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November 11, 2024 44 mins
On this week's Insider Podcast, Voice of the Roadunners Jonathon Schaffer and Arizona Daily Star's James Kelly recap Tucson's weekend series versis the San Diego Gulls: hearing from Head Coach Steve Potvin, Forward Andrew Agozzino and Rookie Forward Sam Lipkin after Sunday's 4-2 loss. Johnny and James then preview the three-game road trip for Tucson as November is now in full swing. 
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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
When you want more road Runners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Gay Insider Podcast.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
It's Monday, It's Veterans Day. This week's Insider podcast happening
right now. Jonathan Schaeffer here with Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. James,
we had another Saturday Sunday matchup. We have a quick
turnaround coming this week as the Roadrunners now head to

(00:29):
Ontario for a game against the Rain. We leave tomorrow.
It's a quick turnaround, but we're gonna recap this weekend.
We're gonna preview the upcoming games, and we're gonna talk
about the first ten games of the season for the Roadrunners.
We're gonna hear from Steve Poppin, Andrew Ragazino, Sam Lipkin,
a couple of the big goalscorers or point gethers rather

(00:50):
this past weekend, and James Ducson's five and five. Another
opportunity to sweep a team, it just couldn't happen. Things
just didn't get the road Runners way in the second
game of the back to back on Saturday night or
part of me Sunday night.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
But you know, it's still working progress.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
The team is still you know just on that Teeter
Totter spot of five hundred, but overall, still pretty good
weekend considering that to someone's chilling. In Game one of
this series, they scored the four and answered goals in
the third pier to win that one. A Sunday night,
they were very very close to tying things up, but
unfortunately San Diego won the second game by a score

(01:32):
of four to two, to someone the first game five
to two. And now we're back to five hundred. We're
past the first ten game mark of the season. One
thing Adrian and I touched on a lot last year
was like those ten game marks, you know, the first one, second, one,
third one. We are done with the first ten game
mark or five and five. There's positives and negatives, but
you know, the season's going on and it's starting to

(01:53):
feel a little quick.

Speaker 4 (01:56):
Yeah, it was.

Speaker 5 (01:57):
I can't believe it's already ten games. It was a
definitely another weird series for the road Owners, where you know,
they had a really good Saturday night game and and
Sunday was they did.

Speaker 4 (02:06):
It wasn't that they played poorly. I mean they three those.

Speaker 5 (02:09):
Goals, one wastey netter obviously, and then two of them
were just kind of very minor mistakes on the Roaders part.
More those are more of the goals playing really well
and capitalizing on a slight mistake. So yeah, it's a
weekend where you can take a lot from where. Obviously
Steve wasn't happy about that that loss on Sunday, but overall,
they they didn't played poorly and then obviously they played

(02:31):
well on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, you know, I was touching on that during the broadcast.
You know, it's the road Runners didn't play a bad game.
They played a pretty great game overall. I mean, the
the shots weren't a lot, uh, you know, considered that
what we've seen the past few gays. I mean Roadvers
only put twenty six shots. San Diego only put up eighteen,
including there that and d Netter h to steal the

(02:53):
win for themselves. But yeah, road Ros did not play
a bad game. It was just one of those weird
hockey games where we saw the first goal.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
San Diego had a nice four.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Check in the neutral zone ice Kurz Douglas almost created
a turnover for Tucson, but San Diego kept with the
puck and then somehow Someway Petrie found Josh Sopena right
in front of the net, crashed in scored the first goal.
We saw the second goal where Kevin Cannaughton tried banking
it off the boards and starting to push the other way,

(03:25):
but then unfortunately Harkins took it right back room and
then scored on that one too, So two just weird
plays for the road Runners, and then all of a
sudden they're down two to nothing. Igor Sokolov made it
a two to one game in the beginning of that
second period from Agasino and Cannaton, who Kevin Cannan had
actually a really good game offensive overall, which we'll touch
on in a moment, but yeah, Soklov made it a

(03:47):
two to one game, and then the goals went on
the power play, and I think this is what kind
of sealed the deal for San Diego. Early on scored
a power play goal, but it was because Matthew wi
Walta was going back to play the pun it whipped
off of that door spot, because sometimes if the puckets
that right spot on the door, it carrams out in
front of the crease. And it was a beautiful goal

(04:10):
or really just a you know, beautiful opportunity for Colangelo
for San Diego. As the seventh of the season. He
made a three to one. Tucson scored early in the
third period from Sam Lipk in his second career goal.
In the last three games, Watanaan Yobucci and Akarachu with
the assists, and you just felt like, all right, let's
get that last one.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
We had a great push. Tucson put everything on the table.

Speaker 2 (04:31):
They had all of their best goal scorers out there
in the last few minutes with the empty net, but
unfortunately Nikitida Nessarenko for San Diego was able to cash
in the insurance goal and then San Diego won. But yeah,
it was kind of one of those games where you
feel like you outplayed your opponent and somehow you still
lost the game, and that's just hockey sometimes, and I
you know, unfortunately for Tucson, you really wanted to sweep.

(04:54):
You really wanted to enter the road trip six and four,
but you have to be contempt with five and five.
But now it's uh, you need a good road trip here, James.
You need a good road trip where you go at
least two and one, two zero, one to zero or something.
Just you need to start getting the points. Yes, it's
only ten games. But when you have teams like Calgary

(05:15):
and San Jose playing great hockey right now before you
know it, not saying it's going to happen, but before
we know it, you start to realize, like, okay, we
now we're playing catch up in these standings too. Solmost
second place in the division last year, they want.

Speaker 3 (05:29):
To get first. This year.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
We said it's a great opportunity to get first place
with Coachella Valley not being as dominant as they were
in the past, Calgary's off to a hot start again
and then San Jose's been kind of the new team emerging.
So with these kind of games, you know, it's again
beginning of the season, but you don't want these games
to get out of hand too much.

Speaker 3 (05:47):
Road vergzin a big road trip here.

Speaker 5 (05:50):
Yeah, they not to look at it too much. But
after that, after this three game road trip, they have
a four game homestand where they have Coachella, who you know,
they're not on their sixth place right now, they're not,
you know, not as good as it happened, but there's
still one of those new rivals Strouders have and then
Calgary's obviously first place, so you have that big home
stand of those four, so you want to come in

(06:11):
you know, at least like a two on run record,
you know, with that California and Novata road trip coming up.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, and you have a good point, James. You know,
after this road trip we head back home. At least
we're home for the next four games after and it's
right before Thanksgiving. But you play the Calgary Wranglers, who
are currently first place in the AHL or part of
me the Pacific Division right now, but again one of
the top teams in the AHL at the moment. And

(06:39):
then you have two more games against the Coachella Valley Firebirds,
and yeah, I mean Coachella Valley six and five right now.

Speaker 3 (06:45):
But there's still a big rivalry for the Roadrunners.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
They had a good success against Tucson at home when
Tucson was home last year as well, So yeah, it's
it's a good opportunity right now for Tucson to scrounge
a couple of wins here. They have Ontario on Wednesday
reigned four and six right now, and then they have
two more games against Anders and silver Knights, who have
struggled hardly out the get go at three and eight

(07:08):
as well.

Speaker 5 (07:10):
Yeah, but also keep in mind that San Diego is
in ninth and Runners are in the seventh, So it's
it's a it's it's always I keeps saying this, but
maybe there's some people who haven't smashed the subpri smashed
the subscribe on and camel'syet that.

Speaker 4 (07:23):
But I keep keep saying that.

Speaker 5 (07:25):
But it's really tough league, really tough divisions, So it's
always going to be there's not gonna be any give
me games, you know. So they go to Henderson, who's
you know, tenth place out of ten, but it's still
gonna be a tough, tough game.

Speaker 3 (07:39):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:39):
We had a lot of one goal games with Henderson
last year as I was kind of the the Brendan
Butter for the Runners throughout the season.

Speaker 3 (07:45):
But two soon still went five to one and one.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
Uh actually the best the second best winning percentage against
the Pacific Division opponent for the road Runners. And yeah, James,
I mean, no matter what the record is, every game
is going to be tough. Even though Tucson did get
the split against San Diego, those games were not easy.
In the Saturday game, Tucson was trailing two to one

(08:09):
going into the third period. They had to kill off
a big five on three penalty. San Diego could have
easily scored another goal and diminished all kind of momentum
that the Runners are trying to get. They did great
on that PK. Then they scored the four and answered goals.
Peter Delavatory made his season debut, scored his first goal
of the season, tied it up. Kyler Yamamoto got a

(08:29):
goal and an assist in his second game as a Roadrunner.
He or He got the go ahead goal, and then
we saw Max Zuber get the insurance goal and then
soakle off with the empty netter. So at the time,
two straight games in a row where the Tucson scored
four goals in a period. The offense has still been
pretty good throughout the season in the early stages, really

(08:51):
lighting up the lamp, and they had a good one
on that Saturday against the Goals. But again, even though
it was a five to two game, it was you
kind of forget Tucson was town going into that third
period for the Saturday game and then the Sunday game.
Of course, Tusaon was trying to play catch up really
the whole time, and when you play catch up, that's
when it gets tough to win these kinds of games
with San Diego aldomments on their side. So yeah, you

(09:14):
know again you'll take this series split. It's bad to
getting swept. Sweeping teams is super hard in this league.
But yeah, no game is easy in this specific division.

Speaker 5 (09:24):
Yeah, going back to that Saturday game, another you know,
obviously pressing up four goals, but another cool part of
that is, yeah, so Igor got that empty net goal
to seal it. But you know, three of those other
goals we were their first goal of the season. Obviously,
you mentioned Peter's first game, and then Kyler's second game,
and then Maxi Zuberg got his first goal cold season

(09:46):
on that one.

Speaker 4 (09:47):
It's just from Melos out for that third goal of
that period.

Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yeah, and we saw a couple of lineup changes as
well for Tucson throughout this week, just you know, the
veterans status still with all the depth that Tucson has
right now, they have a lot of depth on the team.
They have prospects to play, they have veterans to play,
so it's a good problem to have. But you know
that that's the reason why we haven't seen the Hunter

(10:13):
Drews and the Milos Kellmans in the lineup as much
because we just we're trying to play everybody right now,
and like Steve said, it's a work in progress. You know,
progression doesn't come overnight. You know, we we have one
of the best goal scorers in the league right now.
We have the strong goaltending still of Stabur and Violalta.
We have Josh Stone with us still Kylieavamolta. To talent

(10:35):
is so much there right now. There's so many names
on this team that you could say, like this guy
would be a starter, this guy would be a star
player on any other team, and maybe they're not playing tonight.
But yeah, you know, the the record of five and
five is definitely not the showing the talent that the
road Runners have. You know, I'm not saying it's a
shock that we're five and five, but we know that

(10:56):
this team is capable of more. And that's why, you know,
not saying it's comfortable, but it's not. It's not a
full panic. You know, it's not like, oh no, we're
playing five hundred hockey in the first ten games.

Speaker 3 (11:08):
It's only ten games of seventy two. We have sixty
two games left.

Speaker 2 (11:11):
It is crazy that it's already been ten games of
the season, but so much time for the Roadrunners to
you know, and I wouldn't even say turn things around.
They know it's not turning things around. It's just we
just kind of need to start getting on those streaks,
you know. That's what Tucson hasn't really done just yet,
to start getting on a streak.

Speaker 3 (11:27):
And I think with the.

Speaker 2 (11:29):
Road trip, the travel days, bonding with the teammates, you know,
I think it's a great opportunity for Tucson to have
a good one here and hopefully get a clean sweep
with the trip and then go back home at eight
and five. But it's it's just gonna take a lot
of work.

Speaker 5 (11:45):
Yeah, no reason the panic right now. It's just it's
fair early and it's only ten games. But you know,
pretty soon they need to be getting in that position where,
you know, where they where they should be, where they
in terms of talent, in terms of expectations, where they're
a little bit higher than standings, where they're back in
position to be hosting a playoff game. Again, it's still
early still, but it's timeless educatting in the point where

(12:08):
maybe towards the end of the maybe once you get
to December, it's about time where you should be around
Bront really expected to be, so you don't have to
play a lot of catchup in the second half of
the season.

Speaker 2 (12:17):
So Igor Sokolov James had another another phenomenal weekend, getting
four points total with two goals and to assists. He
has six points in his last three games, only one
game this season without a point, so he has nine
points in his first ten games of the year. Only
game he didn't get a point was that October twenty

(12:39):
ninth game where Tucson was blanked by the at Pensford Canucks.
Eight goals on the season, fourteen points total on the year.
Those are both within the top three of the American
Hockey League. I said it at with Kim Coda Robliz
in our pregame show on Sunday. Sokolov is putting up
carcone numbers right now, and again it's early in the season.

(13:01):
Don't want to speculate too much, but to think that
the road Runners got this guy in a trade in
the offseason and then signed him to the one year
deal as is, it's awesome. It's nice knowing that you
know the management was able to go out and acquire
such a talent of Sokolov, and he is I'm not
saying he's carrying the team, but he's been. He's been

(13:21):
a big reason why Tucson has been able to win
a lot of these games and be in in a
lot of these games.

Speaker 3 (13:27):
And eight goals on the year as well. He's he's
lighting up the lamp.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
You know. Projection wise, it would crush Michael Carconi's all
time leading goal scoring of the thirty one. Obviously, it's
that's way into the season with call ups and everything
that could happen, but yeah, Sokolov has been quite phenomenal
the startup the season, and yeah, Tucson has to be
grateful to have him on the lineup every night so far.

Speaker 5 (13:52):
Yeah, definitely feels like that Carconi season where Carconi he
led the league in points for our almost a whole year.
There's this spot on the HL website where you where
you go on the bottom and as the HL leaders
as their has their photo and then has like points, goals,
assists plus minus game winning goals, and he's in like

(14:13):
almost every category.

Speaker 4 (14:14):
So it's kind of kind of wild. You know.

Speaker 5 (14:15):
He has fourteen points eight goals. I think he's not
on there for post minus, but for game winning goals
he's he has three, So that's their ty for a
second for game winning goals, fifth or yeah, fifth in goals.

Speaker 4 (14:34):
I'm with eight, just two behind the leader.

Speaker 5 (14:36):
And then I'm typher Tyer third for points for fourteen,
three behind the leader from Milwaukee, Vinnie in Nostroza.

Speaker 2 (14:46):
Yeah, so it's you know, it's it's great seeing socle
off within all of those top spots. He's he's putting
up amazing numbers and obviously wouldn't want to compare him
too much to Michael Karcony because he's his own player,
you know, he's he's not Michael Karconi.

Speaker 3 (15:00):
He's Igor Sokolov.

Speaker 2 (15:01):
He's Igor Sokolov of the twenty four to twenty five
road Runners. And we knew James that he was going
to be great for this team this year, as we've
always said the last three seasons, has nineteen goals or better.
He's already pretty much almost halfway to his goal total

(15:22):
from you know, the last couple of years. So he
is playing way above probably expectations. To be honest, Like
we again, we knew he was going to be phenomenal.

Speaker 3 (15:33):
One of my.

Speaker 2 (15:36):
Big takes or I would you say heart takes on
the season before and our projections was that Sokolov was
going to be leading this team in goals and he
was going to have a ginormous year. But I think
so far he's kind of exceeding expectations. He's playing above
than what we were expecting. But it's great because that's
what this league is all about. It's about acquiring the

(15:57):
talent and developing that talent too. And SO Club at
just twenty four years old, he's played in thirteen NHL games,
which is one going one assist. But you have to
think when Utah needs their next manned up, it's most
likely going to be SO Club if not Josh Doone.
Just with Don still being back with the road Runners
at the moment.

Speaker 5 (16:18):
Yeah, that's the thing that would kind of that's kind
of the only thing that I think would kind of
stop ego right now. What was he going to move
up to move up to the years of Hockey Club.
But you know, talking about it being a surprise, it's
not surprise because he did so well with the Senators.
He was I think he was second on their second
on them points or goals or whatever. But we expect
him to come in and do well, but not too

(16:38):
quickly because even he said that he usually starts the season,
you know, with the kind of slow start, but with
the new surroundings, new league, new country, you know, because yeah,
obviously you know it's an American hockey league. But the
last team heals with with Belvo, So he's changing a lot,
changing new conferences, changing changed a lot. But he's really
resilient and he's come up, come up strong early on ready.

Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, and it's always you know about the a change
of scenery for each side. And as we've said before,
you know, we saw yan Yanique get sent to Belleville
in return. Obviously, yan Yanique was a main staple as
part of the Coyote Slash road Runs organizations. But sometimes
players just need a change of scenery and then all

(17:23):
of a sudden, you know they're playing lights out because
they have new teammates, it's new coaches, it's it's a
new system to be fit into. And so far this year,
Yananique has three points in six games play, so he
hasn't played every single game with Belleville so far. I
don't know if it was for an injury or it's

(17:44):
not playing, but that's a good start for him as
well with the two goals and one assists in the
three games, but obviously Igor having a much more fiery
start for his Roadrunner career. And again, James, it's crazy
that we get these guys for these one year deals.
In Sokolov on the one year deal, not saying wherever
he'll go after this year, but definitely will enjoy it

(18:06):
while we have him. And you know, it's it's it's
going to be a special season for him.

Speaker 3 (18:11):
It's going to be a special year for this Roadrunners team.

Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, it's only a five hundred right now, but the
wins are going to start to come. They are, and
before we know it, Sokolov's going to be leading leading
the charge for a top spot in the division for Tucson,
you know. And and the supporting cast around him has
been great as well, and Dragazino getting points over the
weekend as well. He's now up to nine points in

(18:36):
ten games on the year. He has three points in
his last three games, all coming with the assists. We
got a hunter Drew who didn't play games over the weekend,
again just with all the depth the team is having
right now in the prospects that you know has to
get the minutes because their prospects, we need them to
develop and get better every day. But Hunter drew six

(18:57):
points in five games. Akuatsu got a couple points over
the weekend. He's now up to seven and ten. Milos
Kalman didn't play in the Sunday game, but he's at
six and nine. Robbie Russo, who's been the toppling defenseman
with scoring for Tucson six points and ten games.

Speaker 3 (19:13):
Max Zuber has four and five.

Speaker 2 (19:15):
Kevin Canaan on a two game point streak technically because
he didn't play in the Saturday game with a goal
and an assist. Julian Lutz with four points, and then
Cameron hemc Ben McCartney art of Duda getting his first
career goal on the Saturday game with three points. And
then we have josh Don, Sam Lincoln, Kylie Yamamoto, Ryan
McGregor with two, and then a couple more players with

(19:37):
just one point so far, but not all of those
guys playing every single game for two soon this year
include bonten On Yubuchi. You also got his first point
of the season. So the death scoring, like just what
we saw last year has definitely been there. But you know,
as we said, the new faces and the new leading
scores for the team of Soa Glove and Andrew Ragazino

(19:58):
have been great to see. It's awesome seeming uh Aku
Rato and Hunter Drew and Milos Kalman kind of up
there as well because those guys, besides for probably Aku,
those guys weren't top scorers of the team last year.
They were great, they were great at providing the scoring,
but uh, they weren't within the top spots because we
were used to Josh Done and Aku Ratu primarily being
up there. Uh, but now we're seeing those guys step

(20:21):
up very much well. In the first part of the season.

Speaker 5 (20:26):
It's it's just wild how much depth they had. We
we knew that going in, and we knew that last
ye where they had on death. But you just see
a lot of guys who you're expecting to be, you know,
playing a lot more, but they're and they're they're the
kind of playing one game series and but they're still
high up there and in stats that just shows how
good they are. Because every team has a full roster
but with death mean obviously is that you have guys

(20:47):
you can come in there and contribute and contribute well.

Speaker 4 (20:50):
And that's what Throat introducing.

Speaker 3 (20:53):
Let's get into our interviews, James. We have a couple
for you folks.

Speaker 2 (20:56):
We have one with Steve Povin, one with and Dragazino,
and one with Sam Lipkin. Elliana Diibert caught up with
all three after Sunday's laws and Ellianna ask Steve poving
Is about the development of the team what he's seen
in the first ten games of the season. And this
is what Steve had to say after Sunday Night's loss.

Speaker 1 (21:17):
Okay, coach, I know tonight's game wasn't the outcome you
had expected. However, this team has had a lot of
growth so far in this season.

Speaker 6 (21:24):
What does that tell you about the development this team
has had?

Speaker 7 (21:26):
Yeah, I mean, listen, it takes patience. You know, development
doesn't happen overnight. So we're going to see incremental improvement
and you know, every every day we just try to
take in information and try to grow from it. So
it tells us a lot about the players in the
room and quite frankly, the leaders that we have. They're
doing a good job trying to you know, mold the

(21:48):
young guys, and you know they understand the process. So
it tells us a lot about the character in the room.

Speaker 1 (21:54):
Additionally, Igor is now top five with being a top
point holder in the AHL as well as Kevin and
holding a record and having six shots in a game alone.

Speaker 6 (22:03):
What does that tell you about the efforts those players
have made.

Speaker 7 (22:06):
Well, they've been you know, major factors and they've been
contributing so much, and honestly, they every game it just
seems like they're just focused and very intentful and they're
playing with a lot of purpose. They mean a lot.
I mean, you know, not just from the production standpoint.
You know, they just have a way of possessing the puck,

(22:27):
and the more we have the puck, obviously the opposition
doesn't gives us a better chance at winning. But they're detailed.
They're detailed people and players, and they care, they're committed
about trying to take the next level in their careers
and so it shows a lot, you know, from them,
and we're happy to have them.

Speaker 1 (22:45):
And then what are the next steps for you and
the team going into next week's matchups?

Speaker 7 (22:49):
Well, listen, we were able to play. I thought, uh,
you know, closer to sixty minutes tonight, and there's a
lot of unfortunate bounces, and you know what, I think
it's just understanding really what's going to allow us to
have success. And you know, I think tonight there were
some moments in the game where you know, we finish

(23:12):
It looked like we were trying hard to finish second.
You know we could. We just worked hard enough to
finish second with you know, for our team to have success,
we have to be able to get into those in
the trenches and play difficult or hard moments in difficult areas.

Speaker 6 (23:29):
Thank you for your time, coach, good luck.

Speaker 4 (23:31):
I appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (23:32):
Thank you, Elliana diiper with the head coach, Steve potpfin Yeah,
Steve kind of touched on those perfectly.

Speaker 3 (23:40):
Again, it's all a process right now.

Speaker 2 (23:42):
It doesn't happen overnight, and with all the young talent
and the depth we have right now, it's it's been
kind of just meshing it all together and seeing what
works of all the different line combinations that we saw
over the weekend as well. I think once something some
of them start to stick, we'll see those be cemented
some more. And yeah, it just felt like we're playing

(24:02):
catch up in that Sunday night loss, and you know,
the team will need to work on what they need
to work on, and uh, you know have have game
plans set for this upcoming week.

Speaker 5 (24:15):
Yeah, that's the obviously don't want to lose. But it
was kind of the way the Rowners kept going back
was kind of you know, it was invested on Sunday
where sad Neo dropped out to it Tuesdaero leader early on,
but then Igor came back and and responded, and then
the goals got gott another goal and then but then

(24:35):
Sam Sam looking score another goal, so and then the
last goal is empty netter. So it was kind of,
uh one once again showing their owners fighting back. And
so they lost, but there was they should showed a
lot of promise in that game.

Speaker 4 (24:47):
I think.

Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, and every honestly, like as I said it before,
I feel like four of the five losses really all
losses Duson has been in the game. We saw the
opening night in Colorado, Duson was it was within one
goal and then Colorado scored insurance and won that match
three to one. We saw the two three to one

(25:08):
leads get diminished away in that weekend series against the
Texas Stars, with both which both games were close, Texas
just scored two late minute goals to win those matches.
We saw the loss against the Abbotsford Canucks, which was
tied nothing, nothing going into the third period, and then
we saw Abbotsford score and then that hit my Montana

(25:29):
on Yo Bucci put the road Runs in a tough
spot to try to kill off a five minute major
and lost that game three to nothing, which could have
gone either way.

Speaker 3 (25:38):
Two.

Speaker 2 (25:39):
And then we saw this game where Tucson didn't get
out played. They just San Diego just capitalized on their
chances and played great defense in front of the net
of Oscar Dance. So that's also the positivity, James. It's
not like the Road Runs are getting blown out each
and every of these losses. They've all been in every
single one of them. They were not particularly used to

(25:59):
losing these close games because that's all the Tucson Runners
won last year, where all the close games. But you know, again,
the five and five record doesn't show the talent of
this team. It doesn't show the games that this team
has been working hard and playing, and it's just it's
just how hockey works sometimes and you never know, maybe
the next ten games we go nine and two or

(26:20):
eight and two, and then now the first ten games
are something in the past. But again, you know, to
lose these tough, close games is hard. You know, you
don't want an instance where you look at the end
of the season and say, man, if we've gotten those
two points, we'd be in this position too. So hopefully
we don't have a lot more games like that, or at
least for the next three because again, the this next
road trip is huge. We saw in November last season

(26:42):
where Tucson went over to Henderson and Calgary to play
a couple of tough games there and that's when the
wins started kind of getting rolling for Tucsons. So maybe
it all it takes is for this next road trip
to get the wins together.

Speaker 3 (26:55):
We'll see the Roadrunners start rolling here.

Speaker 5 (26:58):
Yeah, they like obviously playing at home, of course, but
they especially last year, they had kind of had their reputation,
I mean, the road Runners because they play all on
the road, So maybe just getting on the road can
kind of help them, you know, kind of facing the
facing that anniversity of a tough crowd to play crowd
that's against you, where they get up and maybe it's
kind of made a situation where they they're on the road,

(27:19):
they just focus on hockey or whatever. You know that
they don't have to think about going to the grocery,
shopping or anything like that. They just focus on focus
on the game. So maybe that'll help. And you know,
it's another quick turnaround where last week they had it
was a practice week where it was all focused on practice,
where where this week it's almost all focused on games

(27:41):
with there's a game on Sunday, and then there's the
midweek game, and then there's two weekend games which are
on the first part of the weekend as supposed to
last weekend playing on Friday and Saturday.

Speaker 4 (27:50):
That the usual schedule. So it's a it's a it's
a big difference to play. It's a big, big difference
this week in terms of schedule.

Speaker 3 (27:58):
Yeah, it really is.

Speaker 2 (27:59):
We saw the nine day off for the team, came
off the floodgates with that Artum do their first career goal,
and the Saturday game second period didn't go well, but
then Tucson was able to close it out and then
thought really hard in the second game, but just couldn't
get that last goal to tie it up and then
San Diego winning it four to two. But yeah, you
know that's the turnaround, or I guess the equal this

(28:20):
of having the nine days off. Now you get three
games within the week. You had the game on Saturday
and Sunday and then the one on Wednesday. So it's
a quick turnaround for Tucson. But the quick turnaround aren't
the worst thing because then you don't have time to
think about things because you're in the next game. So
Tucson won't have to think much of this loss. They'll
have no time to think much because now it's a
game on Wednesday against Ontario, and then two days later

(28:45):
it's a game against the Henderson Silver Knights for a
two game series, So no time to think for the
Roadrunners as all, this loss will just be a thing
of the past, and again hopefully Tucson can get some
wins together on this three game road trip. Speaking of
rookies again, artam Duda got his first career goal in

(29:05):
the American Hockey League, but just what he's been through
throughout his career, not being able to play in the
NC Double A with the that ruling, uh going to
Toronto to play some college hockey, but really just hadn't
played much games. He hadn't had much experience, uh you know,
playing in those leagues and getting as ready as much

(29:26):
as he can. But man, James, it seems like Artam
Duda is fitting right into this Roadrunners lineup and he's
really starting to play big minutes for Tucson.

Speaker 5 (29:35):
Yeah, you think that there would be some more adjustment
period because he's he's so young and he didn't get
that as much experience at that top level, at that
top NSA level where uh you know, I mean on
able to play last year. But he's really stepped in
and you can't really tell that he's he's such a
new player. He's played really well, has a lot of
poise and has done really well.

Speaker 2 (29:56):
Yeah, fitting right in, he becomes the well he he
was at the time. The second Road Runs rookie to
get their or pardon, he is the third third Runners
rookie to get their first career goal this year. We
saw Maverick Lambruth score his first one over that weekend
series against the Texas Stars back in October. Sam Lipkin
scored his first goal last week in that five to
two victory against the abbots Ford Canucks on the Wednesday game.

(30:20):
Sam Lipkin also scored his second career goal in Sunday's loss.
And yeah, now we have those three rookies who have
all scored their first career goals. And I've really liked
the game of Sam Likin that he's been bringing to
the table.

Speaker 3 (30:35):
As of Lady's been playing hard minutes.

Speaker 2 (30:37):
He hasn't been playing many minutes because he's kind of
on that fourth line right now for Tucson, But as
he continues to play and continues to develop, he'll get
more minutes.

Speaker 3 (30:45):
And yeah, he looks good the last couple of games.
Two goals in his.

Speaker 2 (30:49):
Last three games after suffering that head injury to start
off the year.

Speaker 3 (30:53):
And yeah, he's coming to fruition here.

Speaker 5 (30:56):
It's good to see him come come up and dull
if you're remember last year, he came after the cold season,
but it's a hectic time where you're moving across the
country and you're you're changing from college hockey to pro hockey.
So it's not a lot of expected, probably more expecting
like a spark to come from And he started this
year with the head injury, but since then he's since

(31:17):
he's gotten them an line up. He's last few games,
he's played really well and we're really shown that that
talent that the Coyotes saw in them the draft him.

Speaker 3 (31:26):
Let's hear from Sam Lipkin.

Speaker 2 (31:27):
Eliana Deibert also caught up with Sam Lipkin after Sunday
Night's lost to talk to him about his second career
goal and just what his play has been becoming in
these past couple of games for himself.

Speaker 1 (31:40):
Dam not only your second goal of the season, but
also Montana's first point of the season. What does that
tell you about the growth of this team so far?

Speaker 3 (31:47):
Yeah, I think it means a lot.

Speaker 8 (31:48):
I think we have a lot of guys that can
contribute up and down our lineup. So yeah, it's great
to see.

Speaker 1 (31:54):
Awesome And can you take me through the moments of
that goal and what that play looked.

Speaker 6 (31:58):
Like for you?

Speaker 8 (31:58):
Yeah, he had a good d down and Uh, I
kind of just found myself alone in front, kind of
just hit off my skates. Lucky balance, but fortunate enough
for to go in.

Speaker 6 (32:06):
Thank you for your time.

Speaker 2 (32:09):
Yeah, yeah, James, it was kind of a weird goal, uh,
Montanaan Yubucci had a plenty of space at the right circle,
elected to walk it in, kind of threw it to
the net. I thought he maybe initially scored the goal first.
UH wanted to see who left the uh the players celebration,
because that play just looked like a chaotic net front presence.

Speaker 4 (32:30):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (32:30):
Somehow Sam Lukan got a skate on it.

Speaker 2 (32:32):
I don't know if it was a kick or not,
but uh, regardless, he was able to score the second goal.
And it's nice for him and Montagna and Yubucci to
connect on that one and Aku Rachu getting the assists.

Speaker 4 (32:44):
Yeah, that was funny.

Speaker 5 (32:46):
The where I sit in the press box is right
next to you, kind of on the booth over end.
You don't really when you do when you do the game,
you don't yell and the like it was yelling. So
it was kind of weird that that part that that
goal call came up and I was able to hear
that very clearly. Nothing I was trying to eat dropperately
but kill really well. I was like, oh, well, that's
kind of funny. I was able to hear that very clearly.

(33:08):
But it was interesting goal.

Speaker 3 (33:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (33:10):
I know, I'm always like how loud I really am
in that press box. I know, in the past everyone,
like you could hear Adrian so cleanly, but especially when
sometimes there's just not a lot of noise going on.
Maybe fans are just really focused on the on the
puck and you don't hear much for an instance, and
I'm like, man, I'm loud up here, Like everybody can

(33:31):
hear me. Everyone can hear me if I say a
player's name wrong or something. So in the moment, it's
like I kind of have to just forget I forget
about it and make sure, uh you know, I don't
care about the people listening to me. But yeah, it
was one of those weird moments where it's like, oh,
who scored the goal? I don't know, So I didn't
want to just predict it because it did look like
Montana's goal for a split second. I thought he was

(33:53):
able to walk in front and and bank it into
the net, which I thought would have been insane because
uh Montana new boots. He's a great d man, but
he's not the flashiest when it comes to the point
getting h even though he loves shooting it towards the
net when he has the chance to. But a very offensive,
skilled play for the second year Roadroads defenseman.

Speaker 5 (34:15):
Yes, it's a you know, like you said, he doesn't
get a lot of points, but he's one of those
guys who sets up a lot of plays with his
with this tough defensive players for checking everything and he
he you know, it was another great play by him
and another nicest show. He didn't have a kind of
a you know, kind of a hangover from from that

(34:36):
Weird Atmosphere series where he got ejected for the for
the hit in the first game, and he got ejected
for the weird rule, you know, the weird new rule
where you can't you can't drop your gloves right after
a face off, even though to me it wasn't like
right on.

Speaker 4 (34:51):
His face off was a few seconds after.

Speaker 5 (34:52):
So I don't know what the ruling was on that one,
but it was nice to see he didn't have kind
of hangover from missing those from that weird We're series
over an apaste.

Speaker 2 (35:01):
Yeah, he was called for the match penalty on that one,
but you know, looking at the video, it was not.

Speaker 3 (35:08):
A dirty hit at all.

Speaker 2 (35:10):
You know, the the player Friedman who was the one
who was hit, he was actually okay the whole time.
He was very he was actually responsive when he had
gotten hit Uh, he just they had to bring out
the stretcher because it was a protocol. He was even
saying he didn't want the stretchers, so he was conscious
the entire time, and it was just one of those
moments that uh, you know, Anyabucci was just he was

(35:32):
looking uh Friedman was looking down and Anybuchi was just
right there and had the shoulder out.

Speaker 3 (35:37):
But yeah, it was nice to see. It was nice
seeing Anybuci.

Speaker 2 (35:40):
He was okay after too, Uh wasn't too distraught about it,
you know, And sometimes that's just hockey, but uh, yeah,
Montana's been one of those the reliable defenseman for the
road Runners early on this season. Again, he's not the
flashiest when it comes to the points, but he is
back there and he is o reliable when it comes
to playing great defense and for any chances in front

(36:01):
of the net. And last night we saw the rarity
of him crashing in front of the crease and getting
a point and almost scoring his first goal of the season.
Let's also hear from Andrew Agazino again. Agazino with nine
points in his first ten games as a Roadrunner this year.
Him and Igor Sokolov the two biggest offseason acquisitions are

(36:22):
the top two point getters for the Roadrunners so far
in the first ten games of this season. Eliana Diibert
also caught up with Andrew after Sunday's game.

Speaker 1 (36:30):
Andrew, I know tonight's game wasn't what you expected. However,
there was an incredible assist set up in the second period.
With the success of that play, what was working well
with you and your team?

Speaker 8 (36:40):
I think it was a nice play by Connaton to
get up to me and Soco did a good job
getting open, finding some space, and Soko and I have
had some chemistry in years past and so far this year,
so it was just kind of one of those plays
that happens fast.

Speaker 1 (36:54):
Awesome and what do you believe are the next steps
for you and your team going into next week's matchups?

Speaker 8 (36:58):
Yeah, I think much of the same. Like we did
to We played pretty well. I think we did. We
had a few pucks drop our Wayne, we can easily
come up with a win there.

Speaker 6 (37:06):
Thank you for your time.

Speaker 3 (37:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (37:10):
Igor Sokolov and Andrew Agazino both playing in the Ottawa
Senators organization for a bit, also in Belleville as well,
so those two chemistry has now carried on into Tucson,
and yeah, that passed from Agazino from the blue line
of the San Diego zone from Kevin Kanna was a beauty.

Speaker 3 (37:32):
It was a beauty. Uh, it slashed the lead in half.

Speaker 2 (37:35):
And again the road Runs just had one of those
games where they they fought as much as they possibly could,
but uh, it just couldn't happen. And sometimes that's just hockey.
But again, this team is full of talent. It seems
has so much talent right now that not every guy
is in the lineup every single night. But that's just
how things go. And we'll just keep pushing forward and

(37:55):
try to get some wins in this upcoming road trip.

Speaker 4 (37:58):
Yeah, it's great too.

Speaker 5 (38:00):
You know, you see a guy like Agausina come in
and you expect because he has so much experience.

Speaker 4 (38:05):
I mean, it's so much experience. I'm looking at his
his page on here.

Speaker 5 (38:10):
His first three teams he played for Peorio, Lake Erie,
and San Antonio. Those those don't existing. I mean they
didn't exist, but they moved, you know, like lake Erie
moved to Cleveland, stuff like that. Santatuna, I think they
moved to Henderson. But he has so much experience that
a bunch of teams he played for don't exist anymore so,
but he's also you should also note that last night
he had a he had a great suit where you know,

(38:33):
we talked about that with with Brad Brad suit, but
he wore a either maroon or a dark red suit
kind of reminiscent of with the cut Cody's brass what
they wore the draft a couple of years ago.

Speaker 4 (38:44):
Was that it was a good look. So he's styling
off off the ice too.

Speaker 3 (38:49):
Yeah, he was.

Speaker 2 (38:49):
And Andrew Agazino, Yeah, he's he's been in the American
hockey like since two thousand and nine. I was eight
years old when he made his professional debut and now
fast forward all these years later, twenty three, he's still
playing hard in the league at thirty three years old.

(39:10):
Him and I go back to the San Jose bart
Couda days as well, when I was intered interviewing him
after those post games, and now we're interviewing him fast
forwarding to twenty twenty four here with the road Runners.

Speaker 3 (39:23):
So it's it's great to see him again.

Speaker 2 (39:25):
It's great to have him on the team, especially on
the on the two year deal within the whole organization.
You know, he can easily be a call up to
for the Utah Hockey Club with they need a veteran
presence to play the play the minutes because and drag
Zino does have some NHL experience under his belt as well.
So it's kind of those It's that instance again, James,
where you know, when Utah needs the next player called up,

(39:48):
if and when, who is it going to be. Is
it going to be Josh Done because he was reassigned
to Tucson to start playing first line minutes again to
you know, not saying get his groove, but just to
get the experience again and to start getting up the
points again.

Speaker 3 (40:05):
Is it gonna be Igor.

Speaker 2 (40:06):
Sokolov because he's off to a phenomenal star with the
fourteen points in ten games, one of the toppling scorers
in the American Hockey League. Is it going to be
Andrew Agazino because of his veteran presence and skills set
and his maturity to go out there and try to
help the team win games. Or it could be Aku Ratsu,
another guy that Utah might want to maybe see get

(40:28):
some more NHL games under his belt.

Speaker 3 (40:29):
So it really could be anyone.

Speaker 2 (40:31):
But that's also great because that means, you know, if
Igor Soklov is called up and yes, Huston wouldn't have
their best goal scorer, you still have the talents of
Andra Gazino, Aku Ratsu Miils Kelman, and potentially Josh Stones.
He's with the team too, So it's not like one
of those cases where you know, player gets called up
and all of a sudden you have no scoring.

Speaker 3 (40:51):
It's not the case for Tucson.

Speaker 2 (40:52):
And that's also a reason why you're confident in the
long run of this team for twenty four to twenty five.

Speaker 5 (40:59):
Yeah, that's one of the obviously one of the reasons
why you build up so much depth that when you
have guys get injured, or guys get injured for Utah
or you know, for whatever, we just gotta they want
to call people up for whatever reason, you have the
opportunity to if if the Igor gets called up, then
you have someone to step in and you know, fit
filling those points, fit fill in those minutes. And it's

(41:20):
something that you're talking to Steve about it. He's obviously
very He's a type coach you who feels bad about
Benji players or scratching players, but this is the opportunity
for them to get up and step up. And you
see that in practice where even if they're not playing
playing game minutes, there's still competing, still competing.

Speaker 4 (41:39):
For a spot and there and that that helped. That
makes everyone better.

Speaker 3 (41:43):
Yeah, it's it's an opportunity for everybody right now.

Speaker 7 (41:46):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (41:46):
And again, there's so much depth on the team that
not every single guy can play every night. And that's
just how it's going right now. But again, it's a
long hockey season. Cobs and injuries happen, and you know,
sooner or later, we're gonna everybody we need to help
us win games, just how last year win as well.
And it's all gonna start now with this three game

(42:07):
road trip for the Roadrunners going into Ontario this upcoming
Wednesday with a quick turnaround and then another quick turnaround
with two games against the Henderson Silver Knight. James, great show,
great week. It's a great week for Tucson five hundred
hockey going into the week. But I think things are
are going to start picking up for Tucson going into

(42:27):
this road trip and heading back home at the end
of November.

Speaker 3 (42:31):
Folks, We'll see you later this week.

Speaker 2 (42:33):
If you're listening today on this Veterans Day, we'll see
you Tuesday night for Roadrunners Happier. We'll see you on
Wednesday for puck drop at eight pm Mounts Standard time.
Roadrunners warm up at six forty five pm, and then
we will also see you and Henderson. We will throw
things out with lights to Tucson and we will see
you later on this week.

Speaker 3 (42:58):
Gotta see the line Tucson.

Speaker 8 (43:00):
You gotta pat don't get ave.

Speaker 6 (43:03):
Gotta see the lights of Tucson. You're coming back, quiz.

Speaker 8 (43:19):
Just been My little was there and City Candy isn't
messing with the kid, But Tucson.

Speaker 6 (43:25):
My heart is a yearning like Bronson.

Speaker 5 (43:27):
My wheels are yurning.

Speaker 4 (43:37):
Can't we be there with her in the Catalina's.

Speaker 8 (43:42):
The lights of to sunshining and in her heart?

Speaker 6 (43:50):
Illo be aloner?

Speaker 8 (43:53):
Well never Zona, he it.

Speaker 4 (43:57):
Isn't reaching the sky.

Speaker 8 (44:03):
You gotta see the lines are too song, I got
him back, Get you gotta see the lions are tou
song coming back? We got a new.

Speaker 4 (44:21):
You gotta see the lights are too soon.

Speaker 2 (44:24):
I got it back.

Speaker 4 (44:25):
The moon gotta see the light.

Speaker 6 (44:27):
It's too soon coming back.

Speaker 4 (44:30):
Will you gotta ball
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