
Preseason Game #1 and Game #2- Tucson Roadrunners at Henderson Silver Knights
October 4, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Tucson Roadrunners News Release
Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. MST, Lee's Family Forum, Henderson, Nevada
Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1:00 p.m. MST, Lee's Family Forum, Henderson, Nevada
LISTEN LIVE HERE or on Fox Sports 1450AM
Watch Friday's game on AHLtv now on Flo Hockey
Referees: Jackson Kozari #27, Jordan Watt #83
Linespersons: Adam Hendren #67, Logan Wescot #91
Season nine in Southern Arizona is unofficially underway. The Tucson Roadrunners travel to Henderson for two preseason games against the Silver Knights at Lee's Family Forum. Of the current 26 players on the training camp roster, 10 are returning from last year's Roadrunners squad. Five players on the roster have appeared against the Roadrunners in previous seasons for other Pacific Division Teams. As for the Silver Knights, their training camp roster began with 29 players, including 16 who played in at least one game with the Silver Knights last season.
Three Things To Know:
Rookie defenseman Artem Duda arrives in Tucson after overcoming a unique path to the AHL. Duda was drafted No. 36 overall in 2022 by the Arizona Coyotes. The former second-round pick left Russia to play the 2023-24 season for the University of Maine, but he was declared ineligible by the NCAA because he had previously played 14 games for CSKA Moscow of the KHL. After unsuccessfully appealing the NCAA's decision, he played out the remainder of the season for Toronto Metropolitan University, where he collected seven points (two goals and five assists) in 12 games. Despite the adversity he experienced last season, Duda remains one of the Utah Hockey Club's top prospects on the backend.
Finnish forward Miko Matikka is also making his AHL debut after helping lead the University of Denver to a national championship last season. He scored 20 goals for the Pioneers, which ranked second on the team and fourth among all NCAA freshmen. More importantly, he found the back of the net when it mattered the most. Matikka tallied a goal and an assist in the NCHC Conference Championship game against Omaha and had another two points (one goal and one assist) in four NCAA Tournament games. Outside of goalscoring, the 6-foot-4 rookie also brings size to the Roadrunners lineup, which was a big reason he was selected in the third round (No. 67 overall) in 2022.
Defenseman Robbie Russo returns for his second stint with the Roadrunners. He spent the last three seasons with the Utica Comets and led all Utica defensemen with 30 points and 53 penalty minutes last year. Before that, the Notre Dame alum played two seasons in Tucson from 2018 to 2020 and had a career-high 39 points with the Roadrunners in the 2018-19 season. It will be Russo's 10th year in the AHL, and his addition to the team will give the Roadrunners another veteran leader with playoff experience. The former New York Islanders prospect won the 2017 Calder Cup Championship with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
What do they have to say?
"No one wanted to leave Tucson last season, a lot of people are back and we have a tight knit group, so we're just really happy to be back and get to work."
Hunter Drew on the start of training camp and his expectations for the season.
"It came up so quick, so that probably means we're uncomfortable and that's what we want this time of year. We want things to be fast and uncomfortable and see how our guys respond to that."
Coach Steve Potvin on the fast pace of going from Roadrunners training camp to the preseason.
Weekly Transactions:
- None
We're Doing It Live
Friday's game will be broadcasted live on FOX Sports 1450AM and the iHeartRadio app. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. with Roadrunners Warm-Up hosted by Jonathon Schaffer, who has all of the action from Lee's Family Forum in Henderson. The game can also be seen on AHLtv now on Flo Hockey.
Saturday's game will be broadcasted live on the radio on FOX Sports 1450AM and the iHeartRadio app. Coverage begins at 12:45 p.m.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from October 4, 2024
- Condors Top Barracuda, 5-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Belleville Sens Open Preseason with 3-2 Win Over Rocket - Belleville Senators
- Bears Earn First Win of Preseason in 4-3 OT Triumph Over Penguins - Hershey Bears
- Harrison's Two Tallies Help P-Bruins Past T-Birds - Providence Bruins
- Penguins Lose to Bears in Overtime, 4-3 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Syracuse Crunch Rout Utica Comets, 6-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- T-Birds Drop Preseason Decision to Bruins - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Reign Sign 4 to AHL Contracts - Ontario Reign
- Roadrunners Name Jonathon Schaffer as the New "Voice of the Roadrunners" - Tucson Roadrunners
- Blues Recall 8 Players from T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Preseason Game #1 and Game #2- Tucson Roadrunners at Henderson Silver Knights - Tucson Roadrunners
- Anaheim Ducks Announce Training Camp Roster Moves - San Diego Gulls
- Wolf Pack Trim Training Camp Roster by Eleven - Hartford Wolf Pack
- True North Partners with Evolv to Expedite Entry to Canada Life Centre Events - Manitoba Moose
- The Wait Is Almost Over: IceHogs Open Season Next Saturday Night - Rockford IceHogs
- IceHogs Reduce Training Camp Roster - Rockford IceHogs
- Panthers Send Rasmus Asplund, Zac Dalpe, Tobias Bjornfot and Jaycob Megna to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Morning Skate Report: October 4, 2024 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Evan Nause Ready to Make Positive Impact in Year Two - Charlotte Checkers
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Forwards Connor McMenamin, Lou-Félix Denis to PTOs - Syracuse Crunch
- Iowa Wild Announces the 2024-25 Coca-Cola Concert Series Lineup - Iowa Wild
- Toronto Marlies Announce 2024 Training Camp Roster - Toronto Marlies
- 'I Want to Start as I Ended It Last Year' - Calgary Wranglers
- Wolves Broadcasts Return to WPWR-TV for 2024-25 Season - Chicago Wolves
- Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Forward Gabriel Szturc from Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Springfield Thunderbirds Announce Long-Term Affiliation Extension with St. Louis Blues - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Panthers Assign Four More to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Preseason Game Preview: Bears vs. Penguins, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Preseason Game Preview: Condors v San Jose, 6:30 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Columbus recalls forwards Del Bel Belluz, Malatesta, McKown, defensemen Clayton and Svozil - Cleveland Monsters
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
- Game #66 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (31-29-3-2) vs Calgary Wranglers (32-26-4-3)
- Tucson Climbs into Playoff Spot with 3-2 Win over Calgary
- Game #65 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (30-29-3-2) vs Calgary Wranglers (32-25-4-3)
- Roadrunners Celebrate Cameron Hebig's Record with Commemorative T-Shirts on April 5
- Roadrunners Edged by Condors 3-2, Slip Out of Playoff Spot

