Mammoth’s Caleb Desnoyers Excited to Get Pro Career Started in Tucson

It felt like it was destiny that Caleb Desnoyers would be arriving in southern Arizona after his 2025-26 season concluded in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). With the new CBA agreement in effect, each NHL team is allowed one 19-year-old Canadian Hockey League (CHL) player with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.

While Desnoyers has played at an elite level with the Moncton Wildcats, the pro level is a completely different story. A solid camp turned into the Utah Mammoth electing to send him to the Tucson Roadrunners to play out his first pro season in the AHL. While it might take some longer than others to adjust to the new league, Desnoyers has already made his name known in the Old Pueblo.

The AHL Will Be a Good Challenge

Perfection comes with time. The Mammoth don’t do things without a good reason behind it. While 78 points in 45 games with the Wildcats was an elite season, the AHL will be a new challenge for Desnoyers. It’s more physical, more skilled, and harder than the CHL. Everyone is trying to get to the next level and get a better job.

It’s all in preparation for the next level. 17 of the players on the Mammoth’s main roster played in the AHL at some point. That includes Dmtiri Simashev and Daniil But, who both improved tremendously every single time they were brought up from the Roadrunners. Mammoth management has a plan for Desnoyers and has made it clear what they want him to work on.

“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.”

The transition to Tucson has been easy for the forward. Desnoyers has been around most of the players on the Roadrunners since rookie camp and the start of NHL camp. He’s played with a player like Gabe Smith for a long time. He and Tomas Lavoie have quickly become good friends through their French connection.

It helps that the Roadrunners have such a strong locker room culture, one they’ve been building and continue to build with the return of Austin Poganski and Kevin Rooney. For Desnoyers, it’s made the transition easy.

“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.”

An Early Impact

Even before his first official pro game, Desnoyers has been popular among Roadrunners fans. Of course, there’s the fact that he was drafted fourth overall by the Mammoth in 2025, but he already has his first unofficial goal as a Roadrunner, which he scored in the team’s second preseason game against the Texas Stars.

Caleb Desnoyers with this BEAUTY to tie it! pic.twitter.com/qJxSsdK5On

— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) September 28, 2026

It’s not the goal head coach Steve Potvin was most impressed with, though. It was his immediate commitment to the team he had spent less than a week with. 

“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 named the second star of the game in his first game as a Roadrunner. #TusksUp #LetsGoTucson pic.twitter.com/UWtJfsHq84

— Chase Beardsley (@ChaseBeardsley_) September 28, 2026

That is something Desnoyers is showing early. He’s being vocal during games and at practices. He’s quickly becoming a solidified part of the team with his easygoing personality.

There is the obvious skill as well that has gotten Desnoyers this far. His speed and stick work are elite, and it’s pretty clear that on the ice, he is one of the most promising players who have come through the Tucson organization.

With that, Potvin has started trying to forge chemistry between Desnoyers and Tij Iginla, the Mammoth’s sixth overall pick in 2024. The duo were placed on the power play with each other and also skated five-on-five together during some shifts. While only Desnoyers scored on the power play off of assists from Poganski and Joshua Roy, the more the two first-rounders play with each other, the better chemistry they’ll have.

“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.”

It’s clear, though, that despite wanting to get to the NHL as soon as possible, Desnoyers cares about the Roadrunners and the success of the team. A rookie with the talent he has could’ve easily just stepped into the AHL and not cared, but early looks show that Desnoyers likely isn’t that type of person.

“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.”

Shaping up to Be a Fun Season

As for how Desnoyers is settling into Tucson, his first reaction was just like many others who have gone through the team: it’s way different weather than Canada.

However, outside of all the practices and preseason games, Desnoyers has managed to get out and explore his new city. He and a few others checked out the University of Arizona’s campus a little bit.

“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.”

Like many of the newcomers, the forward is posted up in a hotel as of right now. However, Desnoyers just got his housing letter and will focus on finding a place to live sometime this week.

With such a big number of younger players his age, Desnoyers definitely will have a tight-knit group around him. A reminder that the forward never had a college experience like many people his age do. Being located in a college town with what will be a very close team around him, Desnoyers’ first pro season could be one of the highlights of his life.

“It’s fun,” Desnoyers said. “I’m getting really good along with them. They’re great people too, so it’s really fun.”

After seasons of anticipation, Saturday will finally mark Desnoyers’ first-ever pro game. The forward is just itching to play some hockey again and finally be inside the Mammoth’s organization. However, he’s excited to be doing it with a locker room filled with players and staff who want to get better and win in a city that could actually hold a special place in his heart one day.

“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.”