout losses. They make them two separate numbers. So in
the NHL you might a record might be, you know,
ten six and two, whereas the Roadrunners last season end
(03:37):
of November the team was ten six one and one
and the team had a seven to three one in
one November last season. This year a seven to four
to zho to Oh month of November, and now the
team with ten wins once again going into December. Last year,
Duson a nine to two December, best month of the season,
(03:57):
going hot into the month of this December, tuson ten wins,
eight losses.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Everything's mirroring each other right now. It's weird.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I don't know why. But and again it feels different
because the team's so different right now, and I think
the slower start that we had makes it a little different.
And you know, it's not how you start, it's how
you finished. And the Roadrunners finished off the month again
five and one in the last six games.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
You know, going.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Four and two are part of going three and one,
sorry against the two best teams in the AHL's Pacific
Division in a four game homestand and then obviously beating
the San Diego Goes three to nothing. But yeah, the
team's on a good run right now, and it's in
this exact same scenario as last season. Ten wins going
into the month of December, and we saw that month
(04:44):
propel the Roadrunners into a top spot in the Pacific
Division going into January, and we're starting to kind of
see that once again, the team's playing its best hockey
right now. Yes, we have another big series against the
top team in the Pacific Division, but if the Roadrunners
are able to get a couple of wins against the Wranglers, uh,
you know, they'll be put in a good spot into
(05:06):
the vision. They're you know, in the potential of getting
up to twenty four points, which would uh you know,
propel them in this division right now where a lot
of teams are finally starting to get hot as well.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Yeah, that's a that's a wild set.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Really, I know, right, I got it all yet, I
got all my bus ride overnight and I'm like, this
seemed really, this seems familiar. I'm gonna look at I'm
gonna look at our season from last year, and then
I'm just like, this is crazy.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
This is insane. It's literally just like last season.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Yeah, I was just thinking for separate reason, it was
I felt like last year because you dun walls up there.
You know, I'm serving us back up and then Matt
I'm doing well and you know, getting those shutouts someone
and wins. You know, I was thinking about that last
night when I was watching the rerun of the San
Diego game. It's like, Wow, this really feels a lot
like last year, where you have you have the two
edit Goli Coombo, which that was Dylan and and Matt.
(05:59):
I was you had early in season was Jackson in Matt,
but now Jackson's doing really well up in the NHL.
But that was really interesting, and you know, I would
just that just came in the mind. I was like, well,
this feel a lot like last year, even though there's
so many different players and such a different start to season,
such a mindset. But yes, it's really weird how they
kind of ended up that same.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, but again it still feels different because the team
is so different and I think the maybe the slower
start going to where the team is right now has
been great. I mean, you know, not that long ago,
the team was five and seven after losing a big
match for the first games of the back to back
against the Henderson Silver Knights team lost six to two.
(06:44):
Team was five and seven, had one more game left
of that road trip, and I'm not saying it was
the end of the world, but the team definitely was
having that moment of come on, guys, we're better than this,
We should be playing better than this, and we're not
playing to our identity. Then the team goes on the
three game winning streak, beating Anderson in the last game
(07:04):
of that road trip, sweeping the Wranglers. Yes, losing big
ticket to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, but responded with an
overtime victory and then the three nothing shut out on
the San Diego goals. We'll talk about that momentarily, but yeah,
I think the team definitely had like a moment of
realization of like, we're not playing to our potential right now.
(07:26):
We're five and seven, Yes, only two games under five hundred,
but again, you look at the games in the beginning
of the season, James, and they're big ones, and you know,
we might be looking at that sweep on the Wranglers
later on the future. If the road Runners, then Wranglers
are fighting for a first place spot in the division
by the time of the end of the season. That's
why the games this weekend are just as big because
(07:47):
if the Wranglers find a way to sweep the road
Runners back, then all of a sudden, season series is
evened up, or the Roadruners are even able to split
the series, they still have a three one advantage over
the Wranglers, or of course the sweep the best thing ever,
and then all of a sudden, you have four straight
wins against the best team in the AHL's Specific Division.
But with that being said, yeah, these games are just
(08:08):
as big as the once before. But you know, you
look at those wins in the beginning of the season.
We're even gonna look back at the bad losses at
the beginning of the season, like the series against the
Texas Stars. If the Roadrunners close those games out, they
would have a much better record. But then there's also
been other games which they have been able to close
out with victories.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
So yeah, good spot.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
The Roadrunners are in right now seventh place in the
AHL Specific Division. A couple of other teams on little
win streaks right now, but yeah, Tucson's doing what they
can control at the moment.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yeah, I mean, technically, if you want to get really technical,
a game against Calgary They're.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Always technical here, James, We're always technically here.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
The game against Calgary, first place Calgary count the same
as a game against tenth place Henderson. But in reality
it's a lot more other than you know, obviously the
psychological advantage you might get from getting an edge on
a team or you sweep them, or you get split
that split split at their barn. But in reality, if
you think about it, it's a lot more valuable to
a win against Calgary because you know, if you beat Henderson, okay,
(09:10):
you get I mean, you get the points, but Henderson
might might get a win this, I mean Calgary might
get it win the same time, so that would cancel
your went out. But if you beat Calgary, then you
get those You beat Calgary or San Jose or Colorado
coach ol one of those really team teams at the
top of the standings, then you get that, you get
those points, you get the bragging right sort of, you
get that at the psychological edge, and then you also
(09:32):
prevent them from getting points. So obviously those are really
big games. Another big stretch, you know, another big, big
series coming up this weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, no, I think that was I think when we
swept the Wranglers. The Roadrunners still were like in eighth
place because all the other teams just kind of had
to share points. You know that that means like in
overtimes and all that stuff. So that was kind of funny.
It's like, how are you going to sweep the best
team in the league and not be able to get
up in the standings, because again, that's divisions just so competitive.
(10:02):
But now we're starting to see teams start to get
it together a little bit. Ontario four game winning streak
right now, ten and seven Abbotsford. The only reason they're
in fifth place right now is because they played three
more games than the road Runners. Two Sons only one
point behind them, so we have three games in hand
on Abbotsford. So once teams catch up to them, they're
(10:22):
gonna drop a lot in the standings. Coachella Valley they
are still on their point streak right now at ten games,
seven to oh one and two in their last ten,
so they keep continuing to stack up points. Colorado's on
a six game point streak five to oh one and
oh in their last six, six street one and own
their last ten. San Jose's on a three game winning
(10:45):
streak now they're at twelve and six. Wringlers are the Wranglers.
They've won a couple games since that sweep by two Sons.
So yeah, all the teams we talked about in the
beginning of the season, it's been a little bit of
a slower start for the division that what we're used to.
But we did say these teams are going to get high.
It's bound to happen, whether it's now we're you know,
(11:06):
middle of the season, and now we're starting to see that.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
But now you have teams that are falling off a
bit again.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Abbotsford five and five in the last ten, zero to
two on a two game losing streak. Bakersfield has been struggling,
lost losers of their last three games, and now they're
currently out of that playoff pickture right now. And still
we're in a quarter into the season. But now you
can kind of you can kind of start looking good
standings a bit. We always say end of November is
you know, it's kind of where team's gonna be at.
(11:34):
And again it's still really early on, but i'd say
quarter of the season you can definitely start taking peaks
at the standings a bit and kind of seeing where
teams are starting to align where they're struggling again. The
Pacific Division top seven spots get a bit to the playoffs,
so you know, not saying it's easy to make the
playoffs in this division, but at the same time, it's
(11:55):
so good that this just knows no margin for error
in this Pacific Division.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
And also your starting to, like you said, they're they're
starting to get a little bit separation where everything was
all the teams are just so packed in a beginning
other than Calgary, but now you're starting to see San
Diego dropping off a bit, Sanders and dropping off a bit,
and then you know, Henderson three points back at Tucson.
But if you really look at it, Tucson has twenty
points and second place San Jose has four points. So
(12:25):
that's you know, that's a weekend they could move up. Technically,
the runners can move up the second place if they
if you have the sets, if the standing say the same,
they can move up, move up the second place with
a good weekend like that. With San Jose loses, you know,
and I actually called around was twenty four points too.
But and if you look Calgary at thirty one points
far away, ahead of the second places San Jose and
(12:49):
all the other team's division. But they have twenty one
games played, whereas most teams have about eighteen nineteen. Runners
have played nineteen, so they have a few games in hand.
But you know, it's it's it's get getting closer, getting
backed in, but you're starting, but you are still starting
to see the playoff caliber team start now, not not
pull away, but micking getting all those separation from the
from the San Diego, from Henderson, from those type of teams.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Yeah, it's a really good point, James.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
I mean it's only separated by four points from second
place to seventh place right now in the Pacific Division.
And that was the entire story of last season. And
I think the big difference is now all of a sudden,
San Jose is a good team. Uh And but that
we kind of knew that. We kind of saw that
coming even then with Colorado as well. And Colorado has
had a lot of guys get called up this season,
(13:35):
so they're doing a phenomenal job in finding ways to
win still with the roster that they have. But uh, yeah,
I mean San Jose's kind of like this year's road Runners.
San Jose last season, near the bottom of the league. Uh,
you know, just kind of struggled to defend the nets
and because they had a good offense, but the goaltending
was a bit of a of an issue, uh, you know,
(13:56):
kind of some way to win. The road Runners, yes,
we made the playoffs, but one of our issues was,
you know, just keeping that puck out of the net.
The scoring was there, but everything else just wasn't there.
Of course, the road Runs still made the playoffs, which
was great, but again that's because this division allows the
top seven teams to make it. But now San Jose's
emerged as a top team in the division. They're twelve
(14:17):
and six right now, winners of their last three. They're
playing great Askarov, their biggest off season acquisition has been
stellar and net for them. And also kind of like
us because we got Matthew Loloalta last season and he
carried the crease for us in the early or really
the entire season. So yeah, standings are ever so close,
as always, no margin for error, you know, in this
(14:40):
league as always. But yeah, it's two huge games for
the Roadrunners this week, and you know it's against a
team that's going to be mad, a team that's going
to be angry at Tucson for sweeping them. You kind
of feel like the Wranglers are now trying to get
revenge back on the Roadrunners for this weep after Tucson
got it back on Calgary them.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
So we traded sweeps.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
James Regulars got the first weep, we got the next one.
Hopefully the pattern doesn't continue because that means the Regulars
would get the next week on Tucson.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
But Road Runs just have to keep it going.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
And if you get four wins in a row against
the best team in the division, that's huge for the team.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Yeah, it's a tough trip, not only to play at Calgary,
but to fly up there and then you have to
you know, make that trip again, you know too. You
know it's gonna be a tough top trip for the Runners,
but it's one that they're certainly prepared for. You know,
they have the you know, there was a game on Friday,
but on Saturday, excuse me, where they play at San Diego.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
But now they have a practice week.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
You know, they travel, You said they travel on Thursday,
so it's a little time to get to get adjusted
to the to the big weather change. It's about like
eighty today, isn't.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
It Tucson, Ah, Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Yeah, it's insane and Calgary is going to be very cold,
so yeah, it's a big adjustment. Luckily, hockey's not outdoor sports.
You know, it's not gonna be like the Miami Dolphins
having to go play in Green Bay on Thanksgiving in
cold weather.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Regardless it's cold at the arena.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
So that's like a big advantage for any hockey team,
whether it's a team in Arizona or a team all
the way in Calgary.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
James.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
We've had a couple players on really good runs as well.
Kyler Yamamoto scoring a goal in that three nothing victory
now the top player with the season high point streak
of seven ten points in that stretch with four goals
six assists. He has twelve points in ten games this year.
Andrera Gazino didn't play in the San Diego game, but
(16:40):
scored that overtime winner against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He
has a four game point streak right now with three
goals and two assists. Igor Sokolov hasn't been on the
points sheet much as of late, but he's still been
on a good stretch. He had a point in that
San Diego game as part of that Kyla Yamamoto goal.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
No, all good. Robbie Russo and akur Ratu have been
for the team as well. Uh.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
The scorer is all starting to come together. Josh Jones
gone his feedback. He's now up to eight points. Uh
in twelve games. He had four points over that uh
or party. Yeah, I had four points over that homestand
well five points actually over that homestand versus the Wranglers
and the Firebirds and uh, you know that it's been
great for Tucson. The scoring is really starting to come
(17:28):
together for the Roadrunners at this moment. And once again
your top three scores on the team, soakle up, Agazino
and Yama Moto all off season acquisitions, uh for the team.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
And they continue that Runners Cortina the trend of you know,
it's that one of those seasons where you have a
couple of guys just dominating the dominating the stats.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Dominus called Carconi.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
Yeah, Carcon Yeah, stories about him, you're good man.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, I know he wrote too many stories about him
that his name has a has fizzled in your head. Yeah, James,
we you know that was a big success of us
last season. We didn't have the Michael Karconi. Last year,
you know, we had the the Josh Done and the
Aker Ratu and and the Justin Kirkland. You know, we
had those players, the Matthew Vilalta. And this season, you know,
(18:16):
at first, you know, when so clob was went on
the crazy run to start the year, he was putting
Carconi numbers up. And yes it's gone down a little bit,
but he's still producing for the team. You have Andrew Agazino,
who's seventh in the league and scoring last year fourteen
points in sixteen games. Of course, the Kylie Yamamoto if
he had played, if he's up, if he had played
the eighteen games, like Igor Soklov, who knows what his
(18:39):
numbers would be right now for the team. He came
in later in the year, kind of around the beginning
of October, I believe when he joined the join the team,
or sorry, the end of October when he joined the team.
Uh So, with that being said, yeah, you know you're
starting to still see all the contributors of the points,
especially as of late.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Yeah, you see Kyler has twelve points and ten games,
and there's five guys who have double digit points and
there's what is it eleven guys that have at least
seven points, so it's really spread out, and I think
it's something that you're really starting to see him settle
in and kind of they're kind of settling on the roster.
(19:21):
I mean, you saw earlier earlier last week where they
they sent Milos Kellman and Patrick kochover to Loan to
to the Top To to the Top League in Checcia,
where you see that, and they're kind of getting the
point where the where the team is kind of settling
in and kind of settling in figuring out who's who
(19:42):
you're gonna have. You know, it's a it's a loss
to those guys like that, but and let's benefit for
them obviously to get more playing time, but it's also
I think it's a good, good move and good thing
for the road runers and long run that they're able
to settle down and kind of figure out who who
are the guys because it's it's a little bit tough
when you have so much talent, you know, to figure
out who to play now, who are gonna scratch you know,
(20:03):
what lines are going to be that are kind of
settling in and kind of figuring out what the roster
is going to be more like. So that's that's another
factor that they're I think you're seeing the last few
last couple of weeks where they're getting better, where they're
kind of figure out more who to go to. Even
though they have so much variety in scoring, so much,
so much depth, you have something to go to guys.
It's it's it's it's it's so nice to have the
(20:25):
option of settling in and figuring out who you who
are the guys you're gonna go with.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Speaking of options, James, how about Austin mcganski right first
eleven games of the season, one point, you know, he's
he's still been playing great, but the scoring just has
wasn't coming for him just yet. But there's still the
little things you would see out there that he was
doing to help the team win their games. But starting
(20:50):
off with that, he's been a big part of this, uh,
this streak for the road Runners right now with the
five and one in the last six games, started off
with a three game point streak in which he got
five points in with one goal and four cists. Three
points all coming on assists in that November twenty third
game against the Wranglers. In that second match, had a
(21:11):
point in the Coachella Valley series. In that overtime winning game,
he scored the first one for the road Runners after
Coachella Valley took an early one nothing league, he tied
things up in that game. Now, all of a sudden,
he's up to seven points in seventeen games this season,
kind of about the line of what he was able
to do last year for the team.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
But you just have to feel good for him.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
You know.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Again, we've always said you don't put your captain out there,
you know, to put up the score sheet.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
You know, that's what they're not out there for.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
They're out there because they're leaders, they're mentors, they're great
on and off the ice. But when you have someone
like Paganski producing now like that for the road Runners,
especially what his journey has been coming to the team
from last season, he's now starting to play like the
Bagansky that we saw last year with the team.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Yeah, he's you know, you get excited about that guy
guy like that goes on a run like that because
he's he's a great leader and everything. But he's also
it was interesting that if you look at it. He
played for the year before last year of Coachella when
they made that run to the to the Color Cup finals.
He he was on that team and got a lot,
(22:24):
a lot of experience in that one. But it's also
nice to see him get a you know, get a
goal against Coachella in that on Wednesday game. So it's
not only that he's been playing really well last few games.
He got those, he got that tality against he got
in the scoreesheet against Coachelle, So that was really really
interesting to.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Say, Yeah, exactly like he he he didn't start this
run against you know, the Henderson Silver Nights. Well he
technically did, actually he got a point in the first game,
but uh, you know, he didn't do this over you know,
a stretch in which the Roaders were playing bad teams. No,
he did it against the two hottest teams in the division,
(23:04):
some of the two hottest teams in the entire league,
and he was able to just accomplish all of that
for Tucsons. So yeah, really good that your captain's starting
to produce the points. Another guy who's been I wouldn't
say flown under the radar, but another one who's contributing
a lot for two soon lately, Ben McCartney two shorthanded
(23:27):
goals over the homestand James the Road Runs were so
close to scoring their third shorthanded goal against the San
Diego Goals last Saturday. They had a lot of chances
in front of the net. But the PK crew has
started to find ways to get to the net. McCartney
four points over that homestand as well two goals and
to assists two of his goals coming as shorthanded. Didn't
(23:49):
get a point in that San Diego game, but again,
just another leader of the team. You have another captain
for the team who's producing well. Travis Barron got a
in that San Diego series.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
In that one game, Kevin cannad in a goal against
the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
And of course we know how great Andrew Agazino has
played for Tucson, but all the captains right now James
for Tucson have been putting up points on the score sheets,
and that's good for a team. Again, we know they're
not captains because of their scoring capabilities. It's who they
are as people. But when they add the scoring to it,
that really uh. Juven juvenates a bench, and I think
(24:28):
it's great for Tucson right now to have all your
captains contribute like this.
Speaker 4 (24:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Is it a coincidence that they started that run where
especially you're talking about how Austin he started his streak
against in that second game as Henderson where he got
an assist on that goal in that in that game.
Is the coincidence that they did that after the players
only meeting where they had after that rough first first
game and Anderson and then they have that streak and
(24:55):
then you see the captains and the all the leadership
group was stepping up and really ned to lead to
my example, and in addition to setting up other guys
like obviously you know Moota or setting up guys like Moto.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Yeah, no, it's it's it's kind of just been all
setting up with each other. And you know, we said
the if we wanted to get wins in that stretch
with Calgary and Coachella Valley, Oh excuse me, we said
it was going to be a full staff effort, and
it really was. It was a full staff effort. Guys
(25:29):
have been rewarded, Uh, they've been rewarded with the wins
got rewarded an extra day off today, which was nice
for them with how they've been playing lately, especially in
that game versus the goals, which just felt like a
clean sweep of a game pretty much. But yeah, nice
stretch right now for Tucson, five and one in their
last six, and yeah, the only way to keep it
(25:51):
going is to literally just keep doing what you're doing
and just keep playing hard and uh, you know, just
keep having great practices because you know, obviously stretches like
this don't last forever in a season. You know, there'll
be a time where the Roadrunners go on their next
cold stretch. It's just inevitable because every team goes through
it before the Roadrunners alert right now. As Matthew Balalta
(26:14):
said last week when we had them on the Happy
Hour Show, you know, you you have loads in a year,
but hopefully you keep the loads short and sweet, and
then you keep the highs long and rolling as long
as possible. And that's what the Roadrunners had been doing
right now in these last few weeks.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Yeah, that's one thing I remember Brett said last year.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
What he was talking about is you have to if
you're gonna be a really good team, you have to
take care and you obviously you're gonna do well gainst
the good teams, but you have to take care of
the teams like San Diego. And that was really impressive
to me that they were able to get a dominant
win like that, because you know, it's really kind of
that pro typical trap game when it's in between the
series against Coachella and the road to Calgary, so it's
(26:55):
it's it's a one, not even a series, it's it's
a technically on a series, it's a it's a solo game.
So you could go over there and you don't get
a chance fordeem yourself. You have to do everything in
one game. So it was really kind of the trap game.
So they really showed well and really impressed with the
shutout one like that.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Yeah, and another thing that's been very impressive James, is
the Roadrunners power play. Right now, it's a power play
that is currently second in the entire American Hockey League
at twenty three point three percent.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
This is insane.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
I mean, Charlotte Checkers have the number one in the
league at thirty six point one, so you know they're
they're just insanely good at the power play. But you
take that away, you take them away, then the Roadrunners
have the best power play percentage in the Western Conference
with you know, with more evened out teams like Hershey
twenty two point eight, San Jose twenty two point two.
(27:49):
Yutuk has a good power play, which I don't understand
because the record does definitely not show for it. But
with that being said, yeah, the Roadrunners, your Tucson Roadrunners
have the best power play right now in the entire
Western Conference, best power play in the HL Specific Division,
obviously best or second best in the entire league. But
then sae thing is James that when it comes to
(28:11):
power play opportunities, the Roadrunners are twenty seventh in the league.
They've only been given sixty power play opportunities. They only
had two against San Diego. I believe it's nine straight
games now in which the Roadrunners haven't been given more
than three power play opportunities in the game. And I say,
maybe three might be average, but that just means that
(28:32):
two sons not drawing the penalties. And you know, maybe
it's just the style of play that we're having right now.
And it's fine because we're winning. We're winning games, obviously,
but yeah, you know, or whether it's the just the
referees you have or really just anything. There's so many
contributors and why you're not drawing the penalties. Luckily two
Son's been playing really clean hockey on their end as
(28:53):
well and not drawing penalties on their end. Matthew will
have to mention that in the interview. That will play
for you shortly. But uh, yeah, twenty seventh in the
league and power play opportunities twenty three point three percent
on the power play fourteen. They've scored fourteen times on
the power play and the sixty chances resulting in that percentage.
And if that's not taking advantage of your opportunities, I
(29:15):
don't know what is.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Yeah, it's just such a wild stat to see, you know,
just to see them just doing so well in the
power play.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Like that too, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
That's uh, that's how you win games too, especially when
you're not getting a lot of penalties. To just be
so proficient, so so efficient and so so good at that,
it's really really investive to me.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
Yeah, it really is.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
And I talked to Steve Pavin about it, I think
even before the Coachella Valley series in one of our
pregame shows, and I'm like, how do you find ways
to get reps on the power play when you don't
even get the reps? I mean, because you can practice
that as much as practice as you can, but you
need the live you need the live game field to it,
you know. And you know, let's say a team gets
(29:59):
eight power Play tries the game, It's like, well, at
least they got their practice, That's what people usually say.
But the Roadrunners haven't been getting that lately. They haven't
even been getting the reps to do good on the
power Play. Ask Steve about it, and he's like, well,
it's because we're excited to go on the power Play.
And when you're excited for something, obviously you take full
advantage of it, right. You know, if you if you
(30:19):
spend a day at Disneyland, you're gonna do everything you
possibly can that day you're at Disneyland, or if you
have a day off from work, you're gonna take advantage
of that day off at work. And I think the
same goes for a power play. For Tucson. You're excited
to go on the power Play. It's an opportunity to score,
It's an opportunity for the power play unit guys to
get on the score sheet for themselves. So I think
(30:42):
that's why it's been so good and the short amount
of opportunities we get because now, you know, I think
the mentality is, well, guys, you never know, we might
be only given one or two power play opportunities.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Let's make the most of it.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
And the reason why the percentage obviously has been so
high is because the Roadrunners have been scoring in these
low percentage chance I mean they're about fifty percent in
a stretch at home in that homestand of course went
down a little bit, but then all of a sudden
the team scores on a one for two chance on Saturday,
nine percentage goes way back up. So yeah, it's been
(31:14):
really impressive for the Roadrunners, uh to be really taking
advantage of their power play tries in the coming of
late and James, it's a good point. That's how you
win games, right, you know, you win games from power
play goals. You win games by sitting out of the
box but drawing penalties on your side, And though the
Roadrunners have been beginning a lot of those, they're so
taking advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yeah, there's there are social teams have been really good,
not not only social teams, but at the end of
game when they're facing extra man when Dali Jampole's a goal.
They last few games, they've just been even facing that lot.
Obviously winning so many games lately, but it's just to
me been real impressive how they've been able to really
shut down the other teams and knocking up goals late
(31:57):
even though you know, like Sending pulled the goalie with
with when they're down three to zero, so probably wasn't
going to decide the game or anything, but they were
still able to hold that, keep that keep that shut out.
But you know, I think that this successful special teams,
particularly with with the with the power play, You're you're
seeing that because it's it's just such a veteran team
and they're they're really poised and they really they really
(32:21):
know what attack, they really know how to dissect the.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
The other team's PK unit because you can really you're seeing.
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Goals that they have on the power play where they're
having long distance goals, where they're having goals where they
snake around, they do they do fakes, and they're having
goals where they force it in and when they're right
by the crease. So it's really well, I think when
the keys to that is they have a lot of
variety in their power play goals too.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
Yeah, and that was a big shutout for Matthew Vilalta,
his first of the season, his fourth as a Roadrunner,
entering his second year with the team. Uh, he's out
up to Ford six on the season. Uh, three and
one in his last four starts, if I'm not mistaken, Well,
let's see, let me do the math. Got the sweep
(33:04):
against Calgary. Okay, yeah, three so three and one, Yeah,
three and one in his last four starts. Sorry, I
had to do math on the air with my brain
being dead. Three one in his last four starts. The
winds are starting to come together for him. Didn't face
a lot of shots against San Diego, but still made
a lot of great a chance saves and James Yeah,
(33:25):
that's a good point. Yeah, san Diego pulled their goaltender
with the Roadrunners were able to, you know, kind of
clear things out and not make it hard for Valalta.
I don't know if you saw it, but Maddie at
one point and actually lost his lost his stick. Leaden
Moore notices it gives his stick to Matthew Volalta and
Maddy made like one.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Really good save with a regular skater stick.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
And you know, it's easier said than done, you know,
for for you fans out there, you know, maybe might
think like, oh, well, he doesn't need a stick to
make safe.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Well they do.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
They used that stick to blow the five hole and
they also use that stick to kind of keep them bounce.
They're so used to making saves with the sticks, so
uh and even with a skater stick gets so much
lighter and so much different to you.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
So that was a funny sequence.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Heads up play by Lane more and getting his stick
to Matthew Valta Uh as quick as possible. We even
had a double shutout Jackson Stoburt the first shutout in
Utah Hockey Club history.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
After being called up to the hockey club.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
It's been about a week now, uh, if I'm not
mistaken or no, it's been a little longer now than
a week since Stobur has been called up, about two weeks.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
So uh, you know, he finally gets his opportunity to play.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Who saw Dylan Wells get a win in that overtime
victory against the Coachella Valley Firebirds double shut out for
both Jackson Stober and Matthew Volalta and James. We're now
seeing why Tucson went out and got a guy like
Stobur while also keeping a guy like Wells and also
of course Matthew Valta as well. You know, now we're
(34:59):
starting to see why we got so much goaltending death
because now it's helping both teams get wins.
Speaker 1 (35:04):
Yeah, you saw one of the things last night we
saw from a tweet from Adrian up and up in
Utah that he he noted that the organizational parallels between
Jackson getting twenty nine saves shut out in their six
zero one over Vegas and then matt getting twenty two
saves and net three to zero went over San Diego,
which honestly not not not as didn't face as many shots,
(35:27):
but in a lot of ways it's tougher because you're
you're dominating the game, your your your team on the
other end scoring much of goals.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
You have to kind of stay stay focused.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
And so to me, getting a shut out like that
without as many staves still chiller impressive. And then he
noted that Utah is three one and one in the
last five games, and then Tucson is has one five
or six. So another good tweet from from Adrian representing
Tucson still even though he's up in Salt Lake.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Oh yeah, Tucson, he's a He's a Roadrunner for life.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
Uh and yeah, it's it's nice to see that the
hockey club, a Utah Hockey Club is, you know, it's
playing a good stretch right now, and they just beat
a really good team six to nothing. The road Runners
have just went three and one against two really good
teams in our respective leagues as well. So yeah, great
(36:18):
job by Jackson Stauber. Congratulations to him, first shutout in
Utah Hockey Club history. Congrats to Matthew Blalta getting his
first shutout of the season, fourth as a road Runner.
It is now up to four and six on the year.
I caught up with Matthew Bolalta after the game to
talk about the three nothing went for Tucson, and now
(36:39):
we have our exclusive postgame interview here for you folks
on this show with me and Matthew Balalta.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
Maddie, congrats on the shutout.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
I mean, you know, kind of just felt like one
of our cleanest games of the year, you know, didn't
take a lot of penalties.
Speaker 3 (36:52):
You know, goals created chances, but it.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Just feels like you steered them aside or whether our
defense played good in front of the net.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
It just felt like a clean game for us. And
how did I want you out there?
Speaker 6 (37:00):
For you? Yeah, it felt great.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
You know.
Speaker 6 (37:03):
I think it was a full team effort. Everyone I
think did their job very well and everyone was, you know,
working really hard out there. Either was you know, backchecking hard,
guys in the right spots, you know, getting out over
his zone, you know, pretty clean and quick. So I
feel like anytime you get out of your zone quick
like that tonight, it's uh, it's more time in the ozone.
(37:25):
And I think we saw, you know, plenty plenty of that.
You know, I thought from a team standpoint, everyone everyone
played awesome and just wanted to be back there and
you know, keep the bucket on the net.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Laymore played great tonight, first multiple point game in his career.
Speaker 3 (37:41):
Uh, you're living him with with him this season, if
I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Just what's it been like for him to have him
as a teammate and seeing him develop in a game
like he had tonight.
Speaker 6 (37:50):
Yeah, Moores, He's unbelievable guy. He's a great teammate. You know,
classify him as a blue guy, and you know he's,
uh plays a big role in our team. And you
know he's we saw flashes of him last year when
he got to play in you know, he's you know,
getting his chances now this year and you know he's
playing unbelievable and you know he's he's a great young pro.
(38:13):
He shows up every day, he works hard and be
just very fun to be around and be able to
with him to treat and it's definitely awesome companies. So
I'm gonna be more happy for him. And uh, he's
been playing awesome and we're gonna keep working hard and
enjoying enjoying our time you know, away from the wreck
together as well.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
It's a great stretch for us right now. Five wins
in our last six games. What's been working for us lately?
And uh, how do we keep this going now into
another tough series against Calgary. We just swept him, but
they're gonna be angry about it. They're gonna want to
get some wins on us. So just uh, how do
we just keep it rolling for ourselves? And uh, just yeah,
keep this train going.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
I think it's Uh.
Speaker 6 (38:52):
The first thing is we've been pretty disciplined. I feel
like from the start of the year to our last
couple of games here have been taking a lot less
pat and anytime you're not on the bounty kill, it's
obviously more time even strength or time on the power plays.
So that's how we want to play the game, you know,
as I think it just guys are consistent or have
(39:12):
been consistent in this last little stretch, and you know,
I think just overall, everyone's been doing a great job
every night, sticking to our structure, doing their job. And
I think the biggest thing for us is that, you know,
we beat Calgary twice, but you can't can't be complacent,
and they're you know, they're gonna be bringing their best game,
especially out there, so you know, we're just gonna have
(39:33):
to keep doing what we're doing. You can't get too high,
can't get too low, and we're just gonna have to
keep working hard and you know, earning earning the results
we need.
Speaker 3 (39:41):
Thanks Mandy, congrats on the shutout.
Speaker 6 (39:43):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
So me with Matthew Volaltza after the game. Team's on
a good run. Right now, James, both Utah and Tucson.
We saw the double shutout with Jackson, Stobur and Maddie
as well. And you know last season with nine and
two in December with ten wins this year ten wins
hot streak right now going into December once more. And uh,
(40:09):
I wouldn't say it's a make or break month for Tucson,
but I I just have a good feeling. And James,
you know, I'm an optimistic I'm very optimistic about everything,
but I just have a good feeling. Uh, come this time,
end of the month, you and I will be on
this podcast and we're gonna see Tucson in one of
the top spots in the division.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
Yeah, it's the you know, most vulnerable time of the year,
you say, but it's a fun time for There's a
lot of a lot of big games coming up, a
lot of cool promotions coming up that they have throwners
have and you know the team's playing well. It's you know, guys,
you're seeing guys like Laighton Moore I'm doing stepping up
(40:51):
for during real while you know you're seeing the captain's
doing really well. You know, It's it's something that's a
really exciting time.
Speaker 4 (40:59):
To be a Roader.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
Yeah, exciting time right now to be a Roadrunners fan.
We have Swifty Night coming up on December thirteenth, Teddy
Bear Toss on December fourteenth, both of those games coming
against the Henderson's Silver Nights on a Friday Saturday series.
If you don't know what Teddy Bear Toss is, highly
recommend you get a ticket and come. You know, you
(41:21):
come with the stuffed animal of your choosing. When the
Roadrunners score their first goal, you throw the teddy bear
onto the ice and then all of them go to
proceeds of local charities. We have our holiday party coming
up on December tenth. We have a little surprise for you,
so we'll keep it a secret for now, but taking
(41:42):
it might be taking the guys somewhere to make some
bears that we're gonna be auctioning off as well. So yeah,
really fun December coming up. It's going to be busy,
but that's what the holidays are all about, James. It's
getting out there in the community and just having fun
while also playing hockey.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
You take a break from shopping and come down to
the Two Sin Arena check out the road Runners. It's
a fun night and it should be fun end of
the end of the calendar year.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:13):
Well, good stretch coming up for the Roadrunners. It all
comes or really starts this upcoming weekend against the Calgary Wranglers,
and then we're back home for two games against Anders
and Silver Knights for Swifty Night and uh and Teddy
Bear Toss Night. Well, James, thanks again for joining me.
It's been a good stretch for the Roadrunners. They'll continue
to roll it on here. Kim, Coderolas and I will
(42:34):
be back on Tuesday nights. We're trying to get you
the Captain or the assistant Captain rather Andrew Agazino for
our usual Tuesday night get together and that will be
a fun show as well. Before we head off to Calgary,
we'll throw things out with Roadrunners Rock and we will
see you later on this week everybody, as the Roadrunners
December starts this weekend.
Speaker 6 (42:57):
Come after one of these.
Speaker 5 (43:00):
Need a lot more friends.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
We've seen U skate before. We know how this story is. Tonight,
We're rising up tonight. You go down, you try to
run nothing on us.
Speaker 4 (43:12):
We're gonna run you down.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
Get on the bus, go back to where you came from,
getting on the bus dropped far far away. Hang up
your skates, drop your gloves.
Speaker 3 (43:27):
Put just this a way. You got beat down tonight.
That's the Two sad Way.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Road right from.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
Road Rider from road Righter from road right from that's
the Two sad Way
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