April 30, 2025 • 45 mins
Voice of the Roadrunners Jonathon Schaffer and Arizona Daily Star's James Kelley look ahead to the 2025-26 season as the year comes to a close for the Roadrunners. They run through the season highs and lows, player performances and hear from Head Coach Steve Potvin on the year as a whole. They also review Utah's first two signings of the offseason and preview the young prospects expected to be on Tucson's 2025-26 roster.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
When you want more Roadrunners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the two Soon Roadrunners Insider Podcast with a
voice of the road Runners, 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 them right here on your two Son
Roadrunners Insider Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
The twenty four to five season has come to an end,
but we're still rolling on here for this week's episode
of the two Soon Roadrunners Insider Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
My name is Jonathan Schaffer.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Alongside me Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly and James we
have a lot to talk about. The season has come
to a close of some of the guys have left
for their homes already. Some guys are getting ready to
leave at their exit interviews with the coaching staff and
John Ferguson as well. And it was a very very
(00:57):
tough series against Abbittsford, a hard fought series, a very
hard fought season as a whole, but it all comes
to an end.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Lost the Game three.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Of the best of three series against ATMOSOPOHD five to
nothing on Saturday night, was able to force to Game
three on Thursday with an impressive four to one victory.
Lost Game one last Wednesday four to three. It was
a back and forth series overall, took all seventy two
games to clinch that final spot for the Roadrunners and
it sucks that is all come to an end, but overall,
(01:30):
still very proud of this team, a lot to still
be a proud four and we're now looking onto the
twenty five twenty six season. We'll hear from head coach
Steve Povin shortly as well as we caught it with
him for our Happy Hour show that's actually just gonna
be a podcast version this week and can check that
out at Tucson Roaders dot com slash Happy Hour. But
we heard from him as we interviewed him with Kim
(01:51):
Kodorobaz and I earlier on. And yeah, we're just a
lot to talk about. It's the end of the season.
It sucks now we have so much time on our hands,
but now we have a lot of time to prepare
and re group and uh, you know, rejuvenate for this
next season. And uh, you know, all good things come
to an end. But another great year will start next season,
(02:13):
and uh, we're just looking forward to that now.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Yeah, there's you know, obviously situations where fans are kind
of almost happy the season ends. You know, they're like, oh,
this team is so bad, we're happy the season for them.
But usually obviously it's it's disappointed for the season. But
I think that's kind of more disappointed this year because
they're they're a group of guys who you talked about,
you guys talked about it last week on the Happy
Hour Show, how how much they wanted to fight for
each other, how much they want to continue in order
(02:39):
to keep playing with each other, and that that that
reminded me about when I talked to after last greg
season game, when when I talked to k Kyli got
motive about the kind of that weird situation where he
got he moved down, because usually we did get moved
moved down from the NHL, especially someone who's been a
HL for as long as he has, you're disappointed, but
it's it's he got moved out for the playoffs basically,
(03:00):
so you know, the last couple of games in the playoffs,
So what's that situation like for him? And he's like, oh, no,
I love playing with these guys. It was really exciting.
And he's the guy who when you talk to him,
he's I don't say you know, you know, but he's
more kind of more business like in responses. But when
he did when I did mention that, when he did
talk about that, he's like his eyes like literally lit up.
So it's disappointing that, you know, for the guys, that
(03:21):
they're not going to get to play together and it's
fun to watch them. And it's also from you know,
the media perspective, from the pan perspective, it's disappointing too,
because the Runners are really fun to watch this year.
They obviously their style, their aggressive style, which would have
been awesome to see them in a longer series like
a five games series, seven games series, see that Runner
in a style over that many games against the same team,
that would have been wild. And they're also you know,
(03:41):
we talked about the goalies to make these crazy saves
and crazy high I saves every single game. And then
they other than obviously the last game, they've been showing
some really impressive goals lately. You know, they they've always
had a great variety goals, but they've had some really
good looking goals, So I think that really fun to watch.
So I think that All was kind of poor poorer
(04:01):
for not having the roaderners for their season, you know,
and disappointing, you know that we're not gonna get to
see anymore. But it was a great season, you know.
And then the team did really well to hold off
Pictures Film and get in the playoffs again, and it
was a it was a good, hot, hard post series.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, especially how dramatic All was, right, James, you know,
we we started the year off a bit slow five
hundred hockey. We had some good wins, some really bad losses,
and then we ended off before the holiday break on
that six game winning streak, and then we only won
three over our next fifteen in total, including including an
(04:37):
eight game of lot eight game losing streak, and then
we went to the All Star Cameron heab It got
the All Star bid, you know, for the first time
in his career, and then we signed in Sammy Walker.
He has a great run with Tucson, and then overall
we we get the great story of Yamamoto, who was
(04:58):
put on waivers beginning to see in earned just that
the respect of everybody coming back for that big win
against Bakersfield near the end of the season. You know,
the the goaltending shifts as well, Jackson Stabber getting the
first shutout in Utah Hockey Club history, Valalta getting his
first win in the National Hockey League, and our captain
(05:18):
aust mcgansky having a career year in his first season
as a captain, in his entire career, and just so
many great stories all throughout the year. It sucks that
it's all over, but again, every season is an opportunity
to you know, get better. It's an opportunity to you know,
continue to grow. We have a very exciting team for
(05:41):
next season, for the ten year anniversary coming up.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
We'll get into that shortly.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But yeah, it's just, you know, even though the record
wasn't as good as the year prior, you know, just
over five hundred at thirty four to thirty two, four
and two. You know, to get all the way to
the last give of the season, the clinch playoffs as
as you said, James holding Baker's Field off and just
fighting and clawing all the way through was impressive. And
the fact that you took Abbotsford to the final game
(06:07):
of that three game sets and you had Abbotsford a
bit nervous probably going into that one, and you know,
the last game didn't go good, you know, losing five
nothing and not really you know, having any chance, right.
You know, it was just just the way things gone.
But you know, you got some games out of it.
You got a masterful performance from Jackson Stobborn game two,
(06:30):
the Force game three, and uh, you know that's a
confidence builder for next year as well. We also have
some free agency news to break as including Jackson and
Stobbard that we'll talk about shortly. But uh yeah, overall
is just an amazing year. Uh and we are just
we're just happy for these guys that they were able
to punch their tickets to playoffs four straight years now
(06:51):
with the team being in the playoffs and James, I
hate to say it, but I think that hump now
is just getting to that second round.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
We've just been so close.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
We've you know, we've two years ago, got Coachella Valley
in that elimination game. Last year, lost two games against
Calgary this year, same as two years ago, got Abbots
for the elimination game. Four years ago was the COVID year,
so it was kind of you know, it was technically
a playoff game, but you know can count that as
you well, but you know, now four years in a
row where you've made playoffs but you haven't been able
(07:20):
to get to the second round. I think that's starting
to become the Okay, guys, like this is now starting
to become the hump, and we just need to get
over that now for next year.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Yeah, it kind of says a lot about the kind
of program that the coaching staff and the you know,
the front office and even the bets like like hey
Big and Baron and guys like that had built up
that we're kind of disappointed that, well, their seventh seed
and they didn't upset the two seeds. You know, it's
kind of crazy to think about it, but there you
know one thing that we didn't mention last week that
(07:49):
I forgot about, and Kyler had brought it up when
asked them about the regular season the success they had,
and I was like, was it does that matter? Was
it so long ago? Because like the team has changed
so much, and it's like, well, I I don't know
if it matters because they they're bringing so many guys
from the NHL. And that's one thing that I didn't realize.
So I looked up, I was like, well, they they
brought in seven players for the playoffs and that last
(08:10):
couple of games. So you know, obviously Runners, I'm brought
in brought back Matt Valta and and and Tyler, but
the there were seven guys that the Atmosford Cannucks brought
back and so and they're always a good team that
you know, they're during the regors season, there always a
good team at home. They're one of the best teams
at home. And and that's even though during the regal
(08:31):
season they didn't get the most fans support in the
league obviously, but the in then this in the series
against two, so they kept getting more and more until
they had almost to sell out for that last game.
So that was kind of a boost for them, I think.
And so I think that also makes it kind of
a tougher series if you look at it. But the
Runnerners they had a good effort. Obviously we looked at
that first game where they lost four to three, but
(08:51):
they had they had a chance to tie it up
at the end with that kind of crazy penalty shot.
You know, in terms of not that they lost because
because they missed that shot, but because they're so close
that they were in that first game that they just
lost by a goal, and he kind of looked back like, oh,
if they would have scored that, they would have tied obviously,
so and then obviously get the big win in game
two and in game three. Is kind of weird, you know,
because you look at the scoring, like, oh, while he
(09:13):
got killed. But for for the most part, other than
the shots, they gave a ton of shots that was
that was crazy. But for the most part they played
pretty well, except for they weren't able to ultimately score
score and obviously, you know, you have to score in
order to win the game, so so they weren't gonna
win that game anyway. But but it was a wild
series and it's a really really good showing I think
(09:34):
for the Road owners.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, it was a good showing.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I mean we said at all in time and time
this year that this team does not back down. It
never backed down a single game this year, despite any
of the scores, and you know, it was just a
tough Game three. I mean, I just think Abbotsford saw
the severity of the situation and saw that you know,
they were just lost away from getting upset by team
(10:00):
that took all seventy two games to make playoffs, and
I think they realized that. And you know, and even
in game one was close too, you know, we were
down four to one, almost came back.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Zuber just got it.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
It just got you know, blanked on the on the
shootout attempt at the end of the game. She also
made a good save on him. Then dominated game two,
and you know, I think Abbotsford realized that they couldn't
mess around anymore. I mean even in that first game,
you know, when they had a four to one lead,
we we dominated the second half and almost came back,
and then we had the full play for Thursday in
(10:33):
the game two, and then yeah, I think Abbotsford started
to realize, like, oh, we can't be messing around anymore.
And I think they they really clamped it down and
that's when they had the full dominant win. And you know,
Jackson Stouber was fabulous in the playoffs for US. Thirty
eight saves on thirty nine shots in game one, actually
the most saves ever for Roadrunners goaltender in a single
(10:55):
playoff game in history now, so he's on the history
books for that. So first shutout in team history for
the Utah Hockey Club and most saves in a playoff
game in Roadrunners history. So some big athletes for Jackson
Stober and then he played a lot better or he
played just as good in Game two as well. But
as you just said, James, I mean, don't put up
any goals. You gotta lose regardless. And also Abasford put
(11:17):
up twenty shots in that first period and it was
just so tough for Stober to try to keep up
with all of it. And speaking of Jackson Stobber, James,
big news coming today as our free agency has.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Already started, right.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I made a move earlier on this week for a
player we'll mention shortly from Europe.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
But today big news.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Stoppers signed to a two year two way contract with
the Utah Hockey Club and Roadrunners as well. With the
two way contracts, so Tucson's already being aggressive. We've gone
our goalie back to keep that depth right, you know,
with with Bimilka and Ingram still with the Utah Hockey
Club and now we'll have the Walton Stober you know
in the mix as well. And it's good. I love
(11:58):
this sign so far. I mean, I don't think there's
any other uh, you know, good goalies you can get.
You know, it's a tough league to sign guys and
especially bring guys into you know, a team like Tucson
that has a guy like Volalta already, so to bring
stabbur in and you know, provide that one two punch
for the Roadrunners for year number ten coming up, It's
it's huge and especially that's a two year contract.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Yeah, it was kind of surprising, not that not that
it resigned, you know, although I mean is kind of
a little surprising because they have so much depth the
goalie it's type well that there's so much, so much
after they but I was kind of surprised that he
resigned so quickly because usually he kind of see this
stuff more like in you know, after the call a
Coup playoffs, after the Santy Club playoffs Onmian like in
June or like July, you know, that kind of stuff.
(12:40):
So I was kind of surprised to see that. But
I think it speaks for all the organization that they're
that they're able to keep guys like this. And uh,
you think that with the season that Jackson had, where
he had he played well start the season in the
hl and he moved up and he played really well
for for Utah and then he came back and played
got It was a little slow to get his form
(13:03):
back that he had earlier in the season, but then
he got back, and then he got another call up
and then he came back and obviously he had the great,
great close close to the season in terms of those
those last two playoff games, playing playing well. So it's
it's really you know, it's really impressive. How about how
the season in the end and he looking he probably
his stop was probably really high in terms of how
(13:23):
well he played on this year. So it's really impressive
to me for the Rowners and you know, for for
Euton the road owners to resign a guy like that.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
The Roaders have also are are to Utah Hockey Club
technically speaking. They also made a move during the first
week of the playoffs while we were in Abbotsford, the
team signing and I apologize if I butchered this name.
We'll get the name obviously eventually, but signing Michael Kons
if I think that's how you say his name, Michael
Coons to a contract, one year, two way deal. Uh.
(13:54):
He played, He's played a lot of years in the
Czech Republic only at twenty four years old. Recent season
thirty five points in forty nine games played. So that's
another solid player, James, that we're bringing in. Uh, you know,
presumably you know, at least starting the year with with Tucson. Uh,
you know, just as another formidable forward that the Roadrunners
(14:14):
will gladly have for the roster, staying at you know,
six eighty seven. So not a big guy, but you know,
maybe just a Yamamoto type or Walker Sammy Walker type
of player, a guy who can you know, get into
the soft spots and make create offense for themselves. And
especially he's had so many seasons already in professional hockey.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
So uh, you know, a couple of.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Good signings already for Tucson, bringing back Jackson Stobbur and
then signing a good forward from the Czech League.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Yeah. I don't know a lot about them, to be honest,
but I think that when you look at the the
track record that first Arizona and then now you tah
and you know, obviously the Roadhuurners in that mix too.
Their scouting departments had and bringing guys from Europe, especially
from guys from Chechia they've had a lot of success
that so it looks like he's, you know, he will
(15:00):
be a big signing for them. You know, it looks
like he he's gonna have a promise sing you know,
career in either two Son or Utah or both or whatever.
So it looks like good signing to me.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, good signing so far.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
And you know, every every American Hockey League offseason, James
has tons of turnaround, right you know, we we know
guys who are going to be back already. You know,
Stobur being signed today, Kevin Cannaught and Agazina on two
two year contracts. Douglas will be back next season with
Paganski as well. You know, they're just the guys off
(15:33):
the top of my head on two year deals. But
then then you have the guys who have been with
us for years, but they're they're on one year contracts
this season and they're technically going to be free agents
coming up. And uh, but no, we we'll sign guys
from the outside as well. We'll have other prospects coming in.
You know, we have our prospects on the on the
entry level deals with Utah, but uh, there's they're expected
(15:53):
turnaround as it always is. I mean, we had a
big turnaround from last season to this year. Uh and
now we're going to get a turnover from this year
next year. And it's just always gonna be different with
you know, what opportunities guys get, what trades we make.
But you know one thing that is I am not
worried about as all is what you know, John Ferguson
will do to make this Roadrunners team still you know,
(16:16):
still a Cup contender, right. You know, we went into
this offseason, or we went into this season thinking the
road Runners were a Cup contender. Obviously didn't go as planned,
but you still made a playoffs. You still fought all
throughout the season to make the postseason. And now you know,
with a full reset and seeing what we can do
and the guys who are gonna be playing for us,
(16:36):
with Owen Alard and Noel Nord who had a fantastic
seasons with the Sue Greyhounds, Migo Metica in year number two,
will you know, just the ceiling is still up for
him and Julian Lutz a good second half of the
year with you know, Maximilian Zuber and Ardam Duda still
developing well for the road Runners in addition to that,
and Sam Lipkin who scored ten goals quickly to start
(16:57):
the year and kind of fizzled out. So you know,
if he finds a way to keep that pace out,
he can uh, you know, create some damage for us too. So, uh,
you know, it's always exciting going into a new season
when you have the young, hungry prospects and then just
the veterans we either retain and keep back, and then
the the veteran players that we're going to get from
the outside either trade or via signing to you know,
(17:18):
two year contracts or HL contracts as well.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Yeah, you the HL is funny in terms of the
contracts are usually you know, two ideals are usually one
or two years, and then the HL contracts aren't used
that long either, so you expect a lot of turnover.
But for the Runners, it seems like there's a lot
of familiar faces every year. Obviously you'll bring in new
guys like Conon and Soacloth and stuff like that, but
there's a lot of there's always a lot of guys
(17:42):
that come back. So that's really interesting that you know
that they're able to build that up and the guys
want to come back and that that to me shows that, uh,
you know, the organization is strong, and you know, because
obviously guys still want to come back, still want to
be here, and they the last year Arizona and this
year Utah, they've shown that they're they're more then we
willing to bring guys up, even if even this year
when they changed their philosophy a little bit when they're
(18:04):
trying to when Utel is trying more to get to
the playoffs. So instead of ending that rebuilding phase like
last year, now we're kind of Uta Hopus has kind
of changed, but they still remained with the Roaders still
trying to sell philosophy, is still trying to get the
guys in the playoffs, get them deep in the playoffs,
get them more competitive hockey. So that's, uh, I think
that's gonna be interesting to look at when you look
(18:24):
at the off season, look at the guys who they
want to bring in, look at the guys who they
who they want to bring back, and you know, and
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Let's get to our sound of this episode. So we
did a little things a little bit differently here. So
our last episode of Roads Happy Art that is available
now at Tucson Roaduns dot com slashed Happy Hour did
not go on air, so we just had released the
podcast version. We caught up with our head coach Steve
Potvin just talking about the season overall, what he was
(18:52):
proud of, what he learned. A great interview again check
that out at two soon Roadners dot com slash Happy Hour.
But here's a snippet of that, just asking Steve, you
know what he thought were what were his thoughts overall
this season? You know, what was he proud of and
how were we going to look on to the twenty five,
twenty sixth year now? And you know it's it's never
(19:13):
easy to be a head coach, but Steve definitely does
make it easy and once again had another successful season
with the Roadrunners.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Well, exactly what you said. I think we went through
a lot, and I think when you're going through a
lot in the moment, you don't really know how it's
going to impact or improve your team or improve your players.
Speaker 6 (19:33):
You know, we definitely made a lot of improvements and
I think, you know what, it was a successful season.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
Of course, all of us would like to see us,
you know, get past that first round. I think we're
getting closer and closer, but you know, just the importance
of communication and leadership and understanding a plan. You know,
I think is is urgent for for the players in
the and the coaches next season. I think it's it's
(19:59):
important for everyon body to be aligned and understand exactly
what the vision is and how we're going to go
about achieving you know, the vision and you know, furthering
our mission just exactly that.
Speaker 7 (20:13):
I think we always had valued leadership and communication, but
it has to continue to evolve and broaden and you
know what we've got to our mission has always been
to to really, sorry I should say our vision has
always been to create leaders and you know, going through
(20:34):
the season that we just did and had, it just
reinforces the importance of leadership. Everybody wants a leader.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
Everybody you know needs a leader to be able to
you know, guide their their systems, their their companies to
higher levels. And so that's you know, it has to
be at the forefront, is to create good people and leaders.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yeah, James, that's the that's the big thing, right, I
Mean we we always talk about players developing and uh,
you know, having a rookie season and going into year
number two and you know, continuing to get better every year.
But you don't talk about that with coaches as much
and just as as it is for players and us
working in media and everybody in this industry. You want
(21:21):
to get better not only every day, but you want
to find a way to really get over that, uh,
for for the next season and really step it into
next level. And uh, same goes for for Steve Poppin, right.
You know, he's learning every season of what he can
do better. What you know, what he doesn't need to
do anymore, I don't know, but it's just the same
as him for all the players. So he's gonna learn
(21:43):
a lot from this season. He's gonna apply what he
needs to do better for the Roadrunners to even have
more success for next year.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
I think when people think about the off season for
pro athletes, for coaches, think of them relaxing or whatever,
playing golf or whatever. But for him it's very much intense.
I think a lot we talked about after one of
the like meet and greets or whatever with the with him,
like a couple of years ago, the couple of summers ago,
(22:13):
you asked him about what he thought about the the
called the Cup finals and the Stanley Cup finals or whatever.
And he the way he was watching it was he's
watching it for two good ideas, help their own the nurse,
get tips for for for them to get better, for
them and coaching, even though you know they're two different,
you know, and especially in Achel, it's way different, you know,
different teams and everything. So he's he's the guy who's
always gonna he's the guy who's always gonna be focused
(22:35):
on getting the team better. And he's kind of I
don't want see obsessed, but you know, really really into
that because I think that he's a guy who can
who can work really hard but healthily. You know a
lot of coaches, you know that they get they work
too hard and they get physically, they they don't sleep
that much, they don't they don't eat that much or whatever,
they don't exercise that much. But he's the guy who
obviously exercises a lot and you know he seeps well.
(22:56):
You know, he's a guy who he keeps in, keeps
taking takes care of himself. So he's not he's a
guy who he works hard, but he works hard responsibly.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
I think, yeah, and James, and speaking of I mean
it has been a crazy show of what the playoffs
have been so far in both the American Hockey League
and the National Hockey League. I mean, I guess for
the NHL, first you have three different you have or
I guess after last night when Dallas beat Colorado, you
(23:27):
had all four matchups in the Western side all at
two apiece and going into game five, and we have
more games fives going on today. Dallas getting the win
last night, so they're up three to two, and then
on the Eastern Conference side it's all three to one,
where Toronto's up three to one, Florida's up three to one,
Washington's up three to one, and Carolina's up three to one.
(23:48):
But Toronto's gone some overtime wins. So it has been
to think this is only round one and we're still
not even done with it yet. I mean, I feel
like it's been over what just over a week now
of first round playoffs. Some games left, and we'll talk
about HL playoffs in a moment, but just it's been
so fun to to watch that, and I'm sure Steve
will use that again and watch all these high moment
(24:10):
NHL playoff games and see what he can learn just
from what the coaches and players do for these huge games,
for that Stanley Cup.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Yeah, there was a thread post or a thread thread
or whatever they call that. Someone that someone put up
that that was right before it was during the NHL
clasts when they were going direct before the HL claffs started,
and he he tweeted, or you know, he threaded, whatever
you call it. He said, playoff hockey is like watching
a toddler get too close to the edge of the
(24:39):
swimming pool for three hours and that kind of well,
you know, it's just such a such a battle, you know,
in the HL, and I'm sure in the e CHL
and obviously in the NHL. So it's just so many
close series, so many you know. I caught the end
of the It was funny. I kind of you know,
caught the end of the the Kings and the Oilers
(25:00):
the day and I was say, oh, it just looks
like kind of going back to the HL. It looks
just like watching their reign against the condors again. But
and so that's why I started watching this, That's how
I got interested in me because I was watching guys
who was watching four and it was just great, a
great comeback and great, great, great great game, the enforced
overtime for Edmonton. But it's just so many, so many
commenctive games such so intense.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Yeah, and how about the American Hockey League playoffs, right,
we've it has once again been proven that it does
not matter what seed you are, you can win that
first round. Biggest upsets of this playoffs so far, I
mean there's two of them, right, Uh, Rockford being Chicago
in two games as a losing team getting into the playoffs,
(25:41):
but now they have Milwaukee coming up in the best
of five, so that's going to be quite insane. Second
year in a row where the Lee High Valley Phantoms
upset the Wilkesbury's Grand Penguins, so they will match up
against Hershey once again.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Springfield, who also barely.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Gone to the playoffs with just an over five hundred
record took Providence to a gain three, but Providence ended
up winning. Cleveland, who was technically a lower seed than Toronto,
beat them in two games. San Jose upset Ontario in
two games as well. Coachella Valley did end up being Calgary,
which technically is not an upset, but we did see
that three overtime, three overtime game one last Monday. But yeah,
(26:19):
how about the American Hockey League playoffs. It's been all
upsets all over the board, and even Tucson was right there.
We forced Davitsford into a Game three, so there wasn't
a higher seed that even swept the lower seed. All
lower seeds won and the only time a higher seed
one two of the three times Coachella Valley did clean
sweep Calgary, but the other two was the Providence Bruins
(26:41):
having to be Springfield in game three and then Tucson
losing to Abbotsford in game three as well. So it
was all really close and it just shows that the
best of three series is quite insane. Agree with it
if you want, don't disagree if you think it should count.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
You know a lot of people say the three game
series is not good, but again, if you're a lower
seed team, you love the best of three because just
like us, we were one win away from advancing onto
the second round, just like that. So I think for future,
whoever seed the Roadrunners are in, you know you're going
into a series against a team that doesn't want to
lose either, whether we're the higher seed. We saw how
(27:17):
that went, and now even twice or two. Of the
three years we've been in the seventh seed, we've been
able to least get to Game three. But again James
is just getting over that hump to get into a
round number two. But once again HL playoffs showing that
does not matter what seed you're in, as long as
you get into the playoffs, you have just as equal
as a chance of everybody else. And now I'm excited
(27:38):
to see these next games with Colorado and San Jose.
I mean, San Jose just beat Ontario in two games.
Abbots for and Coachelle Valley's gonna be a very fun
series to watch. Who knows what Rockford has up their sleeve,
but they have a tough matchup ahead, but they did
beat Chicago in two games. Texas and Grand Rapids are
starting off tonight, are actually their first game already, are
(28:00):
already happening yesterday. And then Lee High Valley and Hershey,
Charlotte and Providence Laval Rocket in Cleveland. That's gonna be
a fun series because leval just lost their starting goaltender.
Rodford and Syracuse and then yeah, so that's all the
matchups for round two. It's gonna be fun. And now
we're gonna get the still keep up with h L
and NHL playoffs.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Yeah, you've talked about it for weeks now. I think
at this point where the point of the playoffs is
just to get in because it's so there's so much
parody and someone so many upsets and and you know,
if you just get in, then you can do well,
and then he would obviously proven really right with that.
It's a it's as far as the three game first
round goes, I'm kind of on the fence because in
(28:41):
some ways I like it, like it offers a lot
of upsets, But on the other hand, if you have,
like a he plays seventy two games, and then if
you have a one bad get one bad night, or
you know, one bad night plus the other same pleasure,
well then you're done, you know. So it's kind of
unforgiving that in that sense, but also and so on
forgiving like that it adds up the intensity. I also
like the thematic version of it, where it's as you
(29:01):
get deeper in the playoffs, it gets more and more intense.
Whereas three games in the first round, then five games
in the divisions of my finals and division finals is
best of five again, and then the commerce Finals is
the past of seven and then the Colic Finals obviously
best of seven. So it's I kind of like, how
builds up like that, and it's again, it was weird
this year. I heard a bunch of people on social
(29:22):
media and even even one media guys saying that like, oh, well,
there's too many teams or it's twenty three teams in the playoffs.
It's weird, blah blah blah. But to me, I love
how it works because it's it's Taylor toward the teams,
you know, it's it's each division's section of the playoffs
is set up so that it's it's what's best for
the division, Like especially with the Pacific Division, when you
have ten teams, you know, seven teams get in and
(29:43):
you have the top team get a bye, and then
the other team is playing a big first round, the
biggest first round of all the leagues, of all the HL.
So that that's really intense and there's a lot to
play for their regular season because usually if you're like
playing in the playoffs and you're like, oh, well, you
know what, what's what is for the four seed or
the five seed or a three seed, what doesn't really matter?
But in this format, there's so much to play for
(30:06):
because there's so much difference. You know, the first round,
the champion gets to buy in, the second team gets
the team that are laying in the playoffs, and three
seed plays the six seeds and stuff like that, and
there's huge epistween four and five obviously getting the host
the whole series versus not getting the any home games.
And then even if you're the eighth place team ninth
place team, you still stopt to play for it because
you still have a chance to get in. So you
(30:28):
look at the pacifvisions like that and the other divisions
they like in the North Division there's only two teams
playing in the first round, and then three teams get
to buy and then it's kind of, I like how
it's Taylor Twitter East Division. What works what works best
for them, an each division is set up which works
best for each team, because like if you look at it,
like and if if this really kind of I mean
(30:49):
injur League format too soon would be like in the
you know, Tuson would be in the Central Division or something,
they'd have to play Division of games against Milwaukee and
Grand Rabbids and stuff like that, just because like, oh, well,
there's so many California teams. But the way they for
the HL is they have so many teams at the
Pacific and so they changed the way the playoffs work
for that. And when you have a playoffs like this
(31:09):
where there's only three you know, three games of a stround,
it makes things so much more intense, so much more
to play for try and get that home homeless advantage.
An even when you do that, it doesn't it may
not help. Because we saw that with with with coachil
Valley a couple of years ago and this year with
Abosphere and Tucson where they Tucson push push to the
series to limit so that it's a to me, it's
(31:32):
really good for me.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Yeah, it's all the just the format, James, And yeah,
we want we want these guys to get playoff experience.
And for us, we got months of it, right, you know,
with having the you know, every game really counting in
the standings and keeping an eye on Bakersfield and actually
tying them in points at the end because Condors got
did their part. But then we were just able to
(31:55):
get that last win and sneak in the playoffs and
then all of a sudden We're in a best of
three Game three against Abbotsford and that was that was
just it for the the first round for us, and
it was really close.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
It was awesome.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
We had the three watch parties at Cold Beers and
Cheeseburger's main event and Barrio Brewing Cohert hearing that those
all went well and those were a really fun time
so you know, it's just still a great way to
end the year. Fans were awesome all throughout the season
with all of our promotions, our community events, our team
events as well. It was a really fun twenty four
to twenty five season. And going back on Grand the
(32:29):
Grand Rapids in Texas Stars, that game, that series actually
starts tonight and James, this is how crazy these these
ahl schedules can be for the playoffs. The Grand Rapids,
Griffins and Texas Stars start off their series tonight, but
then they don't play again till next Monday.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
That's why I got a little flipped flopped.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Their next game is not for six more days and
it's still in Grand Rapids, so that means Texas is
playing in Grand Rapids tonight for game one, they have
to wait six days for game two. I don't know
if they're staying there entire the entire week, going back
home and then coming back to Grand Rapids. That sounds
like a hectic travel schedule, but that's just, uh, that's
just what happens when all this arena availability goes out.
(33:08):
The way, we had to put take all of our
gear out of the Abbotsford Center and put it back
in on the same day because the Abbotsford Center had
a at a comedy show. It was Seinfeld and uh
even we saw Ontario have the scheduling conflicts with Disney
on ice, which is why they played at Crypto dot
Com Arena. Might have maybe not even might have not
(33:29):
helped them with the series at all because they just
had no big crowds, right. It was a really really
empty arena, probably too big. And that's just another thought
I had, like, what it's so tough with all this
arena availability for the playoffs in addition to all the scheduling.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
It's kind of it's kind of well, when you look
at it, with the once the regal season ends, it's
kind of for free for all in terms of how
the scheduling works. I remember last year there was you know,
obviously with the first round of staggered. It wasn't like,
uh not that a little segre, but there's a dates.
I mean, it wasn't like this year where there's two
games in a row, two two nights, and then they
had off night and then they played again. But there
(34:07):
there's one game where the Sugar Schools had a game
run after and they had to convert it really quickly.
I remember that. So it's it's just kind of wild.
It's funny to see end it's it's kind of it's
kind of one of those fun things about you know,
if the Roaderners had advanced and gotten home games, it
probably would have been going. You'd be going to the
game when it's like ninety threes outside, and so it's
just it's just always fun when you have hockey in
(34:29):
the late spring and slash summer. So it's it's just
it's it's always just fun to have that playoff weather.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Yeah it was.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
It was absolutely gorgeous and abbots for two all six
days we were there, it really did feel like playoff
hockey weather, and yeah, it's warming up here. We were
bummed that we couldn't get that that those two host
games which would have been on Friday and Sunday this week.
But you know again, you know, be proud of this team.
This team went through so much adversity all throughout the year. Uh,
(34:56):
it was it was a constant grind where it was
at the point where it was two straight months of
games that felt like playoff like games to reach the playoffs.
And then you took the Abbotsford Canucks, where the best
team in the AHL going into playoffs, to take them
all the way to Game three was quite impressive. And
just all the storylines this season of you know, kyler
Yawamoto being put on waivers, going through them and you know,
(35:18):
proving that he still belongs in both the NHL and
just is a pro player in total, which just the
attitude he had. Cameron Hebig making the All Star for
his first year or for a first time ever, getting
a contract, and also having career highs in all the stats.
In addition to that, playing in game number two hundred
and eighty with the Roadrunners, which is now an all
(35:39):
time franchise high. Paganski his first year as a captain,
having his best career yet statistically, Ben McCartney his second
half resurgeons, Sammy Walker's mid season trade to really help
the Roadrunners make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Ardam do that.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
Maximilian Zeeber's you know development as a whole. Agazino reaching
point number six hundred is American Hockey League career. Cannoden
is just continuing to be that forefront presence as a
as a blue liner with the assistant captain as well.
There's just so many accolades that we can name throughout
this season that we hit and though the record didn't
(36:15):
show it, this team had the talent, it had the grit.
We played the Roadrunner style hockey to get there, and
you know, sometimes it just doesn't all come together. But
that's why you have an offseason. That's why you have
a new season. That's why you bring guys back. And
you know, with the guys we bring back, the guys
we trade for or you know, are able to sign
in free agency, and the rookies as well, it's gonna
(36:37):
be a very fun exciting team to watch, especially with
year number ten coming up with Tucson as well. With
the Roadrunners being in Tucson will get me celebrating the
tenth year anniversary with some cool jerseys, some logo designs.
There's a lot to happen still that we'll announce as
this offseason goes on. But it's gonna be fun. It's
gonna be a fun ten year anniversary season. And let's see,
(36:59):
I the road Runs can make some always with it, you.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Know they if you haven't been by the Runner website recently,
they do. They did put up the tenth ten season logo.
That's really cool. I love let me look at that.
Another thing about the the great stories, there's obviously the
the Juggernaut line was just just a great story this
whole year, and especially at the end of the year
when helping the Runers get in the playoffs, and then
that in that first game they lost four to three,
(37:24):
they're involved in all the all three of the goals,
and Travis Barron had another big night in game two,
and so it was just, you know, they kind of
really epitomized the Roadrunners way, those three guys, and it's
it's it's fun to see see them go out there,
and it's fun to see Chris Douglas come back, and
you know they're they're you know, a great, great combination
(37:44):
right there.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
Yeah, great combination.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
That that's another really good storyline, James, and it's just
all good storylines throughout this u throughout this entire season.
We'll be entering year number ten of the Roadrunners history
in Tucson. Just unfortunately couldn't that last win to bring
the playoffs back to the old Pueblo. But that's what
next year is for, That's what the development of this
offseason is for. Talking with Steve Poffin, he's just looking
(38:08):
forward to, you know, getting better, getting everyone better for
next season. And you know that's what makes it HL
so fun, Like you can have a really bad year
and then have a really great season the next We
saw the Roadrunners did it last season when they made
the playoffs with the losing record and then we became
the second seed and the fifth best team in the
entire American Hockey League.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
And then you fast forward to this year, we dropped
a bit.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
We still made playoffs that as a seventh seed and
got Abbotsford to a game three. And maybe next year
the road Runs make a jump once again, and maybe
this time it's for a first seed in the Pacific
Division to earn the buy and then auto bid them
to the second round. Because I again, James, I think
that's just the next next task at hand, we gotta
find a way to get to the second round of
the American Hockey League playoffs in that Pacific Division, and
(38:53):
maybe the way to do it is to win the
first seed. I mean, you know, the one thing we
guessed right was that Colorado is going to be a
h was going to be a top seed the battle
with and they were, and of course they will be
next year. They'll be probably the favorites to land that
top seed. But when you have teams like Abbasford, Ontario,
Coachella Valley, now San Jose has been good with you know,
(39:14):
Calgary having their spouts, it's going to be a very, very,
a very impressive Pacific Division once again, and the Roadrunners
need to, you know, add in the talent to keep
up with everybody or you're gonna fall down. And that's
just how it is.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
It's always such a battle on the Pacific Division. I mean,
you look at it, and we talked about the parody
they have and how successful they were against Central Division,
but you look at it, Calgary and Coachella were at
the top of the division last couple of years, and
now Colorado's up there and Atmospher's up there. So the
fact that the teams that are at the top keep changing,
and teams that are making the playoffs, even though the
(39:48):
Roadrunners are making the Palas every year now, and they
knocked out bakers Shield, who they used to be a
fixer in the playoffs and obviously they almost they came
within a tiebreaker making the playoffs, you know, so that
you know, so that situation. And then there's also you know,
you see San Jose who they were kind of struggling
last year, but now they're they're in the second round.
I mean, there's so many The fact that the teams
(40:10):
can there's so much upward normal mobility in the in
the Pacific Division shows how impressed it is, how how
much you can how tough it is to win in
this division.
Speaker 3 (40:18):
Yeah, it's really tough. I think it's just going to
get better for for next season. You know, you have
San Jose who's on a come up now. Uh, the
goals are always a threats Bakersfield as well. You never
know if Henderson's gonna be able to turn around. But
you might also see top teams fall apart too, like
you know, Ontario could fall back down or any team can.
It's just what makes the AHL so much more fun
(40:40):
that you know, it feels like in the NHL you
need to have you need to go with five years
with being an under five hundred team to really build
that foundation. But in the American Hockey League, you know,
all you need is to bring in, you know, a
prospector too, and sign some guys and then all of
a sudden, bam, you have a fantastic team. And uh,
you know, now the road Runners will u We'll try
to you know, not make playoffs, but to find a
(41:03):
way to really battle for one of those top spots
in the division. Get the first seed and auto bid
you to the second round, or if it takes it,
then you know, play in that first round and get
two of the three wins and advance onto the to
the second I think that's the next big goal for us.
But once again, it's it's also to develop our guys.
And when you have the foundation that we brought in
at the last half of the season into next year,
(41:25):
we're we're gonna be just fine. So all excitement coming
for the tenth year anniversary for the Tucson Roadrunners. James,
I hate to do this, but I think that's I
think that's it for us. It was a it was
a really fun year. Thanks for coming on the show
and you know, giving us your insight as always. But yeah,
I al we close out Happy Hour today as well,
(41:45):
and I hate to close out this show too for
the you know, just for the twenty four to twenty
five season as a whole, when we as we transition
into you know, the summer. But I want to thank
you for coming on as always, want to thank all
the fans out there. James, any last remarks before we
close things out for the for the last time of
the season.
Speaker 4 (42:03):
Yeah, thanks for having me. It was a great season
to come on for set. I guess technically replacing you
because you moved up and you replaced Adrian and then
so it's kind of replacing you. But it's a great
season to come in and come on in the podcast
because it was so many ups and downs, but you know,
mostly ups. Other than that it came win the streak,
(42:23):
but it was it was such a interesting season because
there's so much to talk about each week. So it
was a great season to come on on podcasts. And
as always, our organization has been great, great to work with,
great to cover and gonna miscover them for you know,
hopefully we get some chances during the summer to write
some stories like they've always they always have stuff where
they're involved in the community. So hopefully there's stuff like that,
(42:44):
and hopefully there's the season comes around. Is that it's
not that long the wait to get to the start
the season again.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
Yeah, there's five months between now and season, but there's
there's a draft coming up off season, as we know,
the dev Camp training camp. There's still so much to
cover and you know still always just stay tuned here
at the Tucson Roads Inside podcast because we'll bring you
interviews with players over the off season. We'll have breaking
news as we always do with signs, and you know
(43:12):
just what happens overall in this you know also chaotic
off season that always commences in the American Hockey League
as all well. But once again, thanks to everyone just
tuning in on this show. Really appreciate the support as
you all give us, you know, from wherever you are,
whether you're a local here in Tucson, a fan who
has come to every single game this year, or just
(43:32):
a family member from from a player listening in from
where we all are. We really appreciate you as always
but unfortunately closing things out here now, but we will
be back for the summer edition and off season edition
of the Insider Podcast. We'll start bringing guys on throughout
the show talk about their seasons. You know, guys we
bring back as well. So still a lot to cover,
(43:52):
but for the time being still thanks to everybody for
tuning in and for the constant support. For the final
time for the twenty five for twenty five season, my
name is Jonathan Schaeffer alongside Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly
will be signing off here and let's throw things out
with Roadrunners Rock. Have a great rest of your day, everybody,
have a great offseason, have a great summer. Tucson Roadrunners
(44:14):
tenth the anniversary coming up now. As if preparations are.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
Rareful, you come after one of ours.
Speaker 4 (44:22):
We cann't need a lot more friends.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
We've seen uscape before. We know how this story ms tonight.
We runs it up tonight to go up down. You
try to run up on us.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
We're gonna left down.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
Get all the bus, go back to where it came from.
Speaker 5 (44:42):
Getting on the bus, drop far far away, Hang up
your skates, drop your gloves.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
Put just this way you got beat down tonight.
Speaker 1 (44:53):
That's the design way. R Brocota from Robota from robot
A Frost I think to say
When you want more Roadrunners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the two Soon Roadrunners Insider Podcast with a
voice of the road Runners, 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 them right here on your two Son
Roadrunners Insider Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
The twenty four to five season has come to an end,
but we're still rolling on here for this week's episode
of the two Soon Roadrunners Insider Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
My name is Jonathan Schaffer.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Alongside me Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly and James we
have a lot to talk about. The season has come
to a close of some of the guys have left
for their homes already. Some guys are getting ready to
leave at their exit interviews with the coaching staff and
John Ferguson as well. And it was a very very
(00:57):
tough series against Abbittsford, a hard fought series, a very
hard fought season as a whole, but it all comes
to an end.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Lost the Game three.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Of the best of three series against ATMOSOPOHD five to
nothing on Saturday night, was able to force to Game
three on Thursday with an impressive four to one victory.
Lost Game one last Wednesday four to three. It was
a back and forth series overall, took all seventy two
games to clinch that final spot for the Roadrunners and
it sucks that is all come to an end, but overall,
(01:30):
still very proud of this team, a lot to still
be a proud four and we're now looking onto the
twenty five twenty six season. We'll hear from head coach
Steve Povin shortly as well as we caught it with
him for our Happy Hour show that's actually just gonna
be a podcast version this week and can check that
out at Tucson Roaders dot com slash Happy Hour. But
we heard from him as we interviewed him with Kim
(01:51):
Kodorobaz and I earlier on. And yeah, we're just a
lot to talk about. It's the end of the season.
It sucks now we have so much time on our hands,
but now we have a lot of time to prepare
and re group and uh, you know, rejuvenate for this
next season. And uh, you know, all good things come
to an end. But another great year will start next season,
(02:13):
and uh, we're just looking forward to that now.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Yeah, there's you know, obviously situations where fans are kind
of almost happy the season ends. You know, they're like, oh,
this team is so bad, we're happy the season for them.
But usually obviously it's it's disappointed for the season. But
I think that's kind of more disappointed this year because
they're they're a group of guys who you talked about,
you guys talked about it last week on the Happy
Hour Show, how how much they wanted to fight for
each other, how much they want to continue in order
(02:39):
to keep playing with each other, and that that that
reminded me about when I talked to after last greg
season game, when when I talked to k Kyli got
motive about the kind of that weird situation where he
got he moved down, because usually we did get moved
moved down from the NHL, especially someone who's been a
HL for as long as he has, you're disappointed, but
it's it's he got moved out for the playoffs basically,
(03:00):
so you know, the last couple of games in the playoffs,
So what's that situation like for him? And he's like, oh, no,
I love playing with these guys. It was really exciting.
And he's the guy who when you talk to him,
he's I don't say you know, you know, but he's
more kind of more business like in responses. But when
he did when I did mention that, when he did
talk about that, he's like his eyes like literally lit up.
So it's disappointing that, you know, for the guys, that
(03:21):
they're not going to get to play together and it's
fun to watch them. And it's also from you know,
the media perspective, from the pan perspective, it's disappointing too,
because the Runners are really fun to watch this year.
They obviously their style, their aggressive style, which would have
been awesome to see them in a longer series like
a five games series, seven games series, see that Runner
in a style over that many games against the same team,
that would have been wild. And they're also you know,
(03:41):
we talked about the goalies to make these crazy saves
and crazy high I saves every single game. And then
they other than obviously the last game, they've been showing
some really impressive goals lately. You know, they they've always
had a great variety goals, but they've had some really
good looking goals, So I think that really fun to watch.
So I think that All was kind of poor poorer
(04:01):
for not having the roaderners for their season, you know,
and disappointing, you know that we're not gonna get to
see anymore. But it was a great season, you know.
And then the team did really well to hold off
Pictures Film and get in the playoffs again, and it
was a it was a good, hot, hard post series.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, especially how dramatic All was, right, James, you know,
we we started the year off a bit slow five
hundred hockey. We had some good wins, some really bad losses,
and then we ended off before the holiday break on
that six game winning streak, and then we only won
three over our next fifteen in total, including including an
(04:37):
eight game of lot eight game losing streak, and then
we went to the All Star Cameron heab It got
the All Star bid, you know, for the first time
in his career, and then we signed in Sammy Walker.
He has a great run with Tucson, and then overall
we we get the great story of Yamamoto, who was
(04:58):
put on waivers beginning to see in earned just that
the respect of everybody coming back for that big win
against Bakersfield near the end of the season. You know,
the the goaltending shifts as well, Jackson Stabber getting the
first shutout in Utah Hockey Club history, Valalta getting his
first win in the National Hockey League, and our captain
(05:18):
aust mcgansky having a career year in his first season
as a captain, in his entire career, and just so
many great stories all throughout the year. It sucks that
it's all over, but again, every season is an opportunity
to you know, get better. It's an opportunity to you know,
continue to grow. We have a very exciting team for
(05:41):
next season, for the ten year anniversary coming up.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
We'll get into that shortly.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But yeah, it's just, you know, even though the record
wasn't as good as the year prior, you know, just
over five hundred at thirty four to thirty two, four
and two. You know, to get all the way to
the last give of the season, the clinch playoffs as
as you said, James holding Baker's Field off and just
fighting and clawing all the way through was impressive. And
the fact that you took Abbotsford to the final game
(06:07):
of that three game sets and you had Abbotsford a
bit nervous probably going into that one, and you know,
the last game didn't go good, you know, losing five
nothing and not really you know, having any chance, right.
You know, it was just just the way things gone.
But you know, you got some games out of it.
You got a masterful performance from Jackson Stobborn game two,
(06:30):
the Force game three, and uh, you know that's a
confidence builder for next year as well. We also have
some free agency news to break as including Jackson and
Stobbard that we'll talk about shortly. But uh yeah, overall
is just an amazing year. Uh and we are just
we're just happy for these guys that they were able
to punch their tickets to playoffs four straight years now
(06:51):
with the team being in the playoffs and James, I
hate to say it, but I think that hump now
is just getting to that second round.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
We've just been so close.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
We've you know, we've two years ago, got Coachella Valley
in that elimination game. Last year, lost two games against
Calgary this year, same as two years ago, got Abbots
for the elimination game. Four years ago was the COVID year,
so it was kind of you know, it was technically
a playoff game, but you know can count that as
you well, but you know, now four years in a
row where you've made playoffs but you haven't been able
(07:20):
to get to the second round. I think that's starting
to become the Okay, guys, like this is now starting
to become the hump, and we just need to get
over that now for next year.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Yeah, it kind of says a lot about the kind
of program that the coaching staff and the you know,
the front office and even the bets like like hey
Big and Baron and guys like that had built up
that we're kind of disappointed that, well, their seventh seed
and they didn't upset the two seeds. You know, it's
kind of crazy to think about it, but there you
know one thing that we didn't mention last week that
(07:49):
I forgot about, and Kyler had brought it up when
asked them about the regular season the success they had,
and I was like, was it does that matter? Was
it so long ago? Because like the team has changed
so much, and it's like, well, I I don't know
if it matters because they they're bringing so many guys
from the NHL. And that's one thing that I didn't realize.
So I looked up, I was like, well, they they
brought in seven players for the playoffs and that last
(08:10):
couple of games. So you know, obviously Runners, I'm brought
in brought back Matt Valta and and and Tyler, but
the there were seven guys that the Atmosford Cannucks brought
back and so and they're always a good team that
you know, they're during the regors season, there always a
good team at home. They're one of the best teams
at home. And and that's even though during the regal
(08:31):
season they didn't get the most fans support in the
league obviously, but the in then this in the series
against two, so they kept getting more and more until
they had almost to sell out for that last game.
So that was kind of a boost for them, I think.
And so I think that also makes it kind of
a tougher series if you look at it. But the
Runnerners they had a good effort. Obviously we looked at
that first game where they lost four to three, but
(08:51):
they had they had a chance to tie it up
at the end with that kind of crazy penalty shot.
You know, in terms of not that they lost because
because they missed that shot, but because they're so close
that they were in that first game that they just
lost by a goal, and he kind of looked back like, oh,
if they would have scored that, they would have tied obviously,
so and then obviously get the big win in game
two and in game three. Is kind of weird, you know,
because you look at the scoring, like, oh, while he
(09:13):
got killed. But for for the most part, other than
the shots, they gave a ton of shots that was
that was crazy. But for the most part they played
pretty well, except for they weren't able to ultimately score
score and obviously, you know, you have to score in
order to win the game, so so they weren't gonna
win that game anyway. But but it was a wild
series and it's a really really good showing I think
(09:34):
for the Road owners.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, it was a good showing.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I mean we said at all in time and time
this year that this team does not back down. It
never backed down a single game this year, despite any
of the scores, and you know, it was just a
tough Game three. I mean, I just think Abbotsford saw
the severity of the situation and saw that you know,
they were just lost away from getting upset by team
(10:00):
that took all seventy two games to make playoffs, and
I think they realized that. And you know, and even
in game one was close too, you know, we were
down four to one, almost came back.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Zuber just got it.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
It just got you know, blanked on the on the
shootout attempt at the end of the game. She also
made a good save on him. Then dominated game two,
and you know, I think Abbotsford realized that they couldn't
mess around anymore. I mean even in that first game,
you know, when they had a four to one lead,
we we dominated the second half and almost came back,
and then we had the full play for Thursday in
(10:33):
the game two, and then yeah, I think Abbotsford started
to realize, like, oh, we can't be messing around anymore.
And I think they they really clamped it down and
that's when they had the full dominant win. And you know,
Jackson Stouber was fabulous in the playoffs for US. Thirty
eight saves on thirty nine shots in game one, actually
the most saves ever for Roadrunners goaltender in a single
(10:55):
playoff game in history now, so he's on the history
books for that. So first shutout in team history for
the Utah Hockey Club and most saves in a playoff
game in Roadrunners history. So some big athletes for Jackson
Stober and then he played a lot better or he
played just as good in Game two as well. But
as you just said, James, I mean, don't put up
any goals. You gotta lose regardless. And also Abasford put
(11:17):
up twenty shots in that first period and it was
just so tough for Stober to try to keep up
with all of it. And speaking of Jackson Stobber, James,
big news coming today as our free agency has.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Already started, right.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I made a move earlier on this week for a
player we'll mention shortly from Europe.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
But today big news.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Stoppers signed to a two year two way contract with
the Utah Hockey Club and Roadrunners as well. With the
two way contracts, so Tucson's already being aggressive. We've gone
our goalie back to keep that depth right, you know,
with with Bimilka and Ingram still with the Utah Hockey
Club and now we'll have the Walton Stober you know
in the mix as well. And it's good. I love
(11:58):
this sign so far. I mean, I don't think there's
any other uh, you know, good goalies you can get.
You know, it's a tough league to sign guys and
especially bring guys into you know, a team like Tucson
that has a guy like Volalta already, so to bring
stabbur in and you know, provide that one two punch
for the Roadrunners for year number ten coming up, It's
it's huge and especially that's a two year contract.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Yeah, it was kind of surprising, not that not that
it resigned, you know, although I mean is kind of
a little surprising because they have so much depth the
goalie it's type well that there's so much, so much
after they but I was kind of surprised that he
resigned so quickly because usually he kind of see this
stuff more like in you know, after the call a
Coup playoffs, after the Santy Club playoffs Onmian like in
June or like July, you know, that kind of stuff.
(12:40):
So I was kind of surprised to see that. But
I think it speaks for all the organization that they're
that they're able to keep guys like this. And uh,
you think that with the season that Jackson had, where
he had he played well start the season in the
hl and he moved up and he played really well
for for Utah and then he came back and played
got It was a little slow to get his form
(13:03):
back that he had earlier in the season, but then
he got back, and then he got another call up
and then he came back and obviously he had the great,
great close close to the season in terms of those
those last two playoff games, playing playing well. So it's
it's really you know, it's really impressive. How about how
the season in the end and he looking he probably
his stop was probably really high in terms of how
(13:23):
well he played on this year. So it's really impressive
to me for the Rowners and you know, for for
Euton the road owners to resign a guy like that.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
The Roaders have also are are to Utah Hockey Club
technically speaking. They also made a move during the first
week of the playoffs while we were in Abbotsford, the
team signing and I apologize if I butchered this name.
We'll get the name obviously eventually, but signing Michael Kons
if I think that's how you say his name, Michael
Coons to a contract, one year, two way deal. Uh.
(13:54):
He played, He's played a lot of years in the
Czech Republic only at twenty four years old. Recent season
thirty five points in forty nine games played. So that's
another solid player, James, that we're bringing in. Uh, you know,
presumably you know, at least starting the year with with Tucson. Uh,
you know, just as another formidable forward that the Roadrunners
(14:14):
will gladly have for the roster, staying at you know,
six eighty seven. So not a big guy, but you know,
maybe just a Yamamoto type or Walker Sammy Walker type
of player, a guy who can you know, get into
the soft spots and make create offense for themselves. And
especially he's had so many seasons already in professional hockey.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
So uh, you know, a couple of.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Good signings already for Tucson, bringing back Jackson Stobbur and
then signing a good forward from the Czech League.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Yeah. I don't know a lot about them, to be honest,
but I think that when you look at the the
track record that first Arizona and then now you tah
and you know, obviously the Roadhuurners in that mix too.
Their scouting departments had and bringing guys from Europe, especially
from guys from Chechia they've had a lot of success
that so it looks like he's, you know, he will
(15:00):
be a big signing for them. You know, it looks
like he he's gonna have a promise sing you know,
career in either two Son or Utah or both or whatever.
So it looks like good signing to me.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, good signing so far.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
And you know, every every American Hockey League offseason, James
has tons of turnaround, right you know, we we know
guys who are going to be back already. You know,
Stobur being signed today, Kevin Cannaught and Agazina on two
two year contracts. Douglas will be back next season with
Paganski as well. You know, they're just the guys off
(15:33):
the top of my head on two year deals. But
then then you have the guys who have been with
us for years, but they're they're on one year contracts
this season and they're technically going to be free agents
coming up. And uh, but no, we we'll sign guys
from the outside as well. We'll have other prospects coming in.
You know, we have our prospects on the on the
entry level deals with Utah, but uh, there's they're expected
(15:53):
turnaround as it always is. I mean, we had a
big turnaround from last season to this year. Uh and
now we're going to get a turnover from this year
next year. And it's just always gonna be different with
you know, what opportunities guys get, what trades we make.
But you know one thing that is I am not
worried about as all is what you know, John Ferguson
will do to make this Roadrunners team still you know,
(16:16):
still a Cup contender, right. You know, we went into
this offseason, or we went into this season thinking the
road Runners were a Cup contender. Obviously didn't go as planned,
but you still made a playoffs. You still fought all
throughout the season to make the postseason. And now you know,
with a full reset and seeing what we can do
and the guys who are gonna be playing for us,
(16:36):
with Owen Alard and Noel Nord who had a fantastic
seasons with the Sue Greyhounds, Migo Metica in year number two,
will you know, just the ceiling is still up for
him and Julian Lutz a good second half of the
year with you know, Maximilian Zuber and Ardam Duda still
developing well for the road Runners in addition to that,
and Sam Lipkin who scored ten goals quickly to start
(16:57):
the year and kind of fizzled out. So you know,
if he finds a way to keep that pace out,
he can uh, you know, create some damage for us too. So, uh,
you know, it's always exciting going into a new season
when you have the young, hungry prospects and then just
the veterans we either retain and keep back, and then
the the veteran players that we're going to get from
the outside either trade or via signing to you know,
(17:18):
two year contracts or HL contracts as well.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Yeah, you the HL is funny in terms of the
contracts are usually you know, two ideals are usually one
or two years, and then the HL contracts aren't used
that long either, so you expect a lot of turnover.
But for the Runners, it seems like there's a lot
of familiar faces every year. Obviously you'll bring in new
guys like Conon and Soacloth and stuff like that, but
there's a lot of there's always a lot of guys
(17:42):
that come back. So that's really interesting that you know
that they're able to build that up and the guys
want to come back and that that to me shows that, uh,
you know, the organization is strong, and you know, because
obviously guys still want to come back, still want to
be here, and they the last year Arizona and this
year Utah, they've shown that they're they're more then we
willing to bring guys up, even if even this year
when they changed their philosophy a little bit when they're
(18:04):
trying to when Utel is trying more to get to
the playoffs. So instead of ending that rebuilding phase like
last year, now we're kind of Uta Hopus has kind
of changed, but they still remained with the Roaders still
trying to sell philosophy, is still trying to get the
guys in the playoffs, get them deep in the playoffs,
get them more competitive hockey. So that's, uh, I think
that's gonna be interesting to look at when you look
(18:24):
at the off season, look at the guys who they
want to bring in, look at the guys who they
who they want to bring back, and you know, and
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Let's get to our sound of this episode. So we
did a little things a little bit differently here. So
our last episode of Roads Happy Art that is available
now at Tucson Roaduns dot com slashed Happy Hour did
not go on air, so we just had released the
podcast version. We caught up with our head coach Steve
Potvin just talking about the season overall, what he was
(18:52):
proud of, what he learned. A great interview again check
that out at two soon Roadners dot com slash Happy Hour.
But here's a snippet of that, just asking Steve, you
know what he thought were what were his thoughts overall
this season? You know, what was he proud of and
how were we going to look on to the twenty five,
twenty sixth year now? And you know it's it's never
(19:13):
easy to be a head coach, but Steve definitely does
make it easy and once again had another successful season
with the Roadrunners.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Well, exactly what you said. I think we went through
a lot, and I think when you're going through a
lot in the moment, you don't really know how it's
going to impact or improve your team or improve your players.
Speaker 6 (19:33):
You know, we definitely made a lot of improvements and
I think, you know what, it was a successful season.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
Of course, all of us would like to see us,
you know, get past that first round. I think we're
getting closer and closer, but you know, just the importance
of communication and leadership and understanding a plan. You know,
I think is is urgent for for the players in
the and the coaches next season. I think it's it's
(19:59):
important for everyon body to be aligned and understand exactly
what the vision is and how we're going to go
about achieving you know, the vision and you know, furthering
our mission just exactly that.
Speaker 7 (20:13):
I think we always had valued leadership and communication, but
it has to continue to evolve and broaden and you
know what we've got to our mission has always been
to to really, sorry I should say our vision has
always been to create leaders and you know, going through
(20:34):
the season that we just did and had, it just
reinforces the importance of leadership. Everybody wants a leader.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
Everybody you know needs a leader to be able to
you know, guide their their systems, their their companies to
higher levels. And so that's you know, it has to
be at the forefront, is to create good people and leaders.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yeah, James, that's the that's the big thing, right, I
Mean we we always talk about players developing and uh,
you know, having a rookie season and going into year
number two and you know, continuing to get better every year.
But you don't talk about that with coaches as much
and just as as it is for players and us
working in media and everybody in this industry. You want
(21:21):
to get better not only every day, but you want
to find a way to really get over that, uh,
for for the next season and really step it into
next level. And uh, same goes for for Steve Poppin, right.
You know, he's learning every season of what he can
do better. What you know, what he doesn't need to
do anymore, I don't know, but it's just the same
as him for all the players. So he's gonna learn
(21:43):
a lot from this season. He's gonna apply what he
needs to do better for the Roadrunners to even have
more success for next year.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
I think when people think about the off season for
pro athletes, for coaches, think of them relaxing or whatever,
playing golf or whatever. But for him it's very much intense.
I think a lot we talked about after one of
the like meet and greets or whatever with the with him,
like a couple of years ago, the couple of summers ago,
(22:13):
you asked him about what he thought about the the
called the Cup finals and the Stanley Cup finals or whatever.
And he the way he was watching it was he's
watching it for two good ideas, help their own the nurse,
get tips for for for them to get better, for
them and coaching, even though you know they're two different,
you know, and especially in Achel, it's way different, you know,
different teams and everything. So he's he's the guy who's
always gonna he's the guy who's always gonna be focused
(22:35):
on getting the team better. And he's kind of I
don't want see obsessed, but you know, really really into
that because I think that he's a guy who can
who can work really hard but healthily. You know a
lot of coaches, you know that they get they work
too hard and they get physically, they they don't sleep
that much, they don't they don't eat that much or whatever,
they don't exercise that much. But he's the guy who
obviously exercises a lot and you know he seeps well.
(22:56):
You know, he's a guy who he keeps in, keeps
taking takes care of himself. So he's not he's a
guy who he works hard, but he works hard responsibly.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
I think, yeah, and James, and speaking of I mean
it has been a crazy show of what the playoffs
have been so far in both the American Hockey League
and the National Hockey League. I mean, I guess for
the NHL, first you have three different you have or
I guess after last night when Dallas beat Colorado, you
(23:27):
had all four matchups in the Western side all at
two apiece and going into game five, and we have
more games fives going on today. Dallas getting the win
last night, so they're up three to two, and then
on the Eastern Conference side it's all three to one,
where Toronto's up three to one, Florida's up three to one,
Washington's up three to one, and Carolina's up three to one.
(23:48):
But Toronto's gone some overtime wins. So it has been
to think this is only round one and we're still
not even done with it yet. I mean, I feel
like it's been over what just over a week now
of first round playoffs. Some games left, and we'll talk
about HL playoffs in a moment, but just it's been
so fun to to watch that, and I'm sure Steve
will use that again and watch all these high moment
(24:10):
NHL playoff games and see what he can learn just
from what the coaches and players do for these huge games,
for that Stanley Cup.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
Yeah, there was a thread post or a thread thread
or whatever they call that. Someone that someone put up
that that was right before it was during the NHL
clasts when they were going direct before the HL claffs started,
and he he tweeted, or you know, he threaded, whatever
you call it. He said, playoff hockey is like watching
a toddler get too close to the edge of the
(24:39):
swimming pool for three hours and that kind of well,
you know, it's just such a such a battle, you know,
in the HL, and I'm sure in the e CHL
and obviously in the NHL. So it's just so many
close series, so many you know. I caught the end
of the It was funny. I kind of you know,
caught the end of the the Kings and the Oilers
(25:00):
the day and I was say, oh, it just looks
like kind of going back to the HL. It looks
just like watching their reign against the condors again. But
and so that's why I started watching this, That's how
I got interested in me because I was watching guys
who was watching four and it was just great, a
great comeback and great, great, great great game, the enforced
overtime for Edmonton. But it's just so many, so many
commenctive games such so intense.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Yeah, and how about the American Hockey League playoffs, right,
we've it has once again been proven that it does
not matter what seed you are, you can win that
first round. Biggest upsets of this playoffs so far, I
mean there's two of them, right, Uh, Rockford being Chicago
in two games as a losing team getting into the playoffs,
(25:41):
but now they have Milwaukee coming up in the best
of five, so that's going to be quite insane. Second
year in a row where the Lee High Valley Phantoms
upset the Wilkesbury's Grand Penguins, so they will match up
against Hershey once again.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Springfield, who also barely.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Gone to the playoffs with just an over five hundred
record took Providence to a gain three, but Providence ended
up winning. Cleveland, who was technically a lower seed than Toronto,
beat them in two games. San Jose upset Ontario in
two games as well. Coachella Valley did end up being Calgary,
which technically is not an upset, but we did see
that three overtime, three overtime game one last Monday. But yeah,
(26:19):
how about the American Hockey League playoffs. It's been all
upsets all over the board, and even Tucson was right there.
We forced Davitsford into a Game three, so there wasn't
a higher seed that even swept the lower seed. All
lower seeds won and the only time a higher seed
one two of the three times Coachella Valley did clean
sweep Calgary, but the other two was the Providence Bruins
(26:41):
having to be Springfield in game three and then Tucson
losing to Abbotsford in game three as well. So it
was all really close and it just shows that the
best of three series is quite insane. Agree with it
if you want, don't disagree if you think it should count.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
You know a lot of people say the three game
series is not good, but again, if you're a lower
seed team, you love the best of three because just
like us, we were one win away from advancing onto
the second round, just like that. So I think for future,
whoever seed the Roadrunners are in, you know you're going
into a series against a team that doesn't want to
lose either, whether we're the higher seed. We saw how
(27:17):
that went, and now even twice or two. Of the
three years we've been in the seventh seed, we've been
able to least get to Game three. But again James
is just getting over that hump to get into a
round number two. But once again HL playoffs showing that
does not matter what seed you're in, as long as
you get into the playoffs, you have just as equal
as a chance of everybody else. And now I'm excited
(27:38):
to see these next games with Colorado and San Jose.
I mean, San Jose just beat Ontario in two games.
Abbots for and Coachelle Valley's gonna be a very fun
series to watch. Who knows what Rockford has up their sleeve,
but they have a tough matchup ahead, but they did
beat Chicago in two games. Texas and Grand Rapids are
starting off tonight, are actually their first game already, are
(28:00):
already happening yesterday. And then Lee High Valley and Hershey,
Charlotte and Providence Laval Rocket in Cleveland. That's gonna be
a fun series because leval just lost their starting goaltender.
Rodford and Syracuse and then yeah, so that's all the
matchups for round two. It's gonna be fun. And now
we're gonna get the still keep up with h L
and NHL playoffs.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
Yeah, you've talked about it for weeks now. I think
at this point where the point of the playoffs is
just to get in because it's so there's so much
parody and someone so many upsets and and you know,
if you just get in, then you can do well,
and then he would obviously proven really right with that.
It's a it's as far as the three game first
round goes, I'm kind of on the fence because in
(28:41):
some ways I like it, like it offers a lot
of upsets, But on the other hand, if you have,
like a he plays seventy two games, and then if
you have a one bad get one bad night, or
you know, one bad night plus the other same pleasure,
well then you're done, you know. So it's kind of
unforgiving that in that sense, but also and so on
forgiving like that it adds up the intensity. I also
like the thematic version of it, where it's as you
(29:01):
get deeper in the playoffs, it gets more and more intense.
Whereas three games in the first round, then five games
in the divisions of my finals and division finals is
best of five again, and then the commerce Finals is
the past of seven and then the Colic Finals obviously
best of seven. So it's I kind of like, how
builds up like that, and it's again, it was weird
this year. I heard a bunch of people on social
(29:22):
media and even even one media guys saying that like, oh, well,
there's too many teams or it's twenty three teams in the playoffs.
It's weird, blah blah blah. But to me, I love
how it works because it's it's Taylor toward the teams,
you know, it's it's each division's section of the playoffs
is set up so that it's it's what's best for
the division, Like especially with the Pacific Division, when you
have ten teams, you know, seven teams get in and
(29:43):
you have the top team get a bye, and then
the other team is playing a big first round, the
biggest first round of all the leagues, of all the HL.
So that that's really intense and there's a lot to
play for their regular season because usually if you're like
playing in the playoffs and you're like, oh, well, you
know what, what's what is for the four seed or
the five seed or a three seed, what doesn't really matter?
But in this format, there's so much to play for
(30:06):
because there's so much difference. You know, the first round,
the champion gets to buy in, the second team gets
the team that are laying in the playoffs, and three
seed plays the six seeds and stuff like that, and
there's huge epistween four and five obviously getting the host
the whole series versus not getting the any home games.
And then even if you're the eighth place team ninth
place team, you still stopt to play for it because
you still have a chance to get in. So you
(30:28):
look at the pacifvisions like that and the other divisions
they like in the North Division there's only two teams
playing in the first round, and then three teams get
to buy and then it's kind of, I like how
it's Taylor Twitter East Division. What works what works best
for them, an each division is set up which works
best for each team, because like if you look at it,
like and if if this really kind of I mean
(30:49):
injur League format too soon would be like in the
you know, Tuson would be in the Central Division or something,
they'd have to play Division of games against Milwaukee and
Grand Rabbids and stuff like that, just because like, oh, well,
there's so many California teams. But the way they for
the HL is they have so many teams at the
Pacific and so they changed the way the playoffs work
for that. And when you have a playoffs like this
(31:09):
where there's only three you know, three games of a stround,
it makes things so much more intense, so much more
to play for try and get that home homeless advantage.
An even when you do that, it doesn't it may
not help. Because we saw that with with with coachil
Valley a couple of years ago and this year with
Abosphere and Tucson where they Tucson push push to the
series to limit so that it's a to me, it's
(31:32):
really good for me.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Yeah, it's all the just the format, James, And yeah,
we want we want these guys to get playoff experience.
And for us, we got months of it, right, you know,
with having the you know, every game really counting in
the standings and keeping an eye on Bakersfield and actually
tying them in points at the end because Condors got
did their part. But then we were just able to
(31:55):
get that last win and sneak in the playoffs and
then all of a sudden We're in a best of
three Game three against Abbotsford and that was that was
just it for the the first round for us, and
it was really close.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
It was awesome.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
We had the three watch parties at Cold Beers and
Cheeseburger's main event and Barrio Brewing Cohert hearing that those
all went well and those were a really fun time
so you know, it's just still a great way to
end the year. Fans were awesome all throughout the season
with all of our promotions, our community events, our team
events as well. It was a really fun twenty four
to twenty five season. And going back on Grand the
(32:29):
Grand Rapids in Texas Stars, that game, that series actually
starts tonight and James, this is how crazy these these
ahl schedules can be for the playoffs. The Grand Rapids,
Griffins and Texas Stars start off their series tonight, but
then they don't play again till next Monday.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
That's why I got a little flipped flopped.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Their next game is not for six more days and
it's still in Grand Rapids, so that means Texas is
playing in Grand Rapids tonight for game one, they have
to wait six days for game two. I don't know
if they're staying there entire the entire week, going back
home and then coming back to Grand Rapids. That sounds
like a hectic travel schedule, but that's just, uh, that's
just what happens when all this arena availability goes out.
(33:08):
The way, we had to put take all of our
gear out of the Abbotsford Center and put it back
in on the same day because the Abbotsford Center had
a at a comedy show. It was Seinfeld and uh
even we saw Ontario have the scheduling conflicts with Disney
on ice, which is why they played at Crypto dot
Com Arena. Might have maybe not even might have not
(33:29):
helped them with the series at all because they just
had no big crowds, right. It was a really really
empty arena, probably too big. And that's just another thought
I had, like, what it's so tough with all this
arena availability for the playoffs in addition to all the scheduling.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
It's kind of it's kind of well, when you look
at it, with the once the regal season ends, it's
kind of for free for all in terms of how
the scheduling works. I remember last year there was you know,
obviously with the first round of staggered. It wasn't like,
uh not that a little segre, but there's a dates.
I mean, it wasn't like this year where there's two
games in a row, two two nights, and then they
had off night and then they played again. But there
(34:07):
there's one game where the Sugar Schools had a game
run after and they had to convert it really quickly.
I remember that. So it's it's just kind of wild.
It's funny to see end it's it's kind of it's
kind of one of those fun things about you know,
if the Roaderners had advanced and gotten home games, it
probably would have been going. You'd be going to the
game when it's like ninety threes outside, and so it's
just it's just always fun when you have hockey in
(34:29):
the late spring and slash summer. So it's it's just
it's it's always just fun to have that playoff weather.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Yeah it was.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
It was absolutely gorgeous and abbots for two all six
days we were there, it really did feel like playoff
hockey weather, and yeah, it's warming up here. We were
bummed that we couldn't get that that those two host
games which would have been on Friday and Sunday this week.
But you know again, you know, be proud of this team.
This team went through so much adversity all throughout the year. Uh,
(34:56):
it was it was a constant grind where it was
at the point where it was two straight months of
games that felt like playoff like games to reach the playoffs.
And then you took the Abbotsford Canucks, where the best
team in the AHL going into playoffs, to take them
all the way to Game three was quite impressive. And
just all the storylines this season of you know, kyler
Yawamoto being put on waivers, going through them and you know,
(35:18):
proving that he still belongs in both the NHL and
just is a pro player in total, which just the
attitude he had. Cameron Hebig making the All Star for
his first year or for a first time ever, getting
a contract, and also having career highs in all the stats.
In addition to that, playing in game number two hundred
and eighty with the Roadrunners, which is now an all
(35:39):
time franchise high. Paganski his first year as a captain,
having his best career yet statistically, Ben McCartney his second
half resurgeons, Sammy Walker's mid season trade to really help
the Roadrunners make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Ardam do that.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
Maximilian Zeeber's you know development as a whole. Agazino reaching
point number six hundred is American Hockey League career. Cannoden
is just continuing to be that forefront presence as a
as a blue liner with the assistant captain as well.
There's just so many accolades that we can name throughout
this season that we hit and though the record didn't
(36:15):
show it, this team had the talent, it had the grit.
We played the Roadrunner style hockey to get there, and
you know, sometimes it just doesn't all come together. But
that's why you have an offseason. That's why you have
a new season. That's why you bring guys back. And
you know, with the guys we bring back, the guys
we trade for or you know, are able to sign
in free agency, and the rookies as well, it's gonna
(36:37):
be a very fun exciting team to watch, especially with
year number ten coming up with Tucson as well. With
the Roadrunners being in Tucson will get me celebrating the
tenth year anniversary with some cool jerseys, some logo designs.
There's a lot to happen still that we'll announce as
this offseason goes on. But it's gonna be fun. It's
gonna be a fun ten year anniversary season. And let's see,
(36:59):
I the road Runs can make some always with it, you.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Know they if you haven't been by the Runner website recently,
they do. They did put up the tenth ten season logo.
That's really cool. I love let me look at that.
Another thing about the the great stories, there's obviously the
the Juggernaut line was just just a great story this
whole year, and especially at the end of the year
when helping the Runers get in the playoffs, and then
that in that first game they lost four to three,
(37:24):
they're involved in all the all three of the goals,
and Travis Barron had another big night in game two,
and so it was just, you know, they kind of
really epitomized the Roadrunners way, those three guys, and it's
it's it's fun to see see them go out there,
and it's fun to see Chris Douglas come back, and
you know they're they're you know, a great, great combination
(37:44):
right there.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
Yeah, great combination.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
That that's another really good storyline, James, and it's just
all good storylines throughout this u throughout this entire season.
We'll be entering year number ten of the Roadrunners history
in Tucson. Just unfortunately couldn't that last win to bring
the playoffs back to the old Pueblo. But that's what
next year is for, That's what the development of this
offseason is for. Talking with Steve Poffin, he's just looking
(38:08):
forward to, you know, getting better, getting everyone better for
next season. And you know that's what makes it HL
so fun, Like you can have a really bad year
and then have a really great season the next We
saw the Roadrunners did it last season when they made
the playoffs with the losing record and then we became
the second seed and the fifth best team in the
entire American Hockey League.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
And then you fast forward to this year, we dropped
a bit.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
We still made playoffs that as a seventh seed and
got Abbotsford to a game three. And maybe next year
the road Runs make a jump once again, and maybe
this time it's for a first seed in the Pacific
Division to earn the buy and then auto bid them
to the second round. Because I again, James, I think
that's just the next next task at hand, we gotta
find a way to get to the second round of
the American Hockey League playoffs in that Pacific Division, and
(38:53):
maybe the way to do it is to win the
first seed. I mean, you know, the one thing we
guessed right was that Colorado is going to be a
h was going to be a top seed the battle
with and they were, and of course they will be
next year. They'll be probably the favorites to land that
top seed. But when you have teams like Abbasford, Ontario,
Coachella Valley, now San Jose has been good with you know,
(39:14):
Calgary having their spouts, it's going to be a very, very,
a very impressive Pacific Division once again, and the Roadrunners
need to, you know, add in the talent to keep
up with everybody or you're gonna fall down. And that's
just how it is.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
It's always such a battle on the Pacific Division. I mean,
you look at it, and we talked about the parody
they have and how successful they were against Central Division,
but you look at it, Calgary and Coachella were at
the top of the division last couple of years, and
now Colorado's up there and Atmospher's up there. So the
fact that the teams that are at the top keep changing,
and teams that are making the playoffs, even though the
(39:48):
Roadrunners are making the Palas every year now, and they
knocked out bakers Shield, who they used to be a
fixer in the playoffs and obviously they almost they came
within a tiebreaker making the playoffs, you know, so that
you know, so that situation. And then there's also you know,
you see San Jose who they were kind of struggling
last year, but now they're they're in the second round.
I mean, there's so many The fact that the teams
(40:10):
can there's so much upward normal mobility in the in
the Pacific Division shows how impressed it is, how how
much you can how tough it is to win in
this division.
Speaker 3 (40:18):
Yeah, it's really tough. I think it's just going to
get better for for next season. You know, you have
San Jose who's on a come up now. Uh, the
goals are always a threats Bakersfield as well. You never
know if Henderson's gonna be able to turn around. But
you might also see top teams fall apart too, like
you know, Ontario could fall back down or any team can.
It's just what makes the AHL so much more fun
(40:40):
that you know, it feels like in the NHL you
need to have you need to go with five years
with being an under five hundred team to really build
that foundation. But in the American Hockey League, you know,
all you need is to bring in, you know, a
prospector too, and sign some guys and then all of
a sudden, bam, you have a fantastic team. And uh,
you know, now the road Runners will u We'll try
to you know, not make playoffs, but to find a
(41:03):
way to really battle for one of those top spots
in the division. Get the first seed and auto bid
you to the second round, or if it takes it,
then you know, play in that first round and get
two of the three wins and advance onto the to
the second I think that's the next big goal for us.
But once again, it's it's also to develop our guys.
And when you have the foundation that we brought in
at the last half of the season into next year,
(41:25):
we're we're gonna be just fine. So all excitement coming
for the tenth year anniversary for the Tucson Roadrunners. James,
I hate to do this, but I think that's I
think that's it for us. It was a it was
a really fun year. Thanks for coming on the show
and you know, giving us your insight as always. But yeah,
I al we close out Happy Hour today as well,
(41:45):
and I hate to close out this show too for
the you know, just for the twenty four to twenty
five season as a whole, when we as we transition
into you know, the summer. But I want to thank
you for coming on as always, want to thank all
the fans out there. James, any last remarks before we
close things out for the for the last time of
the season.
Speaker 4 (42:03):
Yeah, thanks for having me. It was a great season
to come on for set. I guess technically replacing you
because you moved up and you replaced Adrian and then
so it's kind of replacing you. But it's a great
season to come in and come on in the podcast
because it was so many ups and downs, but you know,
mostly ups. Other than that it came win the streak,
(42:23):
but it was it was such a interesting season because
there's so much to talk about each week. So it
was a great season to come on on podcasts. And
as always, our organization has been great, great to work with,
great to cover and gonna miscover them for you know,
hopefully we get some chances during the summer to write
some stories like they've always they always have stuff where
they're involved in the community. So hopefully there's stuff like that,
(42:44):
and hopefully there's the season comes around. Is that it's
not that long the wait to get to the start
the season again.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
Yeah, there's five months between now and season, but there's
there's a draft coming up off season, as we know,
the dev Camp training camp. There's still so much to
cover and you know still always just stay tuned here
at the Tucson Roads Inside podcast because we'll bring you
interviews with players over the off season. We'll have breaking
news as we always do with signs, and you know
(43:12):
just what happens overall in this you know also chaotic
off season that always commences in the American Hockey League
as all well. But once again, thanks to everyone just
tuning in on this show. Really appreciate the support as
you all give us, you know, from wherever you are,
whether you're a local here in Tucson, a fan who
has come to every single game this year, or just
(43:32):
a family member from from a player listening in from
where we all are. We really appreciate you as always
but unfortunately closing things out here now, but we will
be back for the summer edition and off season edition
of the Insider Podcast. We'll start bringing guys on throughout
the show talk about their seasons. You know, guys we
bring back as well. So still a lot to cover,
(43:52):
but for the time being still thanks to everybody for
tuning in and for the constant support. For the final
time for the twenty five for twenty five season, my
name is Jonathan Schaeffer alongside Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly
will be signing off here and let's throw things out
with Roadrunners Rock. Have a great rest of your day, everybody,
have a great offseason, have a great summer. Tucson Roadrunners
(44:14):
tenth the anniversary coming up now. As if preparations are.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
Rareful, you come after one of ours.
Speaker 4 (44:22):
We cann't need a lot more friends.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
We've seen uscape before. We know how this story ms tonight.
We runs it up tonight to go up down. You
try to run up on us.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
We're gonna left down.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
Get all the bus, go back to where it came from.
Speaker 5 (44:42):
Getting on the bus, drop far far away, Hang up
your skates, drop your gloves.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
Put just this way you got beat down tonight.
Speaker 1 (44:53):
That's the design way. R Brocota from Robota from robot
A Frost I think to say
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