Agozzino brings trusted leadership to Roadrunners | TheAHL.com

Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer

All about Andrew AgozzinoHis work was about quiet, solid skill and honesty.

So the Tucson Roadrunners forward wasn't about to make a big fuss about scoring his 600th AHL point earlier this week. But his teammates and coaches know his value — as do rivals across the league who have spent more than a decade trying to get hold of him.

With a goal and two assists in Wednesday night's 5-1 home win against San Diego, Agozzino became the 50th player in AHL history to reach 600 points. His tally Friday at Abbotsford was the 254th of his AHL career, good for 37th all-time. His 760 games also put him in the top 50.

Not bad for a player who went undrafted and played five seasons of major hockey in the Ontario Hockey League, where he scored 159 goals in 318 games for Niagara.

Maybe a little too small at 5-foot-10, 181 pounds. Maybe it's not flashy enough.

But when his chance came, he took it. He signed an AHL contract with the Lake Erie Monsters, then a member of the Colorado Avalanche, in the 2012-13 season. Fourth line minutes, but it was an opportunity.

Midway through the season he was playing in the AHL All-Star Classic, and that AHL deal became an entry-level NHL contract in March.

Scored 30 goals for the Monsters in 2014-15. He also made his debut with the Avalanche that season, the first of his 51 games in the NHL during stops in Colorado, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, Ottawa and San Jose.

Organizations are learning they can count on Agozzino to step in and fill a role up top while also being a great producer and leader at the AHL level. He'll play well beyond his small frame, never afraid to battle bigger, stronger opponents for pucks and space. Mix in a good set of instincts and offensive hands, and you have someone who has done an impressive job over 13 professional seasons.

Agozzino has worn the letter at several points in his career, both junior and professional, including captaining the San Jose Barracuda in 2022-23. He is among the leading scorers for the Roadrunners this year, his first season in Tucson. Since he can no longer produce offensively, AHL clubs need more than that, which is why Agozzino continues to earn contracts each summer. A mature, sharp-headed presence since being a prospect more than a decade ago, he can pass on all the tips and advice he's gotten through the tough times that come with trying to build a professional career.

That means helping teammates, building relationships, helping players reach their 20s to find a place to stop and get off the ice. The Roadrunners carry six players on their roster right now, and Agozzino can relate to the opportunity — and nerves — that come with taking the opportunity to play one level below the NHL.

“There was a lot of uncertainty,” Agozzino recalled of his first pro season. “I didn't really know what to expect. To be able to help guys along the way, it's part of my job here. I think one of the biggest things is trying to be consistent every practice and every game. That's one of the biggest challenges for young players trying to find their way to the NHL.”

That's why the Utah Hockey Club pursued Agozzino so hard when free agency opened last July 1. They made it clear they wanted him in their organization, and a day later Agozzino got himself a new two-year deal.

“There's definitely more competition (for roster spots) as you get older,” Agozzino said, “and being able to contribute for a long time is something I'm proud of.”

Adding Agozzino helped make Tucson a contender. The weekend sweep at Abbotsford gives them six straight wins going into the Christmas break, and 11 wins in their last 14 outings. Agozzino was arrested as well Egor Sokolov a team-leading 23 points, and has been key to Tucson's success on the power play; The Roadrunners' conversion rate of 21.8 percent ranks them sixth in the AHL.

Tucson made an impressive move to Agozzino last season against San Diego. It felt right, both in style and attitude.

“We are a simple team that plays hard,” he said. “When I think about playing Tucson last year, it was a tough game. They can knock you down, next thing you know you're down 3-1.

“We have been getting that game for a long time. We have been grinding teams down and really playing a patient game and a simple game that has been really successful for us.”

In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league's top scorer in 2016.