Caleb Desnoyers hasn’t taken long to make an impression in Tucson.
The Utah Mammoth’s 2025 first-round pick, selected fourth overall, is set to begin his first pro season with the Tucson Roadrunners after a standout year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Moncton Wildcats. He put up 78 points in 45 games there, but the move to the AHL is the next test, and the organization believes it’s the right one for him.
The new CBA opened the door for each NHL team to have one 19-year-old Canadian Hockey League player with its AHL affiliate, and Desnoyers landed in that lane after a strong camp. The Mammoth sent him to Tucson, where the pace, physicality and overall grind are a clear step up from junior hockey.
“Just work on playing with pace,” Desnoyers said. “It’s a different adjustment, but I’m sure they’ll have a good plan, and I’ll work hard to get back there.”
That development path is familiar for Utah. Seventeen players on the Mammoth’s main roster spent time in the AHL, and the club has seen players like Dmtiri Simashev and Daniil But take major strides after time with the Roadrunners. Desnoyers knows there’s a reason behind the assignment, even if the adjustment is real.
What’s made the transition smoother is the group around him. He’s already spent time with many of the Roadrunners since rookie camp and the start of NHL camp, has long known Gabe Smith, and has quickly clicked with Tomas Lavoie through their French connection. The locker room has also been helped by the returns of Austin Poganski and Kevin Rooney.
“We got good veterans and no great group of leaders, and even some good young guys too,” Desnoyers said. “It’s been pretty easy so far. It’s been really good.”
He’s also started to show why Tucson fans are already paying attention. Before he’s even played his first official pro game, Desnoyers scored in the Roadrunners’ second preseason game against the Texas Stars, giving him his first unofficial goal in Tucson.
But head coach Steve Potvin said the goal wasn’t the most notable thing about Desnoyers’ early run with the team. What stood out was how he carried himself on the bench and around the group.
“The thing that stood out the most for Desi was how supportive he was for the win at the end of the game,” Desnoyers said. “He’s celebrating with the guys, and he wasn’t one of the guys that was out on the ice.
He’s wishing the guys the best, and he’s cheering them on from the bench. I’m not saying that we don’t want him on the ice competing, but it’s nice to see a young guy understand the value of being a good teammate.”
Desnoyers was named the second star of the game in that first appearance, and Potvin has also noticed how vocal he’s been in practice and during games. The easygoing personality has helped him settle in quickly.
On the ice, the skill jumps out right away. His speed and stick work are elite, and Potvin has already started building chemistry between Desnoyers and Tij Iginla, the Mammoth’s sixth overall pick in 2024.
The two have been used together on the power play and have also skated five-on-five in some shifts. Desnoyers assisted on a power-play goal from Poganski and Joshua Roy, while he and Iginla continue to learn each other’s game.
“We’re trying to create chemistry,” Desnoyers said. “We never really played together before, but he’s a great hockey player. Has a great shot, so I use my playmaking to set him up.”
Potvin likes what he sees from the rookie so far.
“He’s a competitive person,” Potvin said. “He wants to win.
He’s smart. His hockey IQ is elite, and he wants to be involved in every situation, and I think he understands every situation.”
Away from the rink, Desnoyers is settling into Tucson the way a lot of newcomers do: by noticing the weather first. He got in at night two days ago, has already been through practices, and has checked out the University of Arizona campus with a few teammates. He’s still in a hotel for now, but he just got his housing letter and plans to find a place this week.
“I got here at night two days ago,” Desnoyers said. “We just had the practices.
We went to see the campus a little bit, just having fun. The weather’s different than Montreal right now, so it’s great.”
With a young group around him and no college experience of his own, Desnoyers appears to be settling into a setting that could suit him well. He’s enjoying the people, the environment and the chance to get back on the ice after a long wait.
“It’s fun,” Desnoyers said. “I’m getting really good along with them. They’re great people too, so it’s really fun.”
Saturday will bring his first official pro game, and for Desnoyers, it’s the start of a new chapter inside the Mammoth organization. The weather may be a shock, but the situation around him looks comfortable, competitive and built for growth.
“It’s hot outside, but it’s just great to be in Tucson,” Desnoyers said. “It’s a great group of guys, great coaching staff, and a great city.”
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Year 3 brings a different kind of test for the Utah Mammoth, who are trying to show that last season was not a one-off. The roster still leans on a core group that grew together over the first two years, but the front office also added veteran help to push the team back toward the playoffs. General manager Bill Armstrong has made clear the expectation is to get back there, with the experience from last spring now part of the foundation rather than a bonus.
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