Fast Facts: Moose vs. Rockford – Oct. 15

The Manitoba Moose drop the puck on the 2022-23 campaign this afternoon at Canada Life Centre. The antlered ones host the Rockford IceHogs at 2 p.m. CT for today's Home Opener presented by Canada Life. The Central Division opponents finished second and fourth in the division respectively last season. The Moose were led by Mikey Eyssimont's 42 points (18G, 24A) while the IceHogs were paced by Chicago first round pick Lukas Reichel's 57 points (21G, 36A). Tickets for today's matchup are available at MooseHockey.com/TICKETS.

Hey, I Know You!

The 2022-23 edition of the Moose feature a bevy of familiar faces. Manitoba has the pleasure of returning 22 players from the 2021-22 roster. Leading scorer Mikey Eyssimont and goal leader Jeff Malott both return up front. Team MVP Cole Maier, along with usual linemates Nicholas Jones and Evan Polei, also reunite for another season in antlers. The blueline is anchored by Winnipeg Jets draft picks Declan Chisholm, Leon Gawanke, Ville Heinola and Simon Lundmark who all hit double-digits in points last season. The club is bolstered by returning experienced players including captain Jimmy Oligny, fellow defenceman Ashton Sautner along with forwards Jansen Harkins and Dominic Toninato.

Moose International

The current iteration of the Moose roster features a unique blend of talent from all across the globe. The Canadian province of Alberta is represented by five players. Ontario comes in second with four skaters followed by Quebec and Manitoba who each have two on the list. Bringing up the rear is Newfoundland and British Columbia with one apiece. This season the Moose have a strong contingent from south of the border with nine American-born players on the roster. Across the pond, Sweden and Finland are well represented with four skaters each, while Germany and Czechia each account for one.

“We Are Pleased To Select”

This season’s Moose squad features 11 players selected by the Winnipeg Jets at the NHL Draft. Three of those players were picked in the first round, three in the second round, one in the fourth round, and two each in both the fifth and sixth rounds. Out of the Winnipeg picks on the roster, Ville Heinola, Jansen Harkins, Simon Lundmark, Daniel Torgersson, Henri Nikkanen, Leon Gawanke, Declan Chisholm and Arvid Holm all have AHL experience and have combined for a grand total of 249 points.

Development Path

Seven different Moose skaters made their NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets during the 2021-22 campaign. Forwards Cole Perfetti, who is now with the Jets, Kristian Reichel, Jeff Malott and Mikey Eyssimont all suited up. Both Perfetti and Reichel recorded their first NHL goals. On the defensive side, Dylan Samberg, who made the Jets out of training camp, Johnathan Kovacevic, now with Montreal, and Declan Chisholm saw time on the Jets blue line. Samberg registered five points including his first multi-point NHL outing against the Montreal Canadiens on April 11/22.

Who's Trending?

Mikey Eyssimont ended the 2021-22 regular season in style with a hat-trick and captured the Moose scoring crown with 42 points (18G, 24A) in 58 games. In addition to leading the Moose in points, Eyssimont ended second on the squad in goals, assists and plus/minus. The forward also made his NHL debut in Montreal against the Canadiens on April 11/22.