April 8, 2025 • 49 mins
The Voice of the Roadrunners Jonathon Schaffer and Arizona Daily Star's James Kelley recap Tucson's 3-1-0-0 four-game homestand versus the Calgary Wranglers and Bakersfield Condors. They cover the recent transactions of Noel Nordh and Owen Allard, as well as Kailer Yamamoto's trip to Tucson and back to Utah on Sunday. They hear from Head Coach Steve Potvin and Goalie Dylan Wells and Brad Koerner has this week's edition of "Hey, I have a question."
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
When you want more Roadrunners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Insider Podcast with a voice
of the Roadrunners Jonathan Shafer.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What advice do you have for me?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Drink a lot of water.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
It's pretty odd and your new best friend, my best friend,
Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. The guys are already talking,
so let's join up right here on your Twucson Roadrunners
Insider podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
The Playoff Push continues for your Tucson Roadrunners. Welcome everyone
to this week's Insider podcast. My name is Jonathan Schaeffer.
Alongside me as always Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. Big
weekend sweet for the Roadrunners over the Bakersfield Condors on
Saturday and Sunday. We are now five points ahead of
the Condors at this point on this Tuesday morning ish
(00:49):
to currently eleven eleven AM at this moment. We just
had our photo day for the team as well, so
busy doing that. The team is currently practicing right now
at this moment, so if you hear that in the background,
that's our always gearing up for a trip this weekend
into the Midwest in Rockford against the Ice Hogs, but
going back to the homestand it was a tremendous sweep.
(01:09):
We are now five points ahead of the Condors. We'll
see what happens tomorrow with the Bakersfield Henderson game. We're
gonna be hearing from head coach Steve Popvin with Eleanna
Diibert Goldtender doan wells after securing a win for Tucson
on Sunday, and then we have a couple of hey,
I got a questions from Brett Kerner as well with
with head coach Steve Povin, and we're also gonna be
(01:32):
hearing from head coach of the hockey club, Andre Turney
aka bear On Kyler Yamamoto as well. Because James, we
saw an interesting weekend in the transaction page as well,
and then also interesting day with the transaction pages as
well as No Nord and Owen Allard are now back
with the Tucson Roadrunners after spending each of their seasons
(01:54):
in the juniors, both with the Sue Greyhounds. So lots
to talk about today, lots to uncover. James will talk
about the games first, all in all, what a what
two games, What a great two games? Right? It was
that home stand, even going back in the entire homestand
it was it was talked about that this was huge, right,
(02:15):
this was the biggest homestand of the entire season. You
were going against the Calgary Wranglers, who are above you
in the standings. You're going up against the Condors who
were right there with you in the standings, and you
took care of business.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
You got three of the four wins. You split the team.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
If you were to split one of them, you'd rather
split Calgary obviously, and you swept the other team with
no points exchanged whatsoever. So now the road Runners don't
the Condors have two games in hand. Playing wise, we're
five points ahead of them. Condors do play the Silver
Knights tomorrow night on Wednesday, if you're listening in on
this Tuesday, So it could be different when we play
(02:53):
the ice Hawks this weekend. But all in all, you
just feel that we're on the driver's seat now. It
is our playoff spot to lose, and we put in
Bakersfield in a really, really bad spot entering the next week.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
Yeah, they were, you know, obviously we talked about how
they sit sit next to the sit between you guys
and the dancer for the opposing teams and he it
was really dark for them in the first Chris riarit
he's he said something I don't remember what it was exactly,
was something like, oh, this is a rough night or
something that first per period when the Runners went up
three to zero and there their captain leading scorer went
(03:29):
out there during the game and the Runners it's a big,
big win for them because they're able to hold on
that win. You know, uh, three goals is kind of
tough to tough lead to give up, you know obviously,
but you know they've had games where they are earlier
in the season where they where they lost late or
they overtime late, because you know, you know, they jumped
up ahead by a bunch of goals and then they
(03:49):
kind of you know, give up those goals.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
So that that was big, you know, big to get that.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
You know, they have the hard thought went on on
Saturday and you know, we talked about the getting split
with Calgary, but they actually almost got a point or
to out of that one because they scored that what
would have been the game tangle right after the right
after the game ended, like a second or two after.
So you know, obviously when the buzzer goes off. You know,
you you you stopped playing and everything. But the way
that the way that sequence ended is that the rebound
(04:15):
came to I didn't see who the I don't remember
who their owner was who shot that, but he shot
in the second or maybe two after the maybe a
second half, maybe right after the game ended, and the
way rebounds so the goalie was down, so then.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
The buzzer didn't affect that that shot.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
It was just that great position to getting would have
scored had there been like a second or maybe two
longer in the games. So that was very close, very
closet five game against Calgary, but it's a big we
talked about the series is such a big homestand for
them coming in and you know, to get three three
wins out of there and six six points out of
(04:49):
eight that that was great for them. And the other
thing that Steve talked about that that we had really
brought up, but it was a really good point that
he was talking about on Wednesday after they got split
with Calgary, was that, you know what was that the
they control around destiny and that's a big, big, big
privilege of it for.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Them to have.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
And the other part of that is that they they
took away that ability from from Bakersfield. So you know
what your son does, you know, they're not worry about
anyone else, he says, They just they just have to
take care of their own business obviously, but Bakersfield that
they're out of, you know, being in terms of controlling
our destity.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
They don't have that anymore.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
They They're total max points is seventy eight and the
Ruwners total max points seventy nine. So even though they
have those two games in hand, the Runners with the
five point lead and with the you know with they're
now ten ten goals, ten games ahead and the regulation
wins column, so obviously they have that done done. So
that's a big, big series to not only get the
(05:48):
obviously get those points against Bakersfield and get those four points,
but they pushed Bakersfield out of the ability to control
around destiny because they can if they went out, they
get they get two points every game.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
They can only get me points.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
And if the Runners just take care of business, they
they're max points seventy nine, so that what Bakersfield does
doesn't otter them any really anymore.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Really, Yeah, that's a really good point, James. It's just
we're at the point now where we don't have to
rely on other teams to beat the Condors. Obviously we
want the Condors to lose, and we're gonna be watching
that game on Wednesday Tomorrow night against the Henderson Silver
Knights for the Condors, right, But you know, I Bakersfield wins,
you're still three points ahead of them. And now they
(06:30):
have one of those games in hand. And you know,
we do always say like, yeah, the points are the points,
but you have games in hand, well, you still got
to win those two games for the Condor standpoint, right.
And so for Bakersfield, yeah, they have the Henderson Silver
Knights this Cup coming on Wednesday, and you know, the
Silver Knights at this point kind of playing that spoiler, right.
But then they have the San Diego Goals, who have
(06:52):
been good in the second half of the season. We
just lost to them in our recent road trip as well.
Then they have Coachella Valley the very next day. Back
in Coachella Valley, they're gonna host the San Diego game
the night before, so they have the overnight bus to
Coachella Valley for that game as well. So that's gonna
be a late one and then they have to play
the Abbotsford Canucks, where the hottest team in the entire
(07:14):
league right now with a really really large winning streak
as they have just swept the Laval Rocket, who are
the best team in the league's standpoints wise, and Abbotsford
has won their last thirteen, So you gotta go to
Abbotsford or you're gonna stay at home. And for Abbotsford
in that series, in that single game, it's still a
tough one. Then you close out the season against against Henderson,
(07:35):
so you know, yeah, Henderson's the easy one on the schedule.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
But San Diego, whoever.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
They're on the standings, they have if they if they
had a solid first half the season, they could have
been a playoff team too. And then you have Coachella
Valleys already clinched playoffs, but they're still looking to host
the home ice advantage for the first round to call
their cup playoffs. Then you have abbots for the hottest
team in the league. So it does not get really
any easier for Bakersfield and for us maybe a little bit.
(08:03):
Right we go to Rockford this weekend on Friday and Saturday,
and last time we played Rockford, we got three out
of four possible points, and there's also just no stress
of exchanging points with them. Right they're in the Central Division,
they're kind of locked into that fifth seed. They're not
really gaining any grounds or not losing any with the
wild so they're gonna still play to play right, but
it's just for them, it's not as dire for us.
(08:25):
And we're just gonna feed off of what we just
did against Bakersfield. We're gonna go into Rockford and try
to take care of business there, and then we have
the last two games against Colorado.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
But then Colorado, if.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
They were to clinch the first round of the Calor
Cup playoffs for the buye, they could be resting guys,
who knows. So it's really just like all just glory
looking ahead for two soon it's all just you know,
the path is there, right, the path to the playoffs
is right there. You just have to get in the
lane and start walking it, or maybe start running it
(08:58):
as well, maybe jogging it you want, Oh, you know,
you will overdo it. And then for the Condors, it's
just an absolute rocky cliff that you're just hoping that
the Roadrunners don't get there before you.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
So we've set ourselves up.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
We've talked about opportunity all season long, right, just what
an opportunity this is for us when the home stand started.
Split the series with Calgary, Wow, what an opportunity for
us to get five points over Bagsfield. And we did
it right, and we came back in the first game,
got all scored four and answered in the in the
third period in a huge win. And then we just
took care of business on Sunday and it just felt
(09:32):
like a season changing series win, a season changing homestand
for Tucson. And never know, James, you just you use
these next four games for your momentum and then all
of a sudden you just go into the playoffs and
just start gaining to work. And so it's an exciting
time for the Roadrunners. They're in the seventh seed of
the Specific Division race, but they're on the driver's seat
(09:53):
to clinch the spot now and as you said, they
are now controlling their own destiny.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
Yeah, they've had really good series obviously, like there was
a sweep at Abosford and the sweep when they came
back and swept Calbury at home, stuff like that. But
to have such a really good home sound like that
really good as well for potential runing the playoffs and
all you talked about the tough road that Baker Shield
has to try and catch up to Tucson. Then you
know they have the two games at hand, but everyone
(10:18):
else assumes that, like, oh, two games, I mean, they're
gonna get two wins, you know, But for them, it's
they've been kind of I thought they were giving there.
It would be more difficult for the Runners because they
had been heading into this this week. This past week
they were playing well. Obviously they took the last playoff
spot from Tucson and they took like two or three
against Colorado. But then overall, I mean you have to
(10:41):
say that honestly, since since Tucson Reta beat them and
took the last playoff spot back from them over you know,
during the Gymsow road trip and then held on to
a month and a half that they kind of been
chasing their runners kind of felt like the y and
the coyote or whatever, chasing the road owners. But they
(11:02):
were just kind of feudal on that because they haven't
been that consistent. They've had a lot of injuries, you know,
and that you know they you know, they had an
injury with the captain going out and in that game
on on Sunday, So it's gonna be very tough for
them to catch up three runners. Obviously, they still you know,
they still do have six games left, so anything can happen,
but that's gonna be tough for them. And they're they're
(11:23):
playing San Diego and Henderson, you know, to teams and
the two two teams at the bon the standings. But
you know, like I said, you know, like we said,
San Diego, they obviously played well against Tucson and they're
kind of that last guest trying to stay alive. When
they beat Tucson on Tucson's last road trip, and then
they Henderson. They've been last for like the whole year,
but they against Tucson, they didn't look they didn't look
(11:45):
like the worst team. So those two teams aren't Those
games against those two teams are not anything from gimmes,
you know, because you know, you know, they played wild
during the season, but also you get to remember that
the season's ending, so this is the last chance for
those guys to kind of impress and and show what
they have, show what they have because really in the
in the league, most of the contracts are one or
two years, you know, whether the two ideals or HL deals.
(12:08):
So guys are playing for the next contract or maybe
for their whole lively in terms of for hockey. So
so they're gonna play hard and don't consider those peo
pushover games. So you know that that's gonna be something
they keep an eye on. And I mean we talked
about maybe Colorado wrestling people and that first round if
if they you know, if they end up, you know,
(12:30):
if they end up plinching the division, although which they
they're playing so well, I thought they would, but all
but Abbatsford is playing so well. They're only three points
back of Colorado five games ago, so maybe they can
catch up to them. So Colorado, you know, you're thinking, like,
you know, maybe they want to arrest people, but if
they want if the rest people and they get to
buy in the first round, maybe they don't want to
(12:51):
do that, but you think about maybe they're road dinners
again the position where they where they can rest people
in that last series and get them ready for the playoffs.
I don't know if they do, because they're you know,
they're points back of fifth place calgarys Slash San Jose.
So those two teams are playing each other and down
the stretch, so that's going to kind of be be
more clear who's going to be the five seed, who's
(13:12):
gonna be the sixth seed, Who's to Some would be
potentially chased to to soon will be potentially chasing if
they do. I want to move up a little bit.
But there's still a lot to play for when these
last few games.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Yeah, and you know it's I think when you're a
team like the road Runners, you want to just get
any seat you can, right. You want to you know,
get to the sixth seed of its opportunities there. You
want to get to the fifth seed of the opportunities
there as well. So I don't really see us ever
really resting any starters, you know. It's just it's just
so there's so much on the line still, right, And yeah, James,
(13:44):
you also had a good point earlier. You know, even
if to Some were to win out and Baggersfield would
have went out, we'd be getting in by one point, right,
and who knows if that's bound to happen. But that's
going back to the uh, you know, where we control
our own destiny, right, So, uh, to some will won't
have an opportunity to and this weekend in Rockford just
you know, even if the Condors lose on the Wednesdays.
(14:04):
So regardless, the Condors do have again more games than
Tucson going into that final weekend for US, so we
have four games down the stretch, Bakersfield has six, and
for the Condors obviously they have some midweek games in
that span as well because they just they just haven't
been able to have been playing as many games for Tucson.
(14:25):
But again, they have the one tomorrow against Henderson Silver Nights.
So no opportunity for Tucson to clinch this weekend. But
if you still look at it, you know, with the Condors,
maybe that Wednesday game when they play on April six,
and obviously it's gonna take a lot of what happens
that weekend too. So I mean, if the Condors were
to lose the three games, you know, and we won
(14:46):
the two this weekend against the Rockford Ice Socks, that
would obviously clinch us the spot. So you know, we
are gonna be scoreboard watching. If the Condors lose the
two games this weekend and we win both them, I'm
pretty sure that gets us in. You know, just looking
at the math wise, I just don't even think it'd
be enough. But we'd have to win those, right, we
can't just lose those as well, because then we'd still
be you know, in the exact same spot.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
So still so much on the line.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Still, it's gonna be a fun weekend in Rockford and
we'll just be right a role.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Yeah, it's an interesting series coming in because they have
so many division games and they had the kind of
almost playoff series against Vegasfield because they have that that game,
Matt Patrickshield and two and two sons. So it's an
interesting position for the the Rockford series. But it's it's
it's nice in terms of that gives the guys a
little as a you know, heats up in two song,
gets back to the nineties or whatever, get a little
(15:33):
break to go to Illinois.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
And also it's interesting that you know, there's there's so
many close ties now with Rockford after you know Jackson,
you know, he came over from there and it's a big,
big series for him obviously being from the Blackhawk's organization
and having played for Rockford the last last couple of
years whatever. But also they traded Akara over to Utah
(15:58):
did traded to the Blackhawks too, and now he's playing
for Rockford. So if you look at his stats, he's
nine games with Frith Rockford, he has four points, so
a goal on three assists, so he's really kind of
rejuvening his game.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
He has.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
He had nineteen points and fifty games for the Runners
this year, you know, a bit down from his forty
four points obviously last year, from the fifteen five games
last year, so he's kind of rejrivening his career there.
So he's the guy to look out for that I
look out for in that series that that's kind of
helping on Rockford get get better.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Yeah, it's gonna be some familiar faces. We'll see Aka
Ratu again. He's been good with the ice Hogs so
far this season, and it's just all about opportunity, right James.
You know, we saw the season that Accu had with
the road Runners last year with the forty four points
and fifty five games, and it has four points in
nine games with the ice Hogs this season. So it'll
(16:52):
be exciting to see him and it'll be exciting for
Jackson Stabber to also play against his former team. You know,
we brought in Stobbord uh for the depth of the goalies,
and now we've we're using it right. Him and Wells
had both each a really good home stand. Stobbers starting
at three of them uh going to and one in
that stretch. Dylan Wells getting back on the winning calm
(17:13):
as well against his former team. He's made over thirty
four saves in each of his last two starts for
Dylan Wells. We even hearing from Dylan Wells after the
Saturday game as well, just how big of an opportunity
is for both of those guys right where you know,
you lose Matthew Belalta to the call up, a locker
room guy, a glue to the entire team, and it's
just opportunities for for Jackson, Stabber and Dyan Wells to
(17:36):
propel this team into the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
And that's just what this league is all about as well.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Yeah, when I went at the games and take some
notes because you know, stuff I want to bring up
in vodka, stuff like that. And the big thing that
I put down for that first that first Baggers field
game from from Jackson was you know, he's the he's
the stopper you know that that's back to where he
was early in the earlier year for the Runners, because
he was able to stop like a maybe they drop
a game in the first part of the series or
(18:04):
whatever second or before that going in the series, and
he comes back and he gets a big has a
big game and plays really well.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
And that was.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
His first, his first start since March seventh, and he
came in and didn't look like he was looked like
he'd been playing regularly again, because obviously he was. He
was in he was up with Utah, but was playing
so much that he wasn't able to get in. So
he was he was up there and he was playing,
he was practicing everything, but he wasn't he was getting
that game action. So and the other the other part
of it is a dealing will continue to continue to impress.
(18:33):
You know, I said that. To me, it's just so
impressive that he's able to come in there and not
play as much when in the in terms of HL
he's able to come in there and play really well
and look like he's not missed a beat or anything.
So the Runners are blessed with the Runners Slash Utah
are blessed with so much talent at the golden position,
that that even when you have someone go out like
at the NHL level and he bring up Jackson or
(18:56):
you've got Maddie at this point, you still you can
bring up Dylan Walls and not miss a beat almost
because he's just approven time time again that he's an
HL caliber goaliegain. He's honestly just kind of a good
sport too, because he would if he was with most
any other team in the in the league, probably he'd
be he'd be playing the NHL. So he's the guy
(19:16):
who's just proven time and time again that he's he
belongs to here.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Yeah, it's it's it's great to see. We love having
Joan Wallerson building, We love having Stow. We just like
everyone just getting their their opportunities and speaking up opportunities.
James Uh some assignments to the Roadrunners from by the
Utah Hockey Club of Noel Nord and Owen Allerd now
with the team. They both spent training camp with US,
Nord actually leading the road Runners in preseason scoring uh
(19:43):
in the two games against the Henderson Silver Knights, and
Uh they were both assigned to the Sue Greyhounds by
the Utah Hockey Club kind of near the season started.
Nord actually played two games for US in that series
against the Colorado Eager Eagles, as Ali didn't play any
He was is signed kind of right before the near
them when the season had started as well, but each
(20:05):
of them having pretty successful years in the OHL with
Sue this season, Nord with fifty two points in forty
seven games played and then Alared with twenty eight points
in thirty one games played as well. So it's kind
of one of those the Sam Lipkin Josh Stone situations
where you know, you assign a guy here late in
the season. We'll see if they do get their their
playing time as well. Roadrunners maybe without Igor Sokolov for
(20:29):
the rest of this week because Soklov is expecting his
firstborn daughter this week as well, so he's in Canada
right now with his wife, and so who knows what
the opportunity we will present itself with that as well.
So exciting things to see and we're glad to have
them back aboard.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
Yeah, it's something that I talked about like a couple
weeks ago, maybe last week, about they might bring in
some college guys, you know, depending on what happens. But
this is actually I didn't really because they've had so
much impact from the college guys coming after their season,
but I didn't think about guys coming from junior. But
this is obviously a better situation because they, you know,
they had that familiarity with Tucson. It's not like you
have a guy coming in from like Quinnipiac coming over
(21:09):
and flying and he's like.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Uh, this is fit.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
You know what's going on. You have to settle everything.
But they're a little bit more settled in. Obviously, it's
a big change coming from coming coming from the Greyhounds
over to UH to the h L. But they're guys
who have that experience, haven't played have we played here?
And they're guys who played together. That's a that to
me is a big thing. I don't know if they're
in the same line together, but alard a few he's
(21:34):
the center and Lord is A is his left wing.
So maybe you have like a mini kind of Greyhounds
line with you add and someone else and who compliments
them and they can have.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Their own line up. And usually you don't have that.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
When you're having ecology guys come in, you have two
mats come in like there's a couple of guys from
like I mentioned Quinnipiac, there's a couple of guys like
tam Lipkin and Lombardy, but they came in separate years
stuff like that. And you had a couple of you
guys and Doan and and Colin Tyson, but there came
in separate years, and they they did play together, but
(22:10):
they came together. They came in for separate years obviously.
But I was the guy who played. He played four
years for in the Ohl, all the Greayhounds, and so
he had that experience. And and if you don't remember
what happened with Nord, he he came home from Sweden
and he he came over and and they signed him
after those couple of games, signed him to to play
(22:32):
for the just to play for the Greyhounds. So it's
really a really interesting situation where they also have a
they have that practice week to get ready and to
play together and meet the guys more and kind of
get back into the system. So it's a it's it's
an interesting move for them.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Yeah, it's very interesting.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
But we're happy to have him, uh, you know, happy
to have them aboard and uh for the playoff push
as well. And you know, if their opportunity comes, we
know that they will both be ready for it. So yeah,
exciting to just have them with us as well for
the travel, for the playoff travel and these last few
or few weeks of the season as well, So James,
we also saw interesting transactions between the Utah Hockey Club
(23:13):
or a couple, yeah, we will say a couple of
transactions involving one player with the Utah Hockey Club and
the Tucson Roadrunners. So Kyler Yamamoto before that series hadn't
played with the Roadrunners for a good week or so,
or maybe just a little over a week. He was
called up during our road trip recently, our last road
(23:35):
trip when you know we were on our way to
San Diego. Him and Matthew Wolalto both called up to
the Utah Hockey Club.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yamamoto played five games with the club.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
He got a goal and an assist as well for
his first two points of the National Hockey League season.
And you know, I was playing well with them. You know,
he's helping their playoff push too. And then they Utah
Hockey Club plays Saturday night and they win their game
on Saturday, I score four to one against the Winnipeg Jets,
(24:05):
and then Yamamoto is that night is reassigned back to
US during our game and we weren't sure if he
was gonna make it or not, and he does some
direct flight, probably from Utah to Tucson. He makes it
for the next game, plays gets another multiple point game
with US, now fourteen on the year with a goal
(24:26):
and an assist. He has fifty three points down fifty
two games. And then the very next day he is
recalled back to the Utah Hockey Club. So Yamamoto came
into Sunday, helped the Tucson road Runners get the biggest
sweep of the season, and then now he's going back
to Utah to help their playoff push. What a journey
this is for Yamamoto in these past few days. And
(24:48):
that's it's I've never seen that before. I've never seen
a team send a very talented player like Yamamoto, who's
the best player for us, down for a game to
help us win a crucial one against baker Field and
then to get recalled up. I've never seen an NHL
team do that, and it shows that the Utah.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Hockey Club cares. They cared that for our playoff run.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
They care for their playoff run obviously too, And I
think it really just shows the overall, you know, ties
that we these two teams have with one another, with
the management and everything shows the willingness of Yamamoto to
you know, come in and want to win with this.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Team, right.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
You know, it's not easy to tell a player to, hey,
pack your bags for a night, you're going to play
in Tucson and then you're coming back here, right.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
You know, Yamamoto he wants to win with these guys.
Speaker 4 (25:35):
He wants to help us make the playoffs too, just
as much as he wants to help Utah.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
And I just love the situation as a whole. It
was chaotic.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
I'm sure it was Kaoti getting Yamamoto in and out
of Tucson, but what what a sequence that was.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 5 (25:51):
After the game on Saturday, I saw I think they
because they called them up, I mean they sent them
to soon during the game. But also Utah was playing
that night too, so it feel actually doing their game too,
So I was like, wait, what that was crazy?
Speaker 3 (26:04):
So I was warnering.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
I was like, I was waiting to ask you when
you're doing the post game show. I was like, do
you know if Carla's gonna be able to be available?
Because it was the early game. Usually the games are
seven or six thirty and then the Sunday games are
at four now, so I was like, is it too soon?
Speaker 3 (26:19):
It is too too quick a turnaround?
Speaker 6 (26:20):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (26:20):
And and you're waiting and I was waiting to talk
to you, and then you brought it up right after,
you know, right before I was you know, I was
waiting there er I was about to ask, and so
I asked you about, you know, on Sunday after what
happened on quick turnaround, and he seemed surprised. I don't
know if he's kind of doing some you know, kind
of gamesman ship trying to be like, oh yeah, we
didn't know, but he he was surprised in terms of
(26:41):
how well Cayler was playing, and it was really he
had a really great assist on that was a he
big goal where he he he caught the buck and
brought down real quick and then he passed it between
to someone's legs and then and he got the goal.
So that was obviously huge to get a couple of
points in a big game like that, and it's a
(27:02):
situation that where he's the guy who'd been in the
in the NHL for so long. I mean he had
been the last time when he got set back to
when he got said down to Tucson the first time
this year, it had been the first time he'd been
playing in the HL since twenty twenty. So he's he's
a guy who had been really fixed here in the NHL.
But he's such a such a good sport, such a competitor,
(27:22):
such or whatever, you know, that he's that he's able
to take that disappoint him getting sent down to the
American League and he's able to turn into good season.
And then obviously flash forward this weekend, he had that
he was willing to do that the situation that comes
over and helps the team clinch, not clinch, but you know,
get get clinch, clinch to sweep you know, get that
(27:43):
clinch a series. So so that was really really big
of him, really really impressive. And that's the thing that
Steve brought up when it sounded like he didn't know
that he on the situation or he was just coming
for that one game where he said that he's a
he's a really good sport, and it's really his mentalities
were strong, and he's able to focus and channel disappointment
in this something positive. And he's the guy who maybe
part of it was that Bakersfield. They want to get
(28:05):
back at Bakersfield, get back at the Oilers, you know,
kind of come back as ill guests. Sure, I totally
want to come back and go against Bakersfield. That was
his former team they'd played with a couple of seasons
with and we needed to play in NHL. And then
he had that crazy game last time, last time they
had the series in Bakersfield. So maybe that's part of it,
but it's still really impressive for him to do that,
(28:26):
and it was a great, great story.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Yeah, and you know it's still, uh, it's never easy
for any guy like Yamamoto, you know, when you're a
former first round pick and it just hasn't fully panned out,
and you go you get the PTO with the Utah
Hockey Club, you're put on waivers, you pass through because
it's the beginning of the season and no one needs
players because everyone's healthy, right, and you go to the
road Runners, and you know, it's it's opportunity, it's it's
(28:53):
and I think he knows that now, you know.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
And I'm not saying he didn't know that before, but
I don't.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
You know, it's never easy for any guy to, you know,
be in the situation he's in. But you know, if
you have a bad mood about it and you you
don't want to try to get better every day, then
you're not gonna get back to the NHL.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Even though he's played three hundred games.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
So this I think this season has shown the competitiveness
of Yamamoto that he's he fully still has. He's only
twenty six years old, right, he still has. He has
a great attitude, He shows up every day, he works hard,
and there's no doubt in my mind, whether that's back
here with the Utah Hockey Club Slash Roadrunners or any
other team. Teams are gonna look at him for that
two way deal. They're gonna want a guy like Yamamoto
(29:32):
to where he's gonna compete for NHL spots, and if not,
then he will continue to be a top scorer for
any team that he joins like he's he is with us,
and and yeah, he'll just you'll continue to show why
he blongs back in the NHL and just that whole
situation was just awesome to see and it really showed
the teammate that Ford Kaylee Yamamoto is for both the
(29:55):
Utah Hockey Could players and for us here and twos
on as well. Let's hear from and j turn Need,
the head coach of the Utah Hockey Club aka Bear,
just talking about, you know, the situation of why Yamamoto
was sent back down to US for that Sunday game
against Bakersfield and then sent back to the Utah Hockey
Club as well, because Utah is does know that we
are competing for the playoffs as well, and you know,
(30:17):
having a guy like Yamamoto for the Sunday win definitely
helps there.
Speaker 7 (30:21):
They're in the race for the playoffs. They were before
the weekend, they were one point ahead. I think they
won their board game, so not genius, but I think
they're five up now. So that's you know, looking I
think they're five up now, but I think they're in
the tight race. And give the day off to day
to me here but play you say so I made
(30:42):
a trade.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Yeah, so Yamamoto will have the day off, you know
for the Utah Hockey Club and you know, just all
in all, it was. It was a big opportunity for
him to come in down here and really help the
team get a victory against Bakersfield.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
Okay, that was one of the things I looked at
when when they when they were when the rights and
everything all that, the players and personnel were sold and
the team moved to Utah. Cos with the Utah because
it was a situation obviously where you're close. The Runners
are so close that's it's just like a hour drive
(31:18):
up to Scottsdale slash Tempe for players that got called up,
and we got players that got set to Tucson. So
I looked it up and I was like, well, it's
a situation with Utah because you know, obviously it's further away,
it's further the north, but it's kind of different in
that time where most of the season it's different time zone.
Even though it's just just straight up straight north, I'm
(31:40):
going straight north, but.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
It's the only.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
There's direct flag Hump tw soon to to Salt Lake
City and it's a to our fight, so it's.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Not that much longer.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
It's not like they're going from Springfield to so I'm
a Springfield to to Arizona or something. Like that, like
how they had before they had before their runners moved
moved to song. So there's something that I wondered, like, well,
can you do that? But it's still obviously I'm tough
to for Kyler to make that trip and everything, but
maybe you know, like I kind of alluded to and
I looked it up and saw what happened in that
(32:12):
last game, but maybe he kind of had that sartas
in his mouth after what happened last time I played
Bakersfield where he had that goal and he started up
really well, but then he had the game misconduct and
then so it's kind of weird to use one of
your best players, but he had a hit that first goal,
and now it's against his former team, so maybe that
factored into it. But regardless, it was just a great
a great story and really really shows how Yeah, it's
(32:35):
something I think they could kind of inspire the guys.
You see that what happened, and that you see a
guy who's willing to do that, a guy who was
the first rounder from Edmonton go on playoff playoffs, play
against the sameer former team and get those huge two points.
So it was it was really really interesting situation.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Yeah, it was. It was something I've never seen before.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
But just shout out to Kylie Yamamoto for willing to
you know, however, you got here to too in a
day play hockey game, get two points, help us win
another huge game and complete a huge sweep, and you know,
eventually go back to the Utah Hockey Club and you know,
we'll see whenever he comes back. But you know, now
the Roadrunners again in the driver's seat, I was still
(33:15):
trying to you know, just trying to do the math
here because I'm horrible at doing math when we're talking, James.
But I think definitely a scenario where the Roadrunners actually
do clinch this weekend against Rockford. Obviously, and this is
the most obvious one. We win the two games and
then the Condors lose their next three games and there
are no three game losing streak with the help of us. Obviously,
(33:35):
that's a very tough one. But yeah, so Tucson, that
is the one scenario that could happen. If the Condors
don't win any more games to for the rest of
this week and we win the two in Rockford, then
we will be going into our last two games, you know,
in a playoff spot and the Condors will have gone
elimited as well. So that's all great situations for Tucson. Again,
(33:57):
it doesn't matter what Bakersfield does. We control our own
destiny here and we'll continue to try to do so
in Rock for this weekend. Let's get to our other
postgame interviews now, Let's start off with Dylan Wells Eleana
Diebert catching up with Wellsey after another good performance for
the Tucson Roadrunners. Even though Wells lost in his previous
game against the Condors that was on March twenty ninth,
(34:20):
th at the end of that trip, made thirty nine
saves on forty two shots. He got made his second
straight start for the Roadrunners, or second straight start that
was against the Condors, I would say, making thirty four
saves on thirty six shots as well. It was a
huge five two victory for Tucson, and as we talked about,
just opportunities for Wells and Stobber down this stretch with
Matthew Valota called up and Eleana Dibert caught up with
(34:42):
Wellsey after our Sunday victory.
Speaker 8 (34:44):
And blocking over thirty shots on goal here tonight and
walking away with a win.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
How important are.
Speaker 8 (34:48):
These types of games, especially rearing to the end of
the season.
Speaker 9 (34:51):
Yeah, they're huge, especially against Bakersfield here where it's kind
of a dog play for the last playoff spot. So
I mean I was excited to get in there and
that's a huge two points for us. So hopefully we
keep roll on here in the last four.
Speaker 8 (35:01):
Games and then securing six points in this Homestand what's
the message in the locker room heading into next week's
on the Red matchups?
Speaker 9 (35:07):
Yeah, I just keep the foot on the gas. I mean,
we can't be content with with these wins. We got
to keep winning out and I mean we want to
secure a playoffs spot, so we'll keep going till we
do that and then carried in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
Yeah, and James, you have to start thinking now, you know,
and Stoberd did a good job in you know, the
couple of starts that he had to make. But you
start to think, do the Roadrunner start splitting Wells and Stobburn?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Now right?
Speaker 4 (35:30):
I mean, Wells is made just saying it. He made
thirty four saves on Sunday, made thirty nine saves in
his previous start on that trip as well. And Stopburd
was also good so maybe you start splitting those guys
up in these last four games, even though it's a
bit more spread out, I think just giving them both opportunity,
having the fresh legs out there for each goaltender, well,
we'll help two soon out a lot more.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
Yeah, it's funny because at the at the start of
the year, you're thinking, like with you have Walalta, who
the h All Star season, and then he got his
first call up last year. He coming back after that
season and he used to sign Jacks Staber, a guy
who had already played played a.
Speaker 3 (36:06):
Few games and done well for Chicago.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Chicago Blackhawks, I'm coming in and you think like, oh,
well they're gonna split, and that's how they did. They
have most most of the time they have two games series,
so you have a lot to one game and then
Starbo one game. And then you know, obviously when they
do changes like where Sober gets gets called themselfs a
guy that changes how that those dynamics work. But for
the most part they're splitting games fifty to fifty like that,
and then one of them gets called up and then
(36:31):
you bringing down walls and he's he's not playing as much,
but he's playing so well that maybe he does come
and step in and do you play fifty to fifty
like that, and you do give guys more of a
rest like that, So and you look with the with
the Runners had that luxury of almost being into the
playoffs and getting close to clinching that they can start
looking at thinking about like what they might do in
(36:51):
the playoffs and give some guys some rest. And especially
you know, has the Goldie position because it's it's they're
facing a lot of shots. That's one thing that the
Runners have have done the season is that they give
them up a lot of shots. So the goals haven't
played well to make a lot of saves, but they're
facing a lot of shots. So maybe we do want
to take that rest. So it's really interesting, interesting opportunity
(37:14):
for them to with. It's a good it's a good
opportunity to have with on wells playing so well.
Speaker 4 (37:20):
All right, James, I actually got another scenario. I did
some more math. Other scenario. We're twos on conclinch this weekend. Bakersfield,
Actually we still win to you know, you gotta win
the two games right against the Rockford Ice Sogs any capacity,
and if Bakersfield loses straight no points, no points at
all for Bakersfield Condors, lose two of the three games
(37:42):
in regulation this week, that can guarantee use on the spots.
And actually we have the tiebreaker over the Condors as well,
So if Bakersfield UH loses maybe one of those in
overtime too, or they only get a point, you know
that that would also help the Roadrunners in that capacity
as well. So that is some of the scenarios where
(38:03):
Tucson could maybe clinch a playoff spot this weekend, but
still got to control wee can control. So there you go, James,
some scenarios on air, trying to do the math because
I meant to do it yesterday. And you know, when
you have these very very long weeks, you tend to
kind of sleep all day a little bit. And so
those are the scenarios for Tucson going into this weekend.
(38:24):
But still you just got to control where you can control.
The Roadrunners are in their own destiny right now. Let's
also hear from head coach Steve poppin Eleana Diiver catching
up with him as well after the big Sunday night
game with a Roadrunner swept the Bakersfield Condors and we
are now five points at this time, ahead of the
Edmonton Oilers. I feel in the seventh seed of the
Pacific Division race.
Speaker 8 (38:45):
A lot of players having multi point games here to night,
Travis barn being one with a two goal game. How
big is it seeing performances like that?
Speaker 10 (38:51):
Well, it's great because you need to be able to
you know, score to win games or you know, and
it's great just seeing them. For on a personal level,
just being able to put in so much hard work
and finally see it.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
Goaltender, we should get rewarded for it.
Speaker 8 (39:08):
Goaltender Dylan Wells blocking over thirty shots on goal. How
big is it seeing him hold down the fort here tonight?
Speaker 10 (39:15):
Well, it's big, there's no doubt. We're just happy to
have the goalies that we have in our organization.
Speaker 7 (39:21):
I mean from top to bottom.
Speaker 10 (39:23):
You know. Wellsy's a guy that is patient, and it's
hard to be patient when you believe in yourself and
you know you can play. And it's hard for us
to ask them to be patient when we also have
the same belief, you know it. It's a real thing
in the American Hockey League. Sometimes you just have to
wait your turn. But we're considerably lucky to have the tenders.
Speaker 8 (39:43):
That we have in net and then closing out this
four game homestand walking away with six points. Where is
the team's mindset heading into next week's on the road matchups.
Speaker 10 (39:52):
Well, the mindset right now is they're going to enjoy this,
this victory. You know, there's there's a lot of pressure
on them. Obviously, there are some key games that I
don't think we did the best that we could to.
We tried our best. I wouldn't say we didn't try
our best, but we didn't come come out with the victories.
And so it you know it, it put a lot
(40:12):
of pressure on him. And as we all know, when
you when you you know, hold yourself to a standard
and you look at, you know, the things that you
can control, then the pressure is something you enjoy and
then a lot of times you get rewarded for taking
care of your business. So happy for them, Happy for
the leadership to keep everybody in there calm and focus
(40:35):
on the right things. And it was, it was great
and I want to see it continue. I think everybody does.
Speaker 8 (40:41):
And then how was it having Kya Yamamoto back here tonight?
Speaker 10 (40:44):
Well, it's great, you know, look at He's he's a
player that you know, you give him the puck, he
extends the play, He's able to make the next play
and sometimes you know that isn't always the case. You know,
he's able to make plays within the plays, and I
think a lot of guys enjoyed playing with him, and
it's you know, he's able to score and the other
(41:06):
team has to really pay attention to him. So it
just adds another element to our lineup.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
Yeah, James, we saw scoring all throughout the weekend as well.
You gotta give a shout out to that Juggernaut line.
Travis Barron six points in his last three games of
that home stan Curtis Douglass has eight points in his
last eight home games. Maximillian Zuber nine points in his
last seven home games as well. Hunter Drew getting some
multiple point games under his belt, including up that Juggernaut line.
(41:34):
Cameron he been getting back on the score sheet as well.
We saw all scoring throughout Walker and Agazino with some
points as well. McCartney getting two games in a row
with a goal. McCartney now has nine Special teams goals
this season. He got a short handed goal that sparked
up the comeback on Saturday and now leads the team
with three. Only six players in the AHL have more
shorthanded goals than Ben McCartney. It was just an all
(41:55):
out team effort for those two victories against Bakersfield.
Speaker 5 (42:00):
Yeah, it seems like obviously every time when the road
Runners are really rolling, when they're doing well, they get
out of variety in terms of guys, different guys getting points.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
I mean, the.
Speaker 5 (42:11):
For you look back to the Saturday game, third goals
by Ryan McGregor, who he's the guy who hasn't been
you know, obviously playing that much with so much Steph
the on the team right there, but he comes in,
he steps in and gets that opportunity and gets a
gets a big crucial insurance goal for them. And then
obviously on Sunday our arm dude gets their first goal.
(42:32):
But then Charles Barron gets two goals in a row,
and he's the guy who has he has ten goals
on the year, but he has three goals in the
last three goals in the homestand so he's a guy
who he has three goals on a homestand and he
guy had another goal against Ontario, big goal in that
I'm serious in that serious and that one in that
one game against Ontario at the end of March. So
he's the guy who obviously a couple of points, yeah,
(42:56):
three points in that first Cavery game, I mean in
that second Cavery game in homestand so he's a guy
who you know, he's known more for the energy, you know,
being from Dargonaut line, but he's the guy who has
been scoring a lot recently and getting a lot of points.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
So he's the guy who has been providing all all
over the ice, all.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
All over the room, all over the bench, and he's
the guy who is really leading the Dargerknut line who's
been having such a great, great, great outing last last
few games.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Yeah, and James, don't forget.
Speaker 4 (43:28):
You know, we saw Hunter Drew have a tear at
the end of the season last year with nine points
and nine games, including a playoff goal. He got a
couple of multiple point games over the homestand as well,
And maybe this time around we see that entire line
get up really a hot streak near to the end
and then all of a sudden, you're you're rolling the
for the full four lines for Tucson, you know, in
(43:50):
this really really intense stretch down the line. With just
a few weeks ago and four games on the docket
as well, let's close things out with, you know, just
the overall buzz, a great weekend that we had. You know,
we like to sometimes when we get wins, we like
to have one of our interns, Brad Kerner, as you
folks have heard him before, ask some goofy questions with
(44:13):
you know, whoever we're interviewing. He had a couple of
good ones with head coach Steve Potvin had one earlier
this week on the homes or earlier last week on
the first two games against the Calgary Wranglers after that
first victory, and then one on Sunday after we had
been the Biggers Field Condors by that five two score.
So we'll start off with the one after the victory,
(44:33):
the first one against the Calgary Wranglers. As Brad brought
back his hey, I have a question.
Speaker 6 (44:39):
Well I had one more one more, yeah, well silly
one for you. So we have a Beer League game
ten thirty tomorrow. Would you have any interest in playing
for us?
Speaker 9 (44:50):
Absolutely not.
Speaker 3 (44:52):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (44:53):
Though, so so to put context into that story, Brad
had a game on Wednesday after our game because it
was a it was an earlier start. Brad had a
bear Lely game at ten thirty and he wanted to
ask Steve if he was willing to go out there
and play. And then this one here was Sunday after
(45:13):
the win against Bakersfield, and this one actually made Steve
think a little bit.
Speaker 6 (45:20):
I got my question, all right, tonight's question?
Speaker 2 (45:22):
What color is a mirror? What color is a mirror?
Speaker 10 (45:26):
That's it depends which you're looking through. I guess I don't.
I think it's a multi colored mirror, isn't it because
anything you're looking at or that?
Speaker 4 (45:37):
Right?
Speaker 3 (45:38):
I think so?
Speaker 7 (45:39):
Thank you so right?
Speaker 6 (45:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (45:43):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Yeah, all right, James, good way to end out the
show with the Brads. Hey, I have a question. It
was a great weekend for Tucson. We are in the
driver's seat now for the playoffs against Scenarios. This weekend,
Tucson got to win both of their games. If the
Condors lose two of their three games and uh in
overtime capacity, at least don't not getting an extra point.
(46:08):
So Condors pretty much need to get less than two
points this week or yeah, two points or less this
week if the Roadrunners want to win two games against
the Rockford ice Hawks and go into the final weekend.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
Of the season, uh with a playoff spot.
Speaker 4 (46:23):
So hopefully I didn't get that math wrong, but I'm
pretty sure that's what it's looking like. But all no,
we'll control our own destiny. We'll continue to push on
and we're we're looking forward to seeing Aku Ratu again
in Rodford and Jackson Stoppers homecoming.
Speaker 5 (46:37):
Yeah, the thinking about the points and everything ton on
destiny is actually it's based on the overall points. So
it's actually that we've talked about before, but they actually
have to overcome they have to finish higher than Begs.
You'll have to finish higher than Tu because tiebreaker. So
the other part of it is that Tucson has their
magic numbers on the seven and so what that is
(46:59):
is it's the number. It's the magic numbers reduced when
team earns standing points or when the team behind them
with the ice possible total outside the playoff picture fails
to earn standing points.
Speaker 3 (47:10):
So they're they're very close.
Speaker 5 (47:12):
And with that with that seven, with that weekend, so
it's it's a situation where they can really make a
lot of ground and if not clinched, then get really
close to that playoff spot with the big series at Rockford,
who I don't think we did mention that they're they're
in there in that six playoff spot are the fifth
class spot excuse me, in the Central and they're they
(47:33):
have a different division set up obviously, with seven teams
set of the ten that the Pacific has. So with them,
five teams make the division, make the playoffs from the division,
and then Iowa is six points behind them, and when
Manteba is way behind them the twelve points. So you
talked about how they're already kind of locked in Rockford
is and you look at the division, it's a lot
(47:55):
of exes in terms of Milwaukee, Texas, Chicago and grund
Rapids have already clinched. So in within the Pacific four
teams that clinched to the playoffs already in Colorado, Abbotsford, Ontario,
and Coachella Valley. But over in you know, over in
the Central Division for the five teams already clinched. So
Roper is not gonna overtake Grand Rapids most likely with
(48:17):
their ten points back with six games to play, So
that's gonna be tough for them to do that, but obviously,
but it's a situation where they're kind of locked in
and the Roads have that opportion to move up a
little bit. And obviously they still have to clinch the
make sure they're in it in the playoffs. So it's
it's a big series for for Tucson and maybe not
so much of Rockford other than you have ockey you
(48:38):
playing against this former team and they're playing against their
former teammate and Jackson Staubern.
Speaker 4 (48:43):
Yeah, that's it's, it's it is. It is an interesting situation.
I mean, Rockford's pretty much already kind of clinched it.
They would need to really collapse, and uh, you know
just how that Central Division is. We'll look forward to
facing off a Central Division opponent for once. Uh we'll
take a break from the Pacific, going to the Midwest
in games number three and four against the Chicago Blackhawk's
(49:04):
affiliate and with a potential chance to clinch the twenty
four to twenty five Calder Cup Playoffs for the first round.
For your twoson Roadrunners, We'll see you in Rockford this weekend.
We'll also see you tonight if you're listening in on
this Tuesday for our usual Tuesday night get together Roadrunners
half where we're getting assistant video coordinator Brad Kurakowitz on
the show, so it's gonna be a great one talking
(49:26):
about the guy who's kind of behind the scenes of
our challenges on the ice as well, so that'll be great.
All in all, fantastic weekend for Tucson, fantastic home stand
for the Roadrunners. We're gonna go back on the road
for our final two games away from the Tucson Arena
in the regular season as well playoff push still live
for your Tucson Roadrunners. We'll see you this week in Rockford.
(49:48):
Thanks for listening, and we will sign out here.
When you want more Roadrunners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Insider Podcast with a voice
of the Roadrunners Jonathan Shafer.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What advice do you have for me?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Drink a lot of water.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
It's pretty odd and your new best friend, my best friend,
Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. The guys are already talking,
so let's join up right here on your Twucson Roadrunners
Insider podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
The Playoff Push continues for your Tucson Roadrunners. Welcome everyone
to this week's Insider podcast. My name is Jonathan Schaeffer.
Alongside me as always Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. Big
weekend sweet for the Roadrunners over the Bakersfield Condors on
Saturday and Sunday. We are now five points ahead of
the Condors at this point on this Tuesday morning ish
(00:49):
to currently eleven eleven AM at this moment. We just
had our photo day for the team as well, so
busy doing that. The team is currently practicing right now
at this moment, so if you hear that in the background,
that's our always gearing up for a trip this weekend
into the Midwest in Rockford against the Ice Hogs, but
going back to the homestand it was a tremendous sweep.
(01:09):
We are now five points ahead of the Condors. We'll
see what happens tomorrow with the Bakersfield Henderson game. We're
gonna be hearing from head coach Steve Popvin with Eleanna
Diibert Goldtender doan wells after securing a win for Tucson
on Sunday, and then we have a couple of hey,
I got a questions from Brett Kerner as well with
with head coach Steve Povin, and we're also gonna be
(01:32):
hearing from head coach of the hockey club, Andre Turney
aka bear On Kyler Yamamoto as well. Because James, we
saw an interesting weekend in the transaction page as well,
and then also interesting day with the transaction pages as
well as No Nord and Owen Allard are now back
with the Tucson Roadrunners after spending each of their seasons
(01:54):
in the juniors, both with the Sue Greyhounds. So lots
to talk about today, lots to uncover. James will talk
about the games first, all in all, what a what
two games, What a great two games? Right? It was
that home stand, even going back in the entire homestand
it was it was talked about that this was huge, right,
(02:15):
this was the biggest homestand of the entire season. You
were going against the Calgary Wranglers, who are above you
in the standings. You're going up against the Condors who
were right there with you in the standings, and you
took care of business.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
You got three of the four wins. You split the team.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
If you were to split one of them, you'd rather
split Calgary obviously, and you swept the other team with
no points exchanged whatsoever. So now the road Runners don't
the Condors have two games in hand. Playing wise, we're
five points ahead of them. Condors do play the Silver
Knights tomorrow night on Wednesday, if you're listening in on
this Tuesday, So it could be different when we play
(02:53):
the ice Hawks this weekend. But all in all, you
just feel that we're on the driver's seat now. It
is our playoff spot to lose, and we put in
Bakersfield in a really, really bad spot entering the next week.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
Yeah, they were, you know, obviously we talked about how
they sit sit next to the sit between you guys
and the dancer for the opposing teams and he it
was really dark for them in the first Chris riarit
he's he said something I don't remember what it was exactly,
was something like, oh, this is a rough night or
something that first per period when the Runners went up
three to zero and there their captain leading scorer went
(03:29):
out there during the game and the Runners it's a big,
big win for them because they're able to hold on
that win. You know, uh, three goals is kind of
tough to tough lead to give up, you know obviously,
but you know they've had games where they are earlier
in the season where they where they lost late or
they overtime late, because you know, you know, they jumped
up ahead by a bunch of goals and then they
(03:49):
kind of you know, give up those goals.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
So that that was big, you know, big to get that.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
You know, they have the hard thought went on on
Saturday and you know, we talked about the getting split
with Calgary, but they actually almost got a point or
to out of that one because they scored that what
would have been the game tangle right after the right
after the game ended, like a second or two after.
So you know, obviously when the buzzer goes off. You know,
you you you stopped playing and everything. But the way
that the way that sequence ended is that the rebound
(04:15):
came to I didn't see who the I don't remember
who their owner was who shot that, but he shot
in the second or maybe two after the maybe a
second half, maybe right after the game ended, and the
way rebounds so the goalie was down, so then.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
The buzzer didn't affect that that shot.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
It was just that great position to getting would have
scored had there been like a second or maybe two
longer in the games. So that was very close, very
closet five game against Calgary, but it's a big we
talked about the series is such a big homestand for
them coming in and you know, to get three three
wins out of there and six six points out of
(04:49):
eight that that was great for them. And the other
thing that Steve talked about that that we had really
brought up, but it was a really good point that
he was talking about on Wednesday after they got split
with Calgary, was that, you know what was that the
they control around destiny and that's a big, big, big
privilege of it for.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Them to have.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
And the other part of that is that they they
took away that ability from from Bakersfield. So you know
what your son does, you know, they're not worry about
anyone else, he says, They just they just have to
take care of their own business obviously, but Bakersfield that
they're out of, you know, being in terms of controlling
our destity.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
They don't have that anymore.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
They They're total max points is seventy eight and the
Ruwners total max points seventy nine. So even though they
have those two games in hand, the Runners with the
five point lead and with the you know with they're
now ten ten goals, ten games ahead and the regulation
wins column, so obviously they have that done done. So
that's a big, big series to not only get the
(05:48):
obviously get those points against Bakersfield and get those four points,
but they pushed Bakersfield out of the ability to control
around destiny because they can if they went out, they
get they get two points every game.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
They can only get me points.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
And if the Runners just take care of business, they
they're max points seventy nine, so that what Bakersfield does
doesn't otter them any really anymore.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Really, Yeah, that's a really good point, James. It's just
we're at the point now where we don't have to
rely on other teams to beat the Condors. Obviously we
want the Condors to lose, and we're gonna be watching
that game on Wednesday Tomorrow night against the Henderson Silver
Knights for the Condors, right, But you know, I Bakersfield wins,
you're still three points ahead of them. And now they
(06:30):
have one of those games in hand. And you know,
we do always say like, yeah, the points are the points,
but you have games in hand, well, you still got
to win those two games for the Condor standpoint, right.
And so for Bakersfield, yeah, they have the Henderson Silver
Knights this Cup coming on Wednesday, and you know, the
Silver Knights at this point kind of playing that spoiler, right.
But then they have the San Diego Goals, who have
(06:52):
been good in the second half of the season. We
just lost to them in our recent road trip as well.
Then they have Coachella Valley the very next day. Back
in Coachella Valley, they're gonna host the San Diego game
the night before, so they have the overnight bus to
Coachella Valley for that game as well. So that's gonna
be a late one and then they have to play
the Abbotsford Canucks, where the hottest team in the entire
(07:14):
league right now with a really really large winning streak
as they have just swept the Laval Rocket, who are
the best team in the league's standpoints wise, and Abbotsford
has won their last thirteen, So you gotta go to
Abbotsford or you're gonna stay at home. And for Abbotsford
in that series, in that single game, it's still a
tough one. Then you close out the season against against Henderson,
(07:35):
so you know, yeah, Henderson's the easy one on the schedule.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
But San Diego, whoever.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
They're on the standings, they have if they if they
had a solid first half the season, they could have
been a playoff team too. And then you have Coachella
Valleys already clinched playoffs, but they're still looking to host
the home ice advantage for the first round to call
their cup playoffs. Then you have abbots for the hottest
team in the league. So it does not get really
any easier for Bakersfield and for us maybe a little bit.
(08:03):
Right we go to Rockford this weekend on Friday and Saturday,
and last time we played Rockford, we got three out
of four possible points, and there's also just no stress
of exchanging points with them. Right they're in the Central Division,
they're kind of locked into that fifth seed. They're not
really gaining any grounds or not losing any with the
wild so they're gonna still play to play right, but
it's just for them, it's not as dire for us.
(08:25):
And we're just gonna feed off of what we just
did against Bakersfield. We're gonna go into Rockford and try
to take care of business there, and then we have
the last two games against Colorado.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
But then Colorado, if.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
They were to clinch the first round of the Calor
Cup playoffs for the buye, they could be resting guys,
who knows. So it's really just like all just glory
looking ahead for two soon it's all just you know,
the path is there, right, the path to the playoffs
is right there. You just have to get in the
lane and start walking it, or maybe start running it
(08:58):
as well, maybe jogging it you want, Oh, you know,
you will overdo it. And then for the Condors, it's
just an absolute rocky cliff that you're just hoping that
the Roadrunners don't get there before you.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
So we've set ourselves up.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
We've talked about opportunity all season long, right, just what
an opportunity this is for us when the home stand started.
Split the series with Calgary, Wow, what an opportunity for
us to get five points over Bagsfield. And we did
it right, and we came back in the first game,
got all scored four and answered in the in the
third period in a huge win. And then we just
took care of business on Sunday and it just felt
(09:32):
like a season changing series win, a season changing homestand
for Tucson. And never know, James, you just you use
these next four games for your momentum and then all
of a sudden you just go into the playoffs and
just start gaining to work. And so it's an exciting
time for the Roadrunners. They're in the seventh seed of
the Specific Division race, but they're on the driver's seat
(09:53):
to clinch the spot now and as you said, they
are now controlling their own destiny.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
Yeah, they've had really good series obviously, like there was
a sweep at Abosford and the sweep when they came
back and swept Calbury at home, stuff like that. But
to have such a really good home sound like that
really good as well for potential runing the playoffs and
all you talked about the tough road that Baker Shield
has to try and catch up to Tucson. Then you
know they have the two games at hand, but everyone
(10:18):
else assumes that, like, oh, two games, I mean, they're
gonna get two wins, you know, But for them, it's
they've been kind of I thought they were giving there.
It would be more difficult for the Runners because they
had been heading into this this week. This past week
they were playing well. Obviously they took the last playoff
spot from Tucson and they took like two or three
against Colorado. But then overall, I mean you have to
(10:41):
say that honestly, since since Tucson Reta beat them and
took the last playoff spot back from them over you know,
during the Gymsow road trip and then held on to
a month and a half that they kind of been
chasing their runners kind of felt like the y and
the coyote or whatever, chasing the road owners. But they
(11:02):
were just kind of feudal on that because they haven't
been that consistent. They've had a lot of injuries, you know,
and that you know they you know, they had an
injury with the captain going out and in that game
on on Sunday, So it's gonna be very tough for
them to catch up three runners. Obviously, they still you know,
they still do have six games left, so anything can happen,
but that's gonna be tough for them. And they're they're
(11:23):
playing San Diego and Henderson, you know, to teams and
the two two teams at the bon the standings. But
you know, like I said, you know, like we said,
San Diego, they obviously played well against Tucson and they're
kind of that last guest trying to stay alive. When
they beat Tucson on Tucson's last road trip, and then
they Henderson. They've been last for like the whole year,
but they against Tucson, they didn't look they didn't look
(11:45):
like the worst team. So those two teams aren't Those
games against those two teams are not anything from gimmes,
you know, because you know, you know, they played wild
during the season, but also you get to remember that
the season's ending, so this is the last chance for
those guys to kind of impress and and show what
they have, show what they have because really in the
in the league, most of the contracts are one or
two years, you know, whether the two ideals or HL deals.
(12:08):
So guys are playing for the next contract or maybe
for their whole lively in terms of for hockey. So
so they're gonna play hard and don't consider those peo
pushover games. So you know that that's gonna be something
they keep an eye on. And I mean we talked
about maybe Colorado wrestling people and that first round if
if they you know, if they end up, you know,
(12:30):
if they end up plinching the division, although which they
they're playing so well, I thought they would, but all
but Abbatsford is playing so well. They're only three points
back of Colorado five games ago, so maybe they can
catch up to them. So Colorado, you know, you're thinking, like,
you know, maybe they want to arrest people, but if
they want if the rest people and they get to
buy in the first round, maybe they don't want to
(12:51):
do that, but you think about maybe they're road dinners
again the position where they where they can rest people
in that last series and get them ready for the playoffs.
I don't know if they do, because they're you know,
they're points back of fifth place calgarys Slash San Jose.
So those two teams are playing each other and down
the stretch, so that's going to kind of be be
more clear who's going to be the five seed, who's
(13:12):
gonna be the sixth seed, Who's to Some would be
potentially chased to to soon will be potentially chasing if
they do. I want to move up a little bit.
But there's still a lot to play for when these
last few games.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Yeah, and you know it's I think when you're a
team like the road Runners, you want to just get
any seat you can, right. You want to you know,
get to the sixth seed of its opportunities there. You
want to get to the fifth seed of the opportunities
there as well. So I don't really see us ever
really resting any starters, you know. It's just it's just
so there's so much on the line still, right, And yeah, James,
(13:44):
you also had a good point earlier. You know, even
if to Some were to win out and Baggersfield would
have went out, we'd be getting in by one point, right,
and who knows if that's bound to happen. But that's
going back to the uh, you know, where we control
our own destiny, right, So, uh, to some will won't
have an opportunity to and this weekend in Rockford just
you know, even if the Condors lose on the Wednesdays.
(14:04):
So regardless, the Condors do have again more games than
Tucson going into that final weekend for US, so we
have four games down the stretch, Bakersfield has six, and
for the Condors obviously they have some midweek games in
that span as well because they just they just haven't
been able to have been playing as many games for Tucson.
(14:25):
But again, they have the one tomorrow against Henderson Silver Nights.
So no opportunity for Tucson to clinch this weekend. But
if you still look at it, you know, with the Condors,
maybe that Wednesday game when they play on April six,
and obviously it's gonna take a lot of what happens
that weekend too. So I mean, if the Condors were
to lose the three games, you know, and we won
(14:46):
the two this weekend against the Rockford Ice Socks, that
would obviously clinch us the spot. So you know, we
are gonna be scoreboard watching. If the Condors lose the
two games this weekend and we win both them, I'm
pretty sure that gets us in. You know, just looking
at the math wise, I just don't even think it'd
be enough. But we'd have to win those, right, we
can't just lose those as well, because then we'd still
be you know, in the exact same spot.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
So still so much on the line.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Still, it's gonna be a fun weekend in Rockford and
we'll just be right a role.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Yeah, it's an interesting series coming in because they have
so many division games and they had the kind of
almost playoff series against Vegasfield because they have that that game,
Matt Patrickshield and two and two sons. So it's an
interesting position for the the Rockford series. But it's it's
it's nice in terms of that gives the guys a
little as a you know, heats up in two song,
gets back to the nineties or whatever, get a little
(15:33):
break to go to Illinois.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
And also it's interesting that you know, there's there's so
many close ties now with Rockford after you know Jackson,
you know, he came over from there and it's a big,
big series for him obviously being from the Blackhawk's organization
and having played for Rockford the last last couple of
years whatever. But also they traded Akara over to Utah
(15:58):
did traded to the Blackhawks too, and now he's playing
for Rockford. So if you look at his stats, he's
nine games with Frith Rockford, he has four points, so
a goal on three assists, so he's really kind of
rejuvening his game.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
He has.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
He had nineteen points and fifty games for the Runners
this year, you know, a bit down from his forty
four points obviously last year, from the fifteen five games
last year, so he's kind of rejrivening his career there.
So he's the guy to look out for that I
look out for in that series that that's kind of
helping on Rockford get get better.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Yeah, it's gonna be some familiar faces. We'll see Aka
Ratu again. He's been good with the ice Hogs so
far this season, and it's just all about opportunity, right James.
You know, we saw the season that Accu had with
the road Runners last year with the forty four points
and fifty five games, and it has four points in
nine games with the ice Hogs this season. So it'll
(16:52):
be exciting to see him and it'll be exciting for
Jackson Stabber to also play against his former team. You know,
we brought in Stobbord uh for the depth of the goalies,
and now we've we're using it right. Him and Wells
had both each a really good home stand. Stobbers starting
at three of them uh going to and one in
that stretch. Dylan Wells getting back on the winning calm
(17:13):
as well against his former team. He's made over thirty
four saves in each of his last two starts for
Dylan Wells. We even hearing from Dylan Wells after the
Saturday game as well, just how big of an opportunity
is for both of those guys right where you know,
you lose Matthew Belalta to the call up, a locker
room guy, a glue to the entire team, and it's
just opportunities for for Jackson, Stabber and Dyan Wells to
(17:36):
propel this team into the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
And that's just what this league is all about as well.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Yeah, when I went at the games and take some
notes because you know, stuff I want to bring up
in vodka, stuff like that. And the big thing that
I put down for that first that first Baggers field
game from from Jackson was you know, he's the he's
the stopper you know that that's back to where he
was early in the earlier year for the Runners, because
he was able to stop like a maybe they drop
a game in the first part of the series or
(18:04):
whatever second or before that going in the series, and
he comes back and he gets a big has a
big game and plays really well.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
And that was.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
His first, his first start since March seventh, and he
came in and didn't look like he was looked like
he'd been playing regularly again, because obviously he was. He
was in he was up with Utah, but was playing
so much that he wasn't able to get in. So
he was he was up there and he was playing,
he was practicing everything, but he wasn't he was getting
that game action. So and the other the other part
of it is a dealing will continue to continue to impress.
(18:33):
You know, I said that. To me, it's just so
impressive that he's able to come in there and not
play as much when in the in terms of HL
he's able to come in there and play really well
and look like he's not missed a beat or anything.
So the Runners are blessed with the Runners Slash Utah
are blessed with so much talent at the golden position,
that that even when you have someone go out like
at the NHL level and he bring up Jackson or
(18:56):
you've got Maddie at this point, you still you can
bring up Dylan Walls and not miss a beat almost
because he's just approven time time again that he's an
HL caliber goaliegain. He's honestly just kind of a good
sport too, because he would if he was with most
any other team in the in the league, probably he'd
be he'd be playing the NHL. So he's the guy
(19:16):
who's just proven time and time again that he's he
belongs to here.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Yeah, it's it's it's great to see. We love having
Joan Wallerson building, We love having Stow. We just like
everyone just getting their their opportunities and speaking up opportunities.
James Uh some assignments to the Roadrunners from by the
Utah Hockey Club of Noel Nord and Owen Allerd now
with the team. They both spent training camp with US,
Nord actually leading the road Runners in preseason scoring uh
(19:43):
in the two games against the Henderson Silver Knights, and
Uh they were both assigned to the Sue Greyhounds by
the Utah Hockey Club kind of near the season started.
Nord actually played two games for US in that series
against the Colorado Eager Eagles, as Ali didn't play any
He was is signed kind of right before the near
them when the season had started as well, but each
(20:05):
of them having pretty successful years in the OHL with
Sue this season, Nord with fifty two points in forty
seven games played and then Alared with twenty eight points
in thirty one games played as well. So it's kind
of one of those the Sam Lipkin Josh Stone situations
where you know, you assign a guy here late in
the season. We'll see if they do get their their
playing time as well. Roadrunners maybe without Igor Sokolov for
(20:29):
the rest of this week because Soklov is expecting his
firstborn daughter this week as well, so he's in Canada
right now with his wife, and so who knows what
the opportunity we will present itself with that as well.
So exciting things to see and we're glad to have
them back aboard.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
Yeah, it's something that I talked about like a couple
weeks ago, maybe last week, about they might bring in
some college guys, you know, depending on what happens. But
this is actually I didn't really because they've had so
much impact from the college guys coming after their season,
but I didn't think about guys coming from junior. But
this is obviously a better situation because they, you know,
they had that familiarity with Tucson. It's not like you
have a guy coming in from like Quinnipiac coming over
(21:09):
and flying and he's like.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Uh, this is fit.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
You know what's going on. You have to settle everything.
But they're a little bit more settled in. Obviously, it's
a big change coming from coming coming from the Greyhounds
over to UH to the h L. But they're guys
who have that experience, haven't played have we played here?
And they're guys who played together. That's a that to
me is a big thing. I don't know if they're
in the same line together, but alard a few he's
(21:34):
the center and Lord is A is his left wing.
So maybe you have like a mini kind of Greyhounds
line with you add and someone else and who compliments
them and they can have.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Their own line up. And usually you don't have that.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
When you're having ecology guys come in, you have two
mats come in like there's a couple of guys from
like I mentioned Quinnipiac, there's a couple of guys like
tam Lipkin and Lombardy, but they came in separate years
stuff like that. And you had a couple of you
guys and Doan and and Colin Tyson, but there came
in separate years, and they they did play together, but
(22:10):
they came together. They came in for separate years obviously.
But I was the guy who played. He played four
years for in the Ohl, all the Greayhounds, and so
he had that experience. And and if you don't remember
what happened with Nord, he he came home from Sweden
and he he came over and and they signed him
after those couple of games, signed him to to play
(22:32):
for the just to play for the Greyhounds. So it's
really a really interesting situation where they also have a
they have that practice week to get ready and to
play together and meet the guys more and kind of
get back into the system. So it's a it's it's
an interesting move for them.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Yeah, it's very interesting.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
But we're happy to have him, uh, you know, happy
to have them aboard and uh for the playoff push
as well. And you know, if their opportunity comes, we
know that they will both be ready for it. So yeah,
exciting to just have them with us as well for
the travel, for the playoff travel and these last few
or few weeks of the season as well, So James,
we also saw interesting transactions between the Utah Hockey Club
(23:13):
or a couple, yeah, we will say a couple of
transactions involving one player with the Utah Hockey Club and
the Tucson Roadrunners. So Kyler Yamamoto before that series hadn't
played with the Roadrunners for a good week or so,
or maybe just a little over a week. He was
called up during our road trip recently, our last road
(23:35):
trip when you know we were on our way to
San Diego. Him and Matthew Wolalto both called up to
the Utah Hockey Club.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Yamamoto played five games with the club.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
He got a goal and an assist as well for
his first two points of the National Hockey League season.
And you know, I was playing well with them. You know,
he's helping their playoff push too. And then they Utah
Hockey Club plays Saturday night and they win their game
on Saturday, I score four to one against the Winnipeg Jets,
(24:05):
and then Yamamoto is that night is reassigned back to
US during our game and we weren't sure if he
was gonna make it or not, and he does some
direct flight, probably from Utah to Tucson. He makes it
for the next game, plays gets another multiple point game
with US, now fourteen on the year with a goal
(24:26):
and an assist. He has fifty three points down fifty
two games. And then the very next day he is
recalled back to the Utah Hockey Club. So Yamamoto came
into Sunday, helped the Tucson road Runners get the biggest
sweep of the season, and then now he's going back
to Utah to help their playoff push. What a journey
this is for Yamamoto in these past few days. And
(24:48):
that's it's I've never seen that before. I've never seen
a team send a very talented player like Yamamoto, who's
the best player for us, down for a game to
help us win a crucial one against baker Field and
then to get recalled up. I've never seen an NHL
team do that, and it shows that the Utah.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Hockey Club cares. They cared that for our playoff run.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
They care for their playoff run obviously too, And I
think it really just shows the overall, you know, ties
that we these two teams have with one another, with
the management and everything shows the willingness of Yamamoto to
you know, come in and want to win with this.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Team, right.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
You know, it's not easy to tell a player to, hey,
pack your bags for a night, you're going to play
in Tucson and then you're coming back here, right.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
You know, Yamamoto he wants to win with these guys.
Speaker 4 (25:35):
He wants to help us make the playoffs too, just
as much as he wants to help Utah.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
And I just love the situation as a whole. It
was chaotic.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
I'm sure it was Kaoti getting Yamamoto in and out
of Tucson, but what what a sequence that was.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 5 (25:51):
After the game on Saturday, I saw I think they
because they called them up, I mean they sent them
to soon during the game. But also Utah was playing
that night too, so it feel actually doing their game too,
So I was like, wait, what that was crazy?
Speaker 3 (26:04):
So I was warnering.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
I was like, I was waiting to ask you when
you're doing the post game show. I was like, do
you know if Carla's gonna be able to be available?
Because it was the early game. Usually the games are
seven or six thirty and then the Sunday games are
at four now, so I was like, is it too soon?
Speaker 3 (26:19):
It is too too quick a turnaround?
Speaker 6 (26:20):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (26:20):
And and you're waiting and I was waiting to talk
to you, and then you brought it up right after,
you know, right before I was you know, I was
waiting there er I was about to ask, and so
I asked you about, you know, on Sunday after what
happened on quick turnaround, and he seemed surprised. I don't
know if he's kind of doing some you know, kind
of gamesman ship trying to be like, oh yeah, we
didn't know, but he he was surprised in terms of
(26:41):
how well Cayler was playing, and it was really he
had a really great assist on that was a he
big goal where he he he caught the buck and
brought down real quick and then he passed it between
to someone's legs and then and he got the goal.
So that was obviously huge to get a couple of
points in a big game like that, and it's a
(27:02):
situation that where he's the guy who'd been in the
in the NHL for so long. I mean he had
been the last time when he got set back to
when he got said down to Tucson the first time
this year, it had been the first time he'd been
playing in the HL since twenty twenty. So he's he's
a guy who had been really fixed here in the NHL.
But he's such a such a good sport, such a competitor,
(27:22):
such or whatever, you know, that he's that he's able
to take that disappoint him getting sent down to the
American League and he's able to turn into good season.
And then obviously flash forward this weekend, he had that
he was willing to do that the situation that comes
over and helps the team clinch, not clinch, but you know,
get get clinch, clinch to sweep you know, get that
(27:43):
clinch a series. So so that was really really big
of him, really really impressive. And that's the thing that
Steve brought up when it sounded like he didn't know
that he on the situation or he was just coming
for that one game where he said that he's a
he's a really good sport, and it's really his mentalities
were strong, and he's able to focus and channel disappointment
in this something positive. And he's the guy who maybe
part of it was that Bakersfield. They want to get
(28:05):
back at Bakersfield, get back at the Oilers, you know,
kind of come back as ill guests. Sure, I totally
want to come back and go against Bakersfield. That was
his former team they'd played with a couple of seasons
with and we needed to play in NHL. And then
he had that crazy game last time, last time they
had the series in Bakersfield. So maybe that's part of it,
but it's still really impressive for him to do that,
(28:26):
and it was a great, great story.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Yeah, and you know it's still, uh, it's never easy
for any guy like Yamamoto, you know, when you're a
former first round pick and it just hasn't fully panned out,
and you go you get the PTO with the Utah
Hockey Club, you're put on waivers, you pass through because
it's the beginning of the season and no one needs
players because everyone's healthy, right, and you go to the
road Runners, and you know, it's it's opportunity, it's it's
(28:53):
and I think he knows that now, you know.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
And I'm not saying he didn't know that before, but
I don't.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
You know, it's never easy for any guy to, you know,
be in the situation he's in. But you know, if
you have a bad mood about it and you you
don't want to try to get better every day, then
you're not gonna get back to the NHL.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
Even though he's played three hundred games.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
So this I think this season has shown the competitiveness
of Yamamoto that he's he fully still has. He's only
twenty six years old, right, he still has. He has
a great attitude, He shows up every day, he works hard,
and there's no doubt in my mind, whether that's back
here with the Utah Hockey Club Slash Roadrunners or any
other team. Teams are gonna look at him for that
two way deal. They're gonna want a guy like Yamamoto
(29:32):
to where he's gonna compete for NHL spots, and if not,
then he will continue to be a top scorer for
any team that he joins like he's he is with us,
and and yeah, he'll just you'll continue to show why
he blongs back in the NHL and just that whole
situation was just awesome to see and it really showed
the teammate that Ford Kaylee Yamamoto is for both the
(29:55):
Utah Hockey Could players and for us here and twos
on as well. Let's hear from and j turn Need,
the head coach of the Utah Hockey Club aka Bear,
just talking about, you know, the situation of why Yamamoto
was sent back down to US for that Sunday game
against Bakersfield and then sent back to the Utah Hockey
Club as well, because Utah is does know that we
are competing for the playoffs as well, and you know,
(30:17):
having a guy like Yamamoto for the Sunday win definitely
helps there.
Speaker 7 (30:21):
They're in the race for the playoffs. They were before
the weekend, they were one point ahead. I think they
won their board game, so not genius, but I think
they're five up now. So that's you know, looking I
think they're five up now, but I think they're in
the tight race. And give the day off to day
to me here but play you say so I made
(30:42):
a trade.
Speaker 4 (30:43):
Yeah, so Yamamoto will have the day off, you know
for the Utah Hockey Club and you know, just all
in all, it was. It was a big opportunity for
him to come in down here and really help the
team get a victory against Bakersfield.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
Okay, that was one of the things I looked at
when when they when they were when the rights and
everything all that, the players and personnel were sold and
the team moved to Utah. Cos with the Utah because
it was a situation obviously where you're close. The Runners
are so close that's it's just like a hour drive
(31:18):
up to Scottsdale slash Tempe for players that got called up,
and we got players that got set to Tucson. So
I looked it up and I was like, well, it's
a situation with Utah because you know, obviously it's further away,
it's further the north, but it's kind of different in
that time where most of the season it's different time zone.
Even though it's just just straight up straight north, I'm
(31:40):
going straight north, but.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
It's the only.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
There's direct flag Hump tw soon to to Salt Lake
City and it's a to our fight, so it's.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Not that much longer.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
It's not like they're going from Springfield to so I'm
a Springfield to to Arizona or something. Like that, like
how they had before they had before their runners moved
moved to song. So there's something that I wondered, like, well,
can you do that? But it's still obviously I'm tough
to for Kyler to make that trip and everything, but
maybe you know, like I kind of alluded to and
I looked it up and saw what happened in that
(32:12):
last game, but maybe he kind of had that sartas
in his mouth after what happened last time I played
Bakersfield where he had that goal and he started up
really well, but then he had the game misconduct and
then so it's kind of weird to use one of
your best players, but he had a hit that first goal,
and now it's against his former team, so maybe that
factored into it. But regardless, it was just a great
a great story and really really shows how Yeah, it's
(32:35):
something I think they could kind of inspire the guys.
You see that what happened, and that you see a
guy who's willing to do that, a guy who was
the first rounder from Edmonton go on playoff playoffs, play
against the sameer former team and get those huge two points.
So it was it was really really interesting situation.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Yeah, it was. It was something I've never seen before.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
But just shout out to Kylie Yamamoto for willing to
you know, however, you got here to too in a
day play hockey game, get two points, help us win
another huge game and complete a huge sweep, and you know,
eventually go back to the Utah Hockey Club and you know,
we'll see whenever he comes back. But you know, now
the Roadrunners again in the driver's seat, I was still
(33:15):
trying to you know, just trying to do the math
here because I'm horrible at doing math when we're talking, James.
But I think definitely a scenario where the Roadrunners actually
do clinch this weekend against Rockford. Obviously, and this is
the most obvious one. We win the two games and
then the Condors lose their next three games and there
are no three game losing streak with the help of us. Obviously,
(33:35):
that's a very tough one. But yeah, so Tucson, that
is the one scenario that could happen. If the Condors
don't win any more games to for the rest of
this week and we win the two in Rockford, then
we will be going into our last two games, you know,
in a playoff spot and the Condors will have gone
elimited as well. So that's all great situations for Tucson. Again,
(33:57):
it doesn't matter what Bakersfield does. We control our own
destiny here and we'll continue to try to do so
in Rock for this weekend. Let's get to our other
postgame interviews now, Let's start off with Dylan Wells Eleana
Diebert catching up with Wellsey after another good performance for
the Tucson Roadrunners. Even though Wells lost in his previous
game against the Condors that was on March twenty ninth,
(34:20):
th at the end of that trip, made thirty nine
saves on forty two shots. He got made his second
straight start for the Roadrunners, or second straight start that
was against the Condors, I would say, making thirty four
saves on thirty six shots as well. It was a
huge five two victory for Tucson, and as we talked about,
just opportunities for Wells and Stobber down this stretch with
Matthew Valota called up and Eleana Dibert caught up with
(34:42):
Wellsey after our Sunday victory.
Speaker 8 (34:44):
And blocking over thirty shots on goal here tonight and
walking away with a win.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
How important are.
Speaker 8 (34:48):
These types of games, especially rearing to the end of
the season.
Speaker 9 (34:51):
Yeah, they're huge, especially against Bakersfield here where it's kind
of a dog play for the last playoff spot. So
I mean I was excited to get in there and
that's a huge two points for us. So hopefully we
keep roll on here in the last four.
Speaker 8 (35:01):
Games and then securing six points in this Homestand what's
the message in the locker room heading into next week's
on the Red matchups?
Speaker 9 (35:07):
Yeah, I just keep the foot on the gas. I mean,
we can't be content with with these wins. We got
to keep winning out and I mean we want to
secure a playoffs spot, so we'll keep going till we
do that and then carried in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (35:18):
Yeah, and James, you have to start thinking now, you know,
and Stoberd did a good job in you know, the
couple of starts that he had to make. But you
start to think, do the Roadrunner start splitting Wells and Stobburn?
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Now right?
Speaker 4 (35:30):
I mean, Wells is made just saying it. He made
thirty four saves on Sunday, made thirty nine saves in
his previous start on that trip as well. And Stopburd
was also good so maybe you start splitting those guys
up in these last four games, even though it's a
bit more spread out, I think just giving them both opportunity,
having the fresh legs out there for each goaltender, well,
we'll help two soon out a lot more.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
Yeah, it's funny because at the at the start of
the year, you're thinking, like with you have Walalta, who
the h All Star season, and then he got his
first call up last year. He coming back after that
season and he used to sign Jacks Staber, a guy
who had already played played a.
Speaker 3 (36:06):
Few games and done well for Chicago.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Chicago Blackhawks, I'm coming in and you think like, oh,
well they're gonna split, and that's how they did. They
have most most of the time they have two games series,
so you have a lot to one game and then
Starbo one game. And then you know, obviously when they
do changes like where Sober gets gets called themselfs a
guy that changes how that those dynamics work. But for
the most part they're splitting games fifty to fifty like that,
and then one of them gets called up and then
(36:31):
you bringing down walls and he's he's not playing as much,
but he's playing so well that maybe he does come
and step in and do you play fifty to fifty
like that, and you do give guys more of a
rest like that, So and you look with the with
the Runners had that luxury of almost being into the
playoffs and getting close to clinching that they can start
looking at thinking about like what they might do in
(36:51):
the playoffs and give some guys some rest. And especially
you know, has the Goldie position because it's it's they're
facing a lot of shots. That's one thing that the
Runners have have done the season is that they give
them up a lot of shots. So the goals haven't
played well to make a lot of saves, but they're
facing a lot of shots. So maybe we do want
to take that rest. So it's really interesting, interesting opportunity
(37:14):
for them to with. It's a good it's a good
opportunity to have with on wells playing so well.
Speaker 4 (37:20):
All right, James, I actually got another scenario. I did
some more math. Other scenario. We're twos on conclinch this weekend. Bakersfield,
Actually we still win to you know, you gotta win
the two games right against the Rockford Ice Sogs any capacity,
and if Bakersfield loses straight no points, no points at
all for Bakersfield Condors, lose two of the three games
(37:42):
in regulation this week, that can guarantee use on the spots.
And actually we have the tiebreaker over the Condors as well,
So if Bakersfield UH loses maybe one of those in
overtime too, or they only get a point, you know
that that would also help the Roadrunners in that capacity
as well. So that is some of the scenarios where
(38:03):
Tucson could maybe clinch a playoff spot this weekend, but
still got to control wee can control. So there you go, James,
some scenarios on air, trying to do the math because
I meant to do it yesterday. And you know, when
you have these very very long weeks, you tend to
kind of sleep all day a little bit. And so
those are the scenarios for Tucson going into this weekend.
(38:24):
But still you just got to control where you can control.
The Roadrunners are in their own destiny right now. Let's
also hear from head coach Steve poppin Eleana Diiver catching
up with him as well after the big Sunday night
game with a Roadrunner swept the Bakersfield Condors and we
are now five points at this time, ahead of the
Edmonton Oilers. I feel in the seventh seed of the
Pacific Division race.
Speaker 8 (38:45):
A lot of players having multi point games here to night,
Travis barn being one with a two goal game. How
big is it seeing performances like that?
Speaker 10 (38:51):
Well, it's great because you need to be able to
you know, score to win games or you know, and
it's great just seeing them. For on a personal level,
just being able to put in so much hard work
and finally see it.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
Goaltender, we should get rewarded for it.
Speaker 8 (39:08):
Goaltender Dylan Wells blocking over thirty shots on goal. How
big is it seeing him hold down the fort here tonight?
Speaker 10 (39:15):
Well, it's big, there's no doubt. We're just happy to
have the goalies that we have in our organization.
Speaker 7 (39:21):
I mean from top to bottom.
Speaker 10 (39:23):
You know. Wellsy's a guy that is patient, and it's
hard to be patient when you believe in yourself and
you know you can play. And it's hard for us
to ask them to be patient when we also have
the same belief, you know it. It's a real thing
in the American Hockey League. Sometimes you just have to
wait your turn. But we're considerably lucky to have the tenders.
Speaker 8 (39:43):
That we have in net and then closing out this
four game homestand walking away with six points. Where is
the team's mindset heading into next week's on the road matchups.
Speaker 10 (39:52):
Well, the mindset right now is they're going to enjoy this,
this victory. You know, there's there's a lot of pressure
on them. Obviously, there are some key games that I
don't think we did the best that we could to.
We tried our best. I wouldn't say we didn't try
our best, but we didn't come come out with the victories.
And so it you know it, it put a lot
(40:12):
of pressure on him. And as we all know, when
you when you you know, hold yourself to a standard
and you look at, you know, the things that you
can control, then the pressure is something you enjoy and
then a lot of times you get rewarded for taking
care of your business. So happy for them, Happy for
the leadership to keep everybody in there calm and focus
(40:35):
on the right things. And it was, it was great
and I want to see it continue. I think everybody does.
Speaker 8 (40:41):
And then how was it having Kya Yamamoto back here tonight?
Speaker 10 (40:44):
Well, it's great, you know, look at He's he's a
player that you know, you give him the puck, he
extends the play, He's able to make the next play
and sometimes you know that isn't always the case. You know,
he's able to make plays within the plays, and I
think a lot of guys enjoyed playing with him, and
it's you know, he's able to score and the other
(41:06):
team has to really pay attention to him. So it
just adds another element to our lineup.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
Yeah, James, we saw scoring all throughout the weekend as well.
You gotta give a shout out to that Juggernaut line.
Travis Barron six points in his last three games of
that home stan Curtis Douglass has eight points in his
last eight home games. Maximillian Zuber nine points in his
last seven home games as well. Hunter Drew getting some
multiple point games under his belt, including up that Juggernaut line.
(41:34):
Cameron he been getting back on the score sheet as well.
We saw all scoring throughout Walker and Agazino with some
points as well. McCartney getting two games in a row
with a goal. McCartney now has nine Special teams goals
this season. He got a short handed goal that sparked
up the comeback on Saturday and now leads the team
with three. Only six players in the AHL have more
shorthanded goals than Ben McCartney. It was just an all
(41:55):
out team effort for those two victories against Bakersfield.
Speaker 5 (42:00):
Yeah, it seems like obviously every time when the road
Runners are really rolling, when they're doing well, they get
out of variety in terms of guys, different guys getting points.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
I mean, the.
Speaker 5 (42:11):
For you look back to the Saturday game, third goals
by Ryan McGregor, who he's the guy who hasn't been
you know, obviously playing that much with so much Steph
the on the team right there, but he comes in,
he steps in and gets that opportunity and gets a
gets a big crucial insurance goal for them. And then
obviously on Sunday our arm dude gets their first goal.
(42:32):
But then Charles Barron gets two goals in a row,
and he's the guy who has he has ten goals
on the year, but he has three goals in the
last three goals in the homestand so he's a guy
who he has three goals on a homestand and he
guy had another goal against Ontario, big goal in that
I'm serious in that serious and that one in that
one game against Ontario at the end of March. So
he's the guy who obviously a couple of points, yeah,
(42:56):
three points in that first Cavery game, I mean in
that second Cavery game in homestand so he's a guy
who you know, he's known more for the energy, you know,
being from Dargonaut line, but he's the guy who has
been scoring a lot recently and getting a lot of points.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
So he's the guy who has been providing all all
over the ice, all.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
All over the room, all over the bench, and he's
the guy who is really leading the Dargerknut line who's
been having such a great, great, great outing last last
few games.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Yeah, and James, don't forget.
Speaker 4 (43:28):
You know, we saw Hunter Drew have a tear at
the end of the season last year with nine points
and nine games, including a playoff goal. He got a
couple of multiple point games over the homestand as well,
And maybe this time around we see that entire line
get up really a hot streak near to the end
and then all of a sudden, you're you're rolling the
for the full four lines for Tucson, you know, in
(43:50):
this really really intense stretch down the line. With just
a few weeks ago and four games on the docket
as well, let's close things out with, you know, just
the overall buzz, a great weekend that we had. You know,
we like to sometimes when we get wins, we like
to have one of our interns, Brad Kerner, as you
folks have heard him before, ask some goofy questions with
(44:13):
you know, whoever we're interviewing. He had a couple of
good ones with head coach Steve Potvin had one earlier
this week on the homes or earlier last week on
the first two games against the Calgary Wranglers after that
first victory, and then one on Sunday after we had
been the Biggers Field Condors by that five two score.
So we'll start off with the one after the victory,
(44:33):
the first one against the Calgary Wranglers. As Brad brought
back his hey, I have a question.
Speaker 6 (44:39):
Well I had one more one more, yeah, well silly
one for you. So we have a Beer League game
ten thirty tomorrow. Would you have any interest in playing
for us?
Speaker 9 (44:50):
Absolutely not.
Speaker 3 (44:52):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (44:53):
Though, so so to put context into that story, Brad
had a game on Wednesday after our game because it
was a it was an earlier start. Brad had a
bear Lely game at ten thirty and he wanted to
ask Steve if he was willing to go out there
and play. And then this one here was Sunday after
(45:13):
the win against Bakersfield, and this one actually made Steve
think a little bit.
Speaker 6 (45:20):
I got my question, all right, tonight's question?
Speaker 2 (45:22):
What color is a mirror? What color is a mirror?
Speaker 10 (45:26):
That's it depends which you're looking through. I guess I don't.
I think it's a multi colored mirror, isn't it because
anything you're looking at or that?
Speaker 4 (45:37):
Right?
Speaker 3 (45:38):
I think so?
Speaker 7 (45:39):
Thank you so right?
Speaker 6 (45:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (45:43):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Yeah, all right, James, good way to end out the
show with the Brads. Hey, I have a question. It
was a great weekend for Tucson. We are in the
driver's seat now for the playoffs against Scenarios. This weekend,
Tucson got to win both of their games. If the
Condors lose two of their three games and uh in
overtime capacity, at least don't not getting an extra point.
(46:08):
So Condors pretty much need to get less than two
points this week or yeah, two points or less this
week if the Roadrunners want to win two games against
the Rockford ice Hawks and go into the final weekend.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
Of the season, uh with a playoff spot.
Speaker 4 (46:23):
So hopefully I didn't get that math wrong, but I'm
pretty sure that's what it's looking like. But all no,
we'll control our own destiny. We'll continue to push on
and we're we're looking forward to seeing Aku Ratu again
in Rodford and Jackson Stoppers homecoming.
Speaker 5 (46:37):
Yeah, the thinking about the points and everything ton on
destiny is actually it's based on the overall points. So
it's actually that we've talked about before, but they actually
have to overcome they have to finish higher than Begs.
You'll have to finish higher than Tu because tiebreaker. So
the other part of it is that Tucson has their
magic numbers on the seven and so what that is
(46:59):
is it's the number. It's the magic numbers reduced when
team earns standing points or when the team behind them
with the ice possible total outside the playoff picture fails
to earn standing points.
Speaker 3 (47:10):
So they're they're very close.
Speaker 5 (47:12):
And with that with that seven, with that weekend, so
it's it's a situation where they can really make a
lot of ground and if not clinched, then get really
close to that playoff spot with the big series at Rockford,
who I don't think we did mention that they're they're
in there in that six playoff spot are the fifth
class spot excuse me, in the Central and they're they
(47:33):
have a different division set up obviously, with seven teams
set of the ten that the Pacific has. So with them,
five teams make the division, make the playoffs from the division,
and then Iowa is six points behind them, and when
Manteba is way behind them the twelve points. So you
talked about how they're already kind of locked in Rockford
is and you look at the division, it's a lot
(47:55):
of exes in terms of Milwaukee, Texas, Chicago and grund
Rapids have already clinched. So in within the Pacific four
teams that clinched to the playoffs already in Colorado, Abbotsford, Ontario,
and Coachella Valley. But over in you know, over in
the Central Division for the five teams already clinched. So
Roper is not gonna overtake Grand Rapids most likely with
(48:17):
their ten points back with six games to play, So
that's gonna be tough for them to do that, but obviously,
but it's a situation where they're kind of locked in
and the Roads have that opportion to move up a
little bit. And obviously they still have to clinch the
make sure they're in it in the playoffs. So it's
it's a big series for for Tucson and maybe not
so much of Rockford other than you have ockey you
(48:38):
playing against this former team and they're playing against their
former teammate and Jackson Staubern.
Speaker 4 (48:43):
Yeah, that's it's, it's it is. It is an interesting situation.
I mean, Rockford's pretty much already kind of clinched it.
They would need to really collapse, and uh, you know
just how that Central Division is. We'll look forward to
facing off a Central Division opponent for once. Uh we'll
take a break from the Pacific, going to the Midwest
in games number three and four against the Chicago Blackhawk's
(49:04):
affiliate and with a potential chance to clinch the twenty
four to twenty five Calder Cup Playoffs for the first round.
For your twoson Roadrunners, We'll see you in Rockford this weekend.
We'll also see you tonight if you're listening in on
this Tuesday for our usual Tuesday night get together Roadrunners
half where we're getting assistant video coordinator Brad Kurakowitz on
the show, so it's gonna be a great one talking
(49:26):
about the guy who's kind of behind the scenes of
our challenges on the ice as well, so that'll be great.
All in all, fantastic weekend for Tucson, fantastic home stand
for the Roadrunners. We're gonna go back on the road
for our final two games away from the Tucson Arena
in the regular season as well playoff push still live
for your Tucson Roadrunners. We'll see you this week in Rockford.
(49:48):
Thanks for listening, and we will sign out here.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.