Tucson Roadrunners center Andrew Agozzino has been named the team's AHL Man of the Year.
The 32 teams each select a nominee for the AHL’s 2025-26 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award for their contributions to the community and charitable organizations.
Agozzino, an alternate captain this season, volunteered for Shott’s Tots, Arby’s Cares and the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona. It’s Agozzino’s second Man of the Year award after getting it from the San Jose Barracuda in 2022–23.
Roadrunners center Andrew Agozzino takes charge of the puck during "Star Wars" Night on Jan. 31.
He’s the seventh Roadrunner to be nominated for AHL Man of the Year. Last season, Curtis Douglas won it for Tucson. In 2023-24, it was Cameron Hebig, and in 2022-23 and 2021-22, it was Bokondji Imama. Dakota Mermis also won it twice, in 2018-19 and 2017-18.
Shott’s Tots is a Learn to Play hockey program from the NHL, NHLPA and USA Hockey, that provides equipment and coaching to kids ages 4-10 to start the sport. The Roadrunners partnered with the Matt Shott Arizona Hockey Legacy Foundation to launch Shott’s Tots in Tucson this season.
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Arby’s Cares has raised more than $1 million for local nonprofits since 2018. Candlelighters provides support to families dealing with childhood cancer.
Agozzino, 34, earned a spot on an NHL Opening Night roster for the first time in his career. He became the seventh NHL player and fifth undrafted player to make the season-opening lineup at 34 or older.
Agozzino is fifth on the Roadrunners in scoring with 39 points in 54 games and fourth in goals with 19.
The Roadrunners (32-28-10-0) host the Henderson Silver Knights (38-20-7-4) for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday to close out the season. The Silver Knights are the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights.
Roadrunners out, Mammoth in
Thanks to their four-game losing streak to start their seven-game road trip, Tucson was eliminated from playoff contention with three games to go.
Though the Roadrunners stopped the bleeding with a 5-2 win at the second-place Colorado Eagles last Friday, their 3-2 overtime loss to the Eagles a day later sealed their postseason fate.
After three straight playoff appearances, the Roadrunners will miss the tournament for the first time since 2021-22.
Since Steve Potvin took over as permanent head coach (he temporarily lead the team in 2021 when head coach Jay Varady served as an assistant for the Arizona Coyotes), this is the first time the Roadrunners didn’t make the postseason.
Tucson has made the Calder Cup Playoffs five times in its 10 seasons, though the postseason was canceled in 2019-20.
After winning 5-1 at San Diego on Wednesday night, the Roadrunners have 74 points, which will have them finish in eighth place in the 10-team Pacific Division, one spot outside the playoffs. Tucson probably would have made it if it were in any of the other three divisions. The Atlantic has six playoff spots for its eight teams, and the fourth-place Bridgeport Islanders have 74 points, as well.
The North Division has seven teams and five playoff spots, and the fifth-place Rochester Americans have 71 points. The Central has five slots for its seven teams, and the fifth-place Milwaukee Admirals have 71 points.
In other recent years, the Roadrunners’ 74 points would have earned them a postseason spot or close to it. The Pacific Division started playing 72 games along with the rest of the league in 2022-23.
Last season, Tucson finished in the last playoff spot in the Pacific with 74 points, and in 2022-23, it was in last playoff place with 69 points. In 2023-24, the Calgary Wranglers were seventh with 79 points, but they upset second-place Tucson in the first round.
The NHL's Utah Mammoth, however, with seven Roadrunners alumni on their roster as of Wednesday, made the playoffs for the first time since 2020 when they were the Arizona Coyotes. On Tuesday night, Utah clinched the first wild card in the Western Conference.
Cameron Hebig breaks another record
On April 4, Hebig tallied his 181st career point for the Roadrunners to become the franchise’s all-time leader in points. He passed former Roadrunner and Dallas Stars forward Michael Bunting.
Tucson Roadrunners Cameron Hebig (39) vs. the San Diego Gulls on Jan. 20, 2026.
In December, Hebig set the Roadrunners’ record for goals all-time and last year he broke the franchise’s record for games played.
Final promos
Friday is Salute to Service Night, and Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night.
On Friday, the Roadrunners will wear military-themed warm-up jerseys, which will be available on DASH Auctions April 17-19. The first 1,000 fans will receive a 10th-season trading card set featuring former Roadrunners like Bunting, Columbus Blue Jacket Conor Garland and Vegas Golden Knight Adin Hill.
Then on Saturday, the team will have various giveaways, like 1,500 T-shirts.
Simashev makes the AHL All-Rookie Team
On Wednesday, defenseman Dmitri Simashev was selected to the 2025-26 AHL All-Rookie Team.
The six-player team featured two other Pacific Division players. Simashev, who is currently with the Mammoth, is the first Roadrunner to make the team since Josh Doan in 2023-24.
Utah Mammoth defenseman Dmitri Simashev shoots the puck during the second period of a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, April 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City.
The Russian has 35 points in 40 AHL games and has played in 27 NHL games this year. He also made the all-star team and was the AHL Rookie of the Month for January.
Tucson signs defenseman
Also on Wednesday, Tucson signed Portland Winterhawks defenseman Max Pšenička to an AHL amateur tryout agreement.
Pšenička has 30 points in 53 games for the Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League at the major junior league level.
The 19-year-old was Utah’s No. 46 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He played for Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, getting three points as the Czechs finished second, including a 6-4 semifinal win over Canada.
