The Utah Mammoth have added another forward to the mix, recalling Ben McCartney from the Tucson Roadrunners for his first NHL call-up of the season.
That move makes McCartney the second Roadrunner to get the nod to the NHL this year, and the first forward from Tucson to do it.
McCartney has been one of Tucson’s most productive players this season. The 25-year-old assistant captain is in his fourth straight season wearing that role, and he’s put up a team-best 14 points in 11 AHL games, with four goals, 10 assists, a plus-10 rating and six penalty minutes. Those numbers have him tied for third in the AHL in points, while he also leads the Roadrunners in assists and plus-minus.
At 6-foot-0 and 195 pounds, McCartney has built a long track record in Tucson. Over parts of seven seasons and 285 career AHL games, he has totaled 175 points, including 73 goals and 102 assists, along with 361 penalty minutes.
He also owns a franchise-record six shorthanded goals. In seven Calder Cup Playoff games, he has added four points, with two goals and two assists.
Last season was his best statistical year yet. In 59 AHL games in 2025-26, McCartney posted career highs with 21 goals, 30 assists and 51 points.
He has also seen NHL action before, appearing in two games for the Arizona Coyotes during the 2021-22 season. In those games, he logged four penalty minutes and averaged 14:03 of ice time.
Meanwhile, Tucson is set to return home for a four-game homestand, beginning with back-to-back games against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Friday and Saturday. Both puck drops are scheduled for 7 p.m. MST, with the games set to air live on AHLtv on FloHockey.
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McCartneys return adds another layer to a roster that is still being shaped around pace and pressure, especially with the organization trying to balance immediate needs against long-term development. Daniil But was sent back to Tucson to get more ice time and keep building his game, a reminder that these moves are as much about the bigger picture as they are about the next matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Vejmelkas Struggles Have Utah Fans Watching The Crease Closely
The crease has become a real point of concern for Utah after another rough night from Karel Vejmelka in a loss to Philadelphia. He surrendered five goals on 20 shots, and the performance fit a troubling stretch that has left the Mammoth buried near the bottom of the league in both goals saved above expected and save percentage.
With the goaltending numbers trending the wrong way, the conversation is shifting toward whether Utah should give Sebastian Cossa a look in net to see what it has behind Vejmelka. The timing matters because the Mammoth need to know whether they can ride out this spell or if a change is needed before the season drifts further in the wrong direction. [Read more 🡒]