
Game #29: Tucson Roadrunners vs. San Diego Gulls
December 30, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Tucson Roadrunners News Release
Game #29: Tucson Roadrunners (18-8-1-1) vs. San Diego Gulls (9-14-5-0)
Time: Saturday, December 30, 7:00 p.m. MST, Tucson Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona
Referees: #51 Bobby Jo Love, #71 Brody Sutter
Linespersons: #57 Justin Johnson, #32 Robert Fay
The Tucson Roadrunners close out 2023 with a single-game matchup against the San Diego Gulls after defeating the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-1 on Friday to make it four-straight wins. Tucson, who is 18-8-1-1 at 38 points, has a chance to make it a season high five-straight wins and get a four-point jump on the Abbotsford Canucks, who are 17-9-2-0 and at 36 points in the Pacific Division standings in third place. The Roadrunners defeated the San Diego Gulls 4-3 before the holiday break on Saturday, December 23, and look to make it three wins in a row to open the season series against their Southern California rival.
Three things:
On Friday night, forward Dylan Guenther continued his recent tear; and is now riding a three-game scoring streak where he has three goals and three assists for six points. His ninth goal of the season on Friday came at 3:58 in the first period; marking his fourth time this season that he has scored Tucson's first goal of the game and that leads the team.
With the outburst of three goals in 46 seconds in the first period on Friday, Tucson has now scored consecutive goals in under two minutes and thirty seconds seven times in the month of December. The three goals also marked the eighth period in December that Tucson has scored three or more goals in.
Players who have returned to the Roadrunners lineup from call-ups or injury as of late. Forward Justin Kirkland has led the way with four points (4 assists) in his last three games, Milos Keleman has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in four games, Ben McCartney has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in his last five and Ryan McGregor has four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in his last six.
What did they say?
"I just think they're a focused group; when one guy zeroes in it seems like everyone does it, it's a really strong character group."
Tucson Head Coach Steve Potvin on the quick outbursts of goals in December.
Number to Know:
11 Points - The team high in scoring in December this season that is a tight race to the finish with tonight being the last game of the month. Aku Raty (6 goals, 5 assists) and John Leonard (4 goals, 7 assists) each lead the way with 11 points. Dylan Guenther (3 goals, 7 assists) has 10 while Josh Doan (5 goals, 4 assists) has nine and Victor Soderstrom (4 goals, 4 assists) has eight.
Latest Transactions:
None
WE'LL DO IT LIVE:
Tonight's game will be broadcasted live on the radio on FOX Sports 1450AM and the iHeartRadio app. Coverage will begin at 6:45 p.m. MST with Roadrunners Warm-up hosted by Jonathon Schaffer, before the "Voice of the Roadrunners" Adrian Denny has all the action from the TCC. The game will also be televised on AHLtv.
American Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2023
- Condors Double-Up Barracuda, 4-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Monsters Push Win Streak to Seven with 4-3 Overtime Win in Chicago - Cleveland Monsters
- Amerks Close Out 2023 With Shootout Win Over Utica - Rochester Americans
- Bears Close Out 2023 With 4-0 Win Over Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Wolves Earn Point with 4-3 Loss to Monsters in OT - Chicago Wolves
- Hogs Mount Furious Comeback to Earn Point, Allan Scores First Pro Goal - Rockford IceHogs
- Iowa Wraps Up 2023 With 6-2 Defeat To Colorado - Iowa Wild
- 37 Shots Not Enough on Whiteout Night - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- P-Bruins Power Past Thunderbirds for Third Straight Victory - Providence Bruins
- Comets Gain Point in 3-2 Shootout Loss to Americans - Utica Comets
- Eagles Complete Sweep of Iowa with 6-2 Victory - Colorado Eagles
- Wolf Pack Come Back from Two-Goal Deficit to Knock off Islanders 3-2 in Final Game of 2023 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- T-Birds Tripped Up By Bruins On Sold Out Saturday Night - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Penguins Drubbed by Checkers in Final Game of 2023 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wolf Pack Edge Islanders, 3-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Checkers Wallop Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 6-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Sens top Marlies again in Toronto, take four-game win streak into the new year - Belleville Senators
- San Diego Gulls Reassign Goaltender Tomas Suchanek to Tulsa - San Diego Gulls
- Crunch Fall to Rocket, 4-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Malinski Reassigned by Colorado Avalanche - Colorado Eagles
- Morning Skate Report: December 30, 2023 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Shepard Recalled, Miroshnichenko and Gibson Join Bears - Hershey Bears
- Detroit Reassigns Berggren and Czarnik, Griffins Return Bliss to Toledo - Grand Rapids Griffins
- San Diego Gulls Sign Michal Stinil to Professional Tryout - San Diego Gulls
- Moose Recall Forward Golder - Manitoba Moose
- Game Preview: Condors at San Jose, 6 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Nelson, Vogelhuber, Graham, Cull to Coach at 2024 AHL All-Star Classic - Hershey Bears
- Monsters Head Coach Trent Vogelhuber to Coach North Division at 2024 AHL All-Star Classic - Cleveland Monsters
- Nelson, Vogelhuber, Graham, Cull to Coach at 2024 AHL All-Star Classic - AHL
- Neil Graham to Coach Central Division at 2024 AHL All-Star Classic - Texas Stars
- Blackhawks Recall Katchouk, IceHogs Recall Weeks from Indy - Rockford IceHogs
- Blues Recall D Matt Kessel from T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Monsters Announce Three Roster Moves - Cleveland Monsters
- Wolf Pack Close out 2023 with Visit from Islanders - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild vs. Colorado Eagles - Iowa Wild
- Bridgeport Islanders Bid Farewell to 2023 with a 6 p.m. Puck Drop in Hartford - Bridgeport Islanders
- Trenton Bliss Recalled by Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Hogs Cross State Line to Pay Admirals Visit - Rockford IceHogs
- Game #29: Tucson Roadrunners vs. San Diego Gulls - Tucson Roadrunners
- Wranglers Blank Canucks - Calgary Wranglers
- Game Preview: Bears at Phantoms, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Tucson Roadrunners Stories
- Max Szuber and Roadrunner Alumni to Compete in the 2025 IIHF World Championship
- Roadrunners Spring Sale Set for May 8 at Tucson Convention Center
- 2024-25 Tucson Roadrunners Season in Review
- Goaltender Jaxson Stauber Signs Two-Year, Two-Way Contract with Utah Hockey Club
- Pacific Division First Round Game 3 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (7) at Abbotsford Canucks (2) - Series Tied 1-1

