Goalie Matthew Villalta Rises in Tucson Roadrunners' Records
Tucson Roadrunners goalie Matthew Villalta is off to a strong start this season and is on track to break several franchise records.
Record-Breaking Performance
In Tucson’s recent 3-0 victory over the Iowa Wild, Villalta earned his eighth shutout, just two shy of the team record held by current Vegas Golden Knight Adin Hill. He also stands one win behind Ivan Prosvetov for second place in team history with 54 wins.
“Obviously, there’s been a lot of great goaltenders in Tucson Roadrunners history since they’ve been here, a lot of high-quality goaltenders,” Villalta said. “So it’s pretty cool but I’m not the only guy on the ice, it’s not a one-man sport, there’s five guys in front of me at all times on the ice and my teammates over my past three years have been a big piece to that puzzle, in a sense. So I give all the credit to the boys and I’m just lucky and thankful to be a part of a great organization.”
Upcoming Games
The Roadrunners, currently with a 4-4-2-0 record, will host the Coachella Valley Firebirds in a two-game series starting Friday. The Firebirds are the AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken and have a 3-4-1-0 record.
Coach's Praise
Villalta made 19 saves against the Wild, earning first star honors. Tucson head coach Steve Potvin remarked,
“I thought he was really good, you can see his game shine through.”
Matthew Villalta’s rapid ascent in franchise records highlights his skill and the team effort behind his success.
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