Top Moments From the Roadrunners’ 2024-25 Campaign

TUCSON — The 2024-25 season was another memorable chapter for the Tucson Roadrunners, marked by dramatic finishes, standout individual efforts, and another trip to the Calder Cup Playoffs. From record-setting performances to unforgettable comebacks, the season showcased the growth, resilience, and determination of a tight-knit team that made Southern Arizona proud.

Before we turn the page to next season, let’s take a look back at the top moments that defined Tucson’s season—on the ice and in the playoff race.

Clutch in Crunch Time

The Roadrunners had a flair for the dramatic in 2024-25, winning three games in overtime—their most since the 2021-22 campaign. Alternate captain Andrew Agozzino led the charge with two OT winners, while Egor Sokolov tallied the first of the season in a critical game against Bakersfield. Each win proved pivotal as Tucson edged out the Condors for the final Pacific Division playoff spot via a tiebreaker. Here’s a look at those clutch moments:

Oct. 26, 2024: Sokolov Steals the Show

For the second straight night against Bakersfield, Egor Sokolov scored twice—including the overtime winner—in a 3-2 victory. After recording four goals in the weekend series, including two game-winners, Sokolov was named AHL Player of the Week. He became the first Roadrunner to receive the honor since Laurent Dauphin on Oct. 23, 2022. Sokolov’s OT heroics capped a dominant start to the season, as he tallied points in each of Tucson’s first six games (5g, 3a)—his longest point streak of the season.

Nov. 27, 2024: Agozzino Seals It in Extra Time

Agozzino netted his second game-winning goal of the year—and his first in overtime—with a 4-3 victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The goal capped a stretch in which the veteran forward tallied three goals and five points in four games.

Feb. 23, 2025: Agozzino Delivers Again

In just his second game back after a 15-game injury absence, Agozzino scored a breakaway goal in overtime to give Tucson a 4-3 win and series sweep over Abbotsford. After an intense battle with Linus Karlsson throughout the game, Agozzino let his emotions show after the winner—engaging with the Canucks forward as Tucson Arena erupted. The win gave the Roadrunners their first series sweep in over two months and pushed them three points ahead of Bakersfield in the playoff race.

Comeback Victories

Feb. 7, 2025: The Sammy Walker Game

Sammy Walker had a debut to remember in his first game as a Roadrunner. Just days after being acquired in a trade from the Iowa Wild, the Minnesota native recorded two goals and two assists to lead Tucson to a 4-3 comeback win over the San Jose Barracuda.

Walker became the first—and one of only two—Roadrunners to record four points in a game this season, factoring in on every goal to help erase a two-goal deficit and snap the team’s eight-game winless streak. His performance set the tone for a second-half surge and marked the beginning of a memorable stretch of play against San Jose.

Mar. 16, 2025: St. Patrick’s Day Magic

Five weeks later, Tucson staged another late rally against the Barracuda, erasing a two-goal deficit in the final six minutes before winning 6-5 in a shootout. Curtis Douglas and Walker scored late to force overtime, and Max Szuber and Walker sealed it in the shootout. The comeback gave Tucson its first shootout win of the year and increased its lead over Bakersfield to four points.

Douglas extended his goal streak to a career-best four games with a pair of tallies, marking his first multi-goal performance in the AHL.

Apr. 5, 2025: Third-Period Turnaround vs. Bakersfield

In a playoff-style showdown, Tucson scored four unanswered third-period goals to defeat the Condors 4-2 at Tucson Arena. The win extended their lead over Bakersfield to three points with five games to play.

Ben McCartney ignited the rally with a shorthanded breakaway goal, followed by Szuber’s game-tying blast. Ryan McGregor gave Tucson its first lead with 7:25 to play, and Robbie Russo sealed it with an empty-netter—his 300th career AHL point.

Also that night, Cameron Hebig was honored for becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in games played earlier that week in San Diego.

Hebig’s Hatty

Hebig added to his historic season on Jan. 3, recording his first career hat trick in a 6-3 road win over the Texas Stars. His third goal with 2:30 left was the game-winner in a back-and-forth contest. Hebig, who became the team’s all-time leader in games played, also cracked the top three in franchise history for both goals (63) and points (133) and earned his first AHL All-Star selection.

Rookie Milestones

Oct. 19: Lamoureux Lights the Lamp

First-round pick Maveric Lamoureux scored his first AHL goal in Tucson’s home opener against Texas. The 6-foot-7 defenseman finished the night with his first multi-point game (1g, 1a), which kicked off a five-game point streak—the second-longest by a Roadrunners defenseman this season.

Oct. 30: Lipkin’s Breakout

Rookie Sam Lipkin tallied his first professional goal in a 5-2 win at Abbotsford. It sparked a surge for the 22-year-old, who scored six goals and seven points over an eight-game stretch.

Nov. 9: Duda Gets His First

Artem Duda scored on the power play during Military Appreciation Night in Tucson’s 5-2 win over San Diego. Julian Lutz assisted for his fourth helper of the season.

Feb. 16: Lutz Joins the Club

Lutz scored his first AHL goal in a 7-4 win at Henderson, burying a rebound off a McGregor wraparound. That same night, goaltender Matthew Villalta earned his 100th career AHL win with 24 saves.

Clinching a Playoff Spot

With the season on the line in the regular-season finale, Tucson delivered a commanding 7-4 win over the Pacific Division champion Colorado Eagles on April 19 to clinch a third straight Calder Cup Playoff berth.

Villalta made 23 saves for his 18th win of the year, including a sprawling stop on Taylor Makar (younger brother of Avalanche star Cale Makar) in the third period—a candidate for Save of the Year and a signature moment in his stellar season.

Stauber’s Playoff Heroics

Jaxson Stauber shined in Tucson’s first-round series against Abbotsford, recording a franchise playoff-record 38 saves in a 4-1 Game 2 win—his first career playoff victory in just his third postseason start. He followed it up with 34 more stops in Game 3 to finish the series with a .935 save percentage.

With the Roadrunners facing elimination, Stauber was outstanding in Game 2. He turned aside 17 shots in the first period alone and backstopped Tucson to a commanding lead, helping even the series and force a decisive Game 3.