This unique jersey from the Roadrunners’ inaugural season was worn by both Jeremy Morin and Stefan Fournier at various points in 2016-2017.
The two players were traded for each other in a deal between the Arizona Coyotes and the Tampa Bay Lightning organization on February 26th, 2017. Morin was shipped to Tucson, and Fournier was sent to Syracuse. Fournier played 29 games (2 goals, 2 assists) in Tucson prior to the trade. Post trade, Morin skated in 20 games (7 goals, 2 assists) for the Roadrunners.
The jersey has light wear, with a few holes on the right sleeve and another below the crest on the front of the jersey. There is also evidence of the nameplate swap that happened mid-season.
Stefan Fournier pictured here in a photomatch after being wrested to the ice during a fight with Zack Stortini of the San Jose Barracuda.
The right sleeve #26 has loose threads on both sides of the #6 that are visible in multiple photos of both players. Thanks to those threads and the holes on the right sleeve, it is photomatched to both player’s stints in Tucson.
Jeremy Morin shown here in a photomatch from a game against the San Diego Gulls on 4/1/2017.
The most interesting aspect of this inaugural gamer is found inside the jersey, however.
There is evidence of a second fight strap that was attached to the front of the jersey, which is consistent with Stefan Fournier’s gamers.
Residue shown from the second fight strap Fournier had the team attach to the front of his jersey.
All in all, this Morin/Fournier piece is possibly the most unique in my Roadrunners collection outside of the Darcy Kuemper Roadrunners Kachina alternate. Not only was it worn by two players and features a few unique bits of wear and use, but it’s also a red set jersey from the first season.
Detroit Hockey Company was not sent any of the red set inaugurals in their agree with Tucson. Each season they’ve received just one set (white in 2016-2017, red in 2017-2018, white again in 2018-2019) with the occasional straggler from the other set. The only avenue to acquire a red set jersey from 2016-2017 has been via the team itself, or through AHL Authentic auctions.
I was pretty excited when I found this one and was able to dig into it’s lineage.
Now the quest becomes tracking down one of each color from 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 to match the set I’ve put together from the inaugural season.