Could Tucson Roadrunners' successful gem show road trip lead to a playoff appearance?

With the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show taking over the TCC, the Roadrunners embarked on their annual February road swing.

Tucson went 3-2 on the gem trip, losing 5-1 to Ontario on Feb. 4, then sweeping the Calgary Wranglers and splitting with Coachella Valley Firebirds this past weekend. Tucson lost 6-1 to Coachella Valley last Friday but on Sunday beat the Firebirds 3-2.

“We've been on the road for a little bit now, and I feel like as a team we bonded a lot on the road and focused ...," said Tucson forward Miko Matikka. "I feel like coming back here, it's gonna feel great for the place, practicing at home."

The Roadrunners (22-17-8-0) host the Ontario Reign (32-16-1-1) for a two-game series on Saturday and Sunday. The Reign are the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.

Tucson went to Ontario and then Calgary, and then had the All-Star break before going to Coachella Valley.

“It was a little different this year because it was broken up there by the All-Star break, which I think was beneficial to everyone, come home and go do whatever you gotta do for a few days, step away from hockey and kind of refresh,” said Tucson right wing Austin Poganski. “So it was nice having that kind of break within the road trip, I think it made a big difference for us.”

Tucson's 3-2 road trip record was the second-most wins and third-most points in their Gem Show history. Last year it went 3-3-0-1; 3-1-1-0 in 2024; 1-6 in 2023; 2-4 in 2022; 2-4-0-1 in 2020; 2-3-0-1 in 2019; 4-2 in 2018; and 1-5 in 2017.

If history is any indication, every season the Roadrunners have finished .500 or better on the gem show road trip, they made the playoffs.

“I'm not sure we're fully aware, I think every situation, every season offers something a little bit different and of course, when you're going on the road, you have to try to do the best you can to finish above .500,” Tucson head coach Steve Potvin said about their gem show history. “That’s just the goal of any road trip, but I appreciate knowing that now, but I think for us, we're trying to do what we can to just keep bringing the team that we are every single night.”

5 Roadrunners called up following Olympic break

As the Utah Mammoth returned to practice from the Olympic break, the organization was busy on the transaction page.

On Tuesday, Utah recalled forward Daniil But, defenseman Maveric Lamoureux, forward Ben McCartney, defenseman Dmitri Simashev and goalie Matthew Villalta.

Four Mammoth players went to the Olympics: forward Clayton Keller (USA), forward J.J. Peterka (Germany), defenseman Olli Määttä (Finland) and goaltender Karel Vejmelka (Czechia).

The NHL’s Olympic break started Feb. 6, and league play resumes Feb. 25. Utah returned to practice on Monday.

“They got to do what they can to get everybody prepared, and they can't do it if they don't have the numbers, right?” Potvin said. “So they need our guys up there, and our guys are looking for the opportunity, and for us as coaches and as a staff, we look at it as a way of getting them another couple steps behind their strides, like I think you come back with a little bit more energy and you never know what comes of it.

“I think if you go there and you show a good attitude and you have good habits you never know, you might turn their heads a little bit and wonder, ‘hey, I wonder what he would look like in our lineup full time,’” he added. “So hopefully they go there and practice hard. I think they can they can turn some heads and hopefully they get into a game.”

Utah previously called up But on Dec. 2. He played in the Feb. 4 game against Ontario before he was sent back to Tucson as the Olympics loomed.

Simashev has split time between the Mammoth and Roadrunners, playing 25 games in the AHL and 24 in the NHL.

Lamoureux has mostly been with the Roadrunners, playing 40 games for them, as has McCartney (47 games) and Villalta (24 games).

Matikka said there is trash talking about the Olympics — the first time since 2014 NHL players have gone to the games — among the Roadrunners.

“There was a Canada/Czech game today and I'm not Canadian, so obviously rooting against them, but yeah, it's awesome to see all the best in the world competing, having a guy from every nationality here,” the Finnish forward said on Wednesday. “So, it's fun."

The Roadrunners’ roster as of Thursday afternoon featured players from Canada, United States, Czechia, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Poland.

Youth jerseys, Bluey and Dusty’s birthday

Saturday is Youth Sports Night/Bluey Night. The first 1,500 kids, 12 and under, will receive a Roadrunners youth jersey. Everyone's favorite Australian blue heeler, Bluey, will also make an appearance. 

Then on Sunday, Dusty will be celebrating his birthday with his mascot pals. An image the Roadrunners shared promoting the event featured Ray of the Valley Suns, Wilbur and Wilma from the UA, Thunder of GCU, the Phoenix Mercury’s Scorch, Sparky from ASU, Baxter of the Diamondbacks, Louie from NAU, the Sugarskulls’ Bones, Stryker from the Rattlers, Ottawa University’s Fang and the Fiesta Bowl’s Spirit.

After the game, the Roadrunners will have a fan skate with some of the players.

Standings check

Heading into this weekend’s game, the Roadrunners sit in seventh place in the Pacific Division, the last playoff spot, with 52 points.

Tucson is six points ahead of the eighth-place Henderson Silver Knights and seven points behind the fourth-place (the last home ice advantage spot in the first round) San Jose Barracuda.

Meanwhile, the Reign are in first place in the division with 66 points.