Arizona Coyotes Announce AHL Team As Tucson Roadrunners

The Arizona Coyotes unveiled their AHL franchise as the Tucson Roadrunners on Saturday afternoon.

The Arizona Coyotes expansion into the AHL is in full swing with the unveiling of the Tucson Roadrunners.

The AHL franchise showcased it’s new branding at an open house event at the Tucson Convention Center.

The Roadrunners name was leaked earlier this month as the likely choice thanks to some trademarked documents, but Saturday served as the confirmation from IceArizona.

The previous iterations of the Roadrunners have played in the WHA, WHL, PHL, IHL, and CHL.

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The latest incarnation of the Phoenix Roadrunners played in the ECHL from 2005-2009 and were affiliated with the San Jose Sharks. They made the playoffs just once in their four seasons before the organization ceased operations in 2009.

The AHL’s press release on the new team touches on the name’s history, as well as the move to the Arizona Coyotes colors from the more familiar Carolina blue:

"“The Tucson Roadrunners’ primary logo features design elements that convey a new brand personality for the AHL team while maintaining a connection with the highly regarded Arizona Coyotes logo. The Roadrunners logo features a fierce bird that is ready for game action, wearing a hockey uniform, skates and carrying a hockey stick. The hockey sweater on the roadrunner includes the flag of Arizona (in Coyotes colors) which is also used by the Coyotes as a shoulder patch on the team’s jerseys. The roadrunner’s head, tail, gloves and striping on his jersey, pants and socks are all copper in reference to Arizona’s nickname “Copper State,” which celebrates the fabulous mineral wealth in Tucson and Arizona."

"While today the Tucson Mountains are largely protected within the confines of the Saguaro National Park and the Tucson Mountain Park, they once were mined extensively for copper, gold, silver, lead and other metallic elements. The Coyotes colors of Brick Red, Desert Sand and black embody the logo, along with copper, and reflect the symmetry between the Coyotes and the Roadrunners teams. The Coyotes’ Creative Services department designed the logo.”"

The team had some early merchandise available for open house attendees, though sweaters have not yet been unveiled.

With Craig Cunningham returning to the relocating franchise, and the promise of some combination of Brendan Perlini, Christian Dvorak, Conor Garland, and Dylan Strome playing for the Roadrunners this fall, tickets for the Roadrunners will be a worthwhile investment.

Next: Coyotes Draft And Trade Options For 20th Overall Pick

Just a short trip down the road is a hell of an upgrade from Springfield, Massachusetts. For both Arizona Coyotes players and fans.

Welcome back, Roadrunners.