Rookie defenseman Maveric Lamoureux has been so good for the Tucson Roadrunners so far, that the Utah Hockey Club have already called him up the NHL, barely days into his pro career.
After playing his first four professional games for Tucson, Utah recalled Lamoureux Wednesday.
Rookie defenseman Maveric Lamoureux has been so solid on the blueline in his first four career professional games with the Tucson Roadrunners that he’s already earned his first NHL call-up. Lamoureax joined the Utah Hockey Club roster this week.
“Mav is playing a strong game. Obviously he’s got some qualities offensively; his shot is next level; the game is starting to slow down for him,” Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin said Sunday. “You can see that he’s able to take the next step and he’s getting closer to the best version.
“There’s still some ways to go, but it’s nice to see him continue to improve.”
Lamoureux scored his first professional goal Saturday from near the blue line. The AHL featured the goal on its social media outreach.
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“It felt good,” Lamoureux said. “Yeah, especially having a good bomb like that definitely feels good, especially scoring my first one.”
Then Laval, Quebec, Canada native scored his second goal Sunday after getting an assist on Saturday.
The then-Arizona Coyotes selected Lamoureux in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
“He’s a young kid and I think he’s making steps every game, every practice,” Tucson captain Austin Poganski said Sunday. “You can definitely see it see it in his game this weekend for sure, with a couple of goals, a couple of big time shots for us, but no, he’s good.
“Like I said, he’s young,” he added. “He’s gonna be making steps throughout the year and I think he’s making a big step already.”
The Roadrunners (1-3) return to action this on Friday and Saturday when they host the Bakersfield Condors (2-0-1-1).
Lamoureux played for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for four seasons before joining the Roadrunners.
He said Utah’s camps prepared him well for the jump to the pros.
“The level of this is way different than the Q,” Lamoureux said. “Guys are way bigger, way faster, they just do all the details good. So it’s definitely a big step
“I feel I’m used to it now, so I definitely happy to have like a month of camps.”
Lamoureux is tied for fourth on the Roadrunners in scoring so far.
“I think it’s different for everybody. I think he’s on the right path, and there’s been some players that, you know, take three, four, five years and there’s some players that just understand it’s a little bit quicker and have the talent and the resources to be able to take that next step a little bit quicker,” Potvin said Sunday about the Lamoureux’s sped-up adjustment. “He’s just one of those kids right now that’s getting that opportunity and he’s making the most of it and you can see he’s got NHL quality.”
On Wednesday Utah sent defenseman Patrik Koch back to Tucson.
How long Lamoureux stays in the NHL is to be seen.
On Wednesday UHC announced that defenseman Sean Durzi will be out 4-6 months and that defenseman John Marino will be out 3-4 months but Utah brass has said over the years they like to have prospects “bake” in the AHL.
Lamoureux said playing for an organization that likes to move up players and play younger guys is “definitely great.”
“Guys like Josh Doan, (Dylan) Guenther, Logan Cooley (are) up there now. A lot of young guys are doing really good,” Lamoureux said Sunday. “So it’s my turn now to build up and have my chance one day with the big club.”
