Manitoba Moose

The Manitoba Moose are a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, that plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). The team plays its home games at Bell MTS Place, the home arena of its parent club, the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets.

Manitoba Moose
2020–21 AHL season
CityWinnipeg, Manitoba
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
DivisionCanadian
Founded1994 (In the IHL)
Home arenaBell MTS Place
ColoursPolar Night blue, aviator blue, silver, white
       
Owner(s)True North Sports & Entertainment
General managerCraig Heisinger
Head coachPascal Vincent
MediaTSN3
Global News Radio 680 CJOB
AHL.TV (Internet)
AffiliatesWinnipeg Jets (NHL)
Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL)
WebsiteMooseHockey.com
Franchise history
1994–1996Minnesota Moose
1996–2011Manitoba Moose
2011–2015St. John's IceCaps
2015–presentManitoba Moose
Championships
Regular season titles1 (2008–09)
Division Championships2 (2006–07), (2008–09)
Conference Championships1 (2008–09)

The franchise was founded as the Minnesota Moose of the International Hockey League (IHL) in 1994. During its first tenure in Winnipeg (1996–2011), the Manitoba Moose played five seasons in the IHL and ten in the AHL. This was followed by four seasons in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (2011–2015), during which time the team was known as the St. John's IceCaps. The team returned to Winnipeg prior to the 2015–16 season.

History

International Hockey League (1996–2001)

Following the departure of the original Winnipeg Jets franchise to Phoenix in 1996, a group of local businessmen, including Mark Chipman, purchased the Minnesota Moose of the IHL. The team was relocated to Winnipeg to provide a new tenant for the Winnipeg Arena and keep professional hockey in the city.[1][2]

The team's first season in Winnipeg was a disaster. Former Montreal Canadiens coach Jean Perron was brought in to replace Frank Serratore as head coach and general manager. The Moose won only 16 of 50 games under Perron before he was fired on January 4, 1997.[3][4][5] Upon his dismissal, Perron lashed out at team ownership, the media, and the players, including a personal attack on team captain Randy Gilhen.[6][7] Perron threatened legal action against the organization, but nothing came of it.[8] Assistant coach Randy Carlyle, a former Jets defenceman, took over as head coach and led the team to a winning record in their final 32 games of the season, but it was not enough to qualify for the playoffs.

Carlyle served as the head coach and general manager for remainder of the team's tenure in the IHL. The Moose had moderate regular season success and qualified for the Turner Cup playoffs three out of the next four seasons, making it as far as the second round. Carlyle was named the league's General Manager of the Year for the 1998–99 season.[9][10] The Moose did not affiliate with an NHL club while playing in the IHL, although several did loan players to the team.[3]

2001–2011: Move to the AHL

The Moose and five other IHL teams were accepted into the AHL after the IHL's demise in 2001. The Moose were required to affiliate with an NHL club and became the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks,[3] a partnership that would last until the NHL's return to Winnipeg in 2011. Former Canucks star Stan Smyl was chosen by the Canucks as the new head coach of the Moose while Carlyle remained as general manager for one season before he left to join the Washington Capitals coaching staff. In 2002–03, Smyl led the team to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, but lost to the Hamilton Bulldogs in seven games. After the team missed the playoffs the following season, Smyl was reassigned within the Canucks organization.[11]

Following the departure of Smyl, Carlyle returned as head coach for the 2004–05 season. It was a season of big changes and new heights of success for the organization. The Moose, now owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, played their final game at the old Winnipeg Arena and moved into the brand new MTS Centre (since renamed Bell MTS Place). The Moose advanced as far as the conference final for the first time in team history but were swept in four games by their old IHL rivals, the Chicago Wolves.[11] Mark Chipman was awarded the James C. Hendy Memorial Award for AHL Executive of the Year. After the season, Carlyle was hired by the Anaheim Ducks as their new head coach, becoming the first of four consecutive Moose head coaches to leave the team for head coaching positions in the NHL.[10]

Former Canadiens head coach Alain Vigneault was hired by the Vancouver Canucks as the new Moose head coach for the 2005–06 season. Winnipeg native and three-time Stanley Cup champion Mike Keane also joined the club as their new team captain. Keane quickly became a fan favourite and the team had another great year, but again lost in the second round of the playoffs. After the season, Vigneault was promoted by the Canucks to fill their vacant head coaching position when Marc Crawford was let go.

A Moose game at the then-MTS Centre in 2006

Former Moose captain and assistant coach Scott Arniel was selected to replace Vigneault. Arniel coached the team for four seasons and, in 2008–09, led them to their best season in franchise history when the team finished with 107 points, the best record in the league. In the second round of the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Moose completed their first playoff sweep in franchise history, defeating the Grand Rapids Griffins. After beating the Houston Aeros in six games to win the Western Conference final, the Moose advanced to the Calder Cup finals for the first time, but lost the championship series in six games to the Hershey Bears.[12][13] Arniel was awarded the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL Coach of the Year, while general manager Heisinger became the second member of the Moose front office staff to win the James C. Hendy Memorial Award.[14][15]

Arniel became the third Moose coach in six years to make the jump to the NHL when he was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as their new head coach in 2010. Ironically, Arniel was replaced by the person he replaced in Columbus, Claude Noël.[16] During the same off-season, Keane's contract was not renewed and his #12 jersey was later retired on Mike Keane Tribute Night, February 12, 2011.[17][18] During the 2011 playoffs, the Moose came back from 3 game to 1 deficit to the Lake Erie Monsters in the first round to advance. They fell behind 3 games to 1 again in round two, this time to the Hamilton Bulldogs, and came back to force a seventh game. However, the Bulldogs took the series with a 2–1 win in triple overtime in the longest Game 7 in AHL history.[19]

During their first tenure in the AHL, the Moose were one of the league's most successful franchises. Home game attendance was consistently among the best in the league, including an average of 8,404 per game during the 2010–2011 season.[20] The organization was also popular with the players, as the Moose "had the reputation of being run like an NHL club".[21] League president and CEO David Andrews called the Moose "a flagship franchise for the AHL".[22]

2011–2015: St. John's IceCaps
Main article: St. John's IceCaps

On May 31, 2011, Mark Chipman announced True North Sports and Entertainment's acquisition of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers with the intent of relocating the team to Winnipeg for the 2011–12 season. The return of NHL hockey to the city prompted the organization to find a new home for the AHL franchise, thus ending the team's 15-year tenure in Manitoba. A deal with former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Danny Williams was quickly negotiated to relocate the team to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. This deal was swiftly approved by the AHL Board of Governors.[23] Upon relocation to St. John's, the team was renamed the St. John's IceCaps and became the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets.[24][25]

The success of the AHL franchise continued in St. John's. Attendance at Mile One Centre was strong, as the IceCaps enjoyed the second longest home sellout streak in league history at 120 games between 2011 and 2014.[26][27] In 2011–12, the IceCaps won their division and advanced as far as the conference final. In 2013–14, the IceCaps advanced to the Calder Cup finals for the second time in franchise history, but lost to the Texas Stars in five games.[28]

2015–present: Return to Manitoba

As early as January 2014, Chipman confirmed that True North Sports and Entertainment was interested in moving its AHL franchise closer to Winnipeg, with Thunder Bay, Ontario as the preferred destination.[29] Although the agreement with Danny Williams' group was extended through 2016, the two sides terminated the deal after the Williams' group negotiated an agreement to relocate the Hamilton Bulldogs to St. John's for the 2015–16 season. As part of the arrangements, the IceCaps' name and identity, with adjustments to match the Montreal Canadiens affiliation, were transferred to the incoming St. John's club.[30]

As a new arena in Thunder Bay was not forthcoming, True North Sports and Entertainment opted to return its AHL franchise to Winnipeg for the 2015–16 season. As a result, the team became one of two AHL teams (along with the San Jose Sharks' affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda), to share an arena with its NHL parent club.[31][32] In May 2015, True North revealed that the team would once again be called the Manitoba Moose, at the same time unveiling slight changes to the former Moose logo and a colour scheme to match the Winnipeg Jets.[33] The team also confirmed that Keith McCambridge, who had been with the Moose/IceCaps since 2009, would remain as head coach.[34]

After one season in Manitoba and missing the playoffs for the second straight season, McCambridge was released by the organization and replaced by Jets assistant coach Pascal Vincent.[35] The Moose missed the playoffs again in Vincent's first season, but a much improved performance during the 2017–18 season returned the Moose to playoffs again. Vincent was awarded the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award for AHL coach of the year, while players Sami Niku and Mason Appleton won major awards.[36]

Team information

Logos and uniforms
Logo from 2004-2011

The current Manitoba Moose uniforms are similar to those of the Winnipeg Jets, whose colours are polar night blue, aviator blue, silver, and white. However, unlike the Jets, the Moose wear their white uniforms for home games in accordance with AHL rules.[33] During their IHL days, the Moose colours were purple, green, and copper. The team switched to teal, copper, and black after joining the AHL.

The original Minnesota Moose logo, depicting a Moose holding a hockey stick, was carried over when the team moved from Minnesota in 1996. The logo was slightly altered in 2001 to match the team's new colour scheme. A new logo created by Milwaukee-based graphic designer David Mann was introduced in 2004 (coinciding with the team's move from Winnipeg Arena to MTS Centre), which the team used until 2011. The Moose returned to a similar logo upon returning to the AHL in 2015, albeit with an altered colour scheme to match the new team colours and other slight changes.[37][38]

Mascot

Mick E. Moose debuted as the mascot of the Manitoba Moose in 1996. The Winnipeg Jets "recalled" him from the AHL in 2011 to become their mascot following the departure of the Moose to St. John's. He has doubled as mascot for both teams since 2015.[39] Aside from hockey games, Mick E. Moose makes approximately 100 public appearances each year at various community events.[40]

Media

TSN Radio 1290 (CFRW) streams all Moose games on the internet, while radio broadcasts are carried by CFRW when the Moose schedule does not conflict with Winnipeg Jets or National Football League games on the station. Daniel Fink is the team's Manager of Hockey Communications & play-by-play broadcaster. Fink began calling Moose games in 2019, taking over from Mitch Peacock (2015-2019). CJOB 680 previously held radio broadcast rights from 1996 to 2011, with Kelly Moore (1996–2006) and Brian Munz (2006–2011) as play-by-play announcers.

Venue

The Manitoba Moose play their home games at Bell MTS Place in downtown Winnipeg, which they share with the Winnipeg Jets. Although the arena seats 15,321 for hockey, only the lower bowl (which seats 8,812) is open for most Moose games. Practices and training sessions are usually held at Bell MTS Iceplex.[41][42]

The team played at the Winnipeg Arena prior to the opening of the Bell MTS Place in November 2004.

Season-by-season results
Regular season Playoffs
SeasonGamesWonLostTiedOTLSOLPointsGoals
for		Goals
against		StandingYearPrelim1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1996–97823240—10—742623005th, Midwest1997—Did not qualify
1997–98823936—7—852692544th, Northwest1998—L, 0–3, CHI———
1998–99824721—14—1082692362nd, Midwest1999—W, 2–0, MILL, 0–3, CHI——
1999–00823731—14—882272375th, West2000—L, 0–2, LB———
2000–01823931—12—902222303rd, West2001—W, 4–3, HOUL, 2–4, CHI—
2001–0280393344—862702604th, Canadian2002W, 2–1, WOR L, 1–3, BRI———
2002–0380373382—842292282nd, Canadian2003W, 2–1, PORW, 3–1, PROL, 3–4, HAM——
2003–04803235112—772142326th, North2004Did not qualify
2004–05804426—73982432103rd, North2005—W, 4–1, STJW, 4–1, RCHL, 0–4, CHI—
2005–06804424—751002432173rd, North2006—W, 4–2, SYRL, 3–4, GR——
2006–07804523—751022322011st, North2007—W, 4–3, GRL, 2–4, HAM——
2007–08804627—34992361973rd, North2008—L, 2–4, SYR———
2008–09805023—161072301771st, League2009—W, 4–2, TORW, 4–0, GRW, 4–2, HOUL, 2–4, HER
2009–10804033—52872042324th North2010—L, 2–4, HAM———
2010–11804330—16932202103rd, North2011—W, 4–3, LEML, 3–4, HAM——
2011–2015Played as St. John's IceCaps
2015–16762641—45611802507th, Central2016—Did not qualify
2016–17762937—55681972427th, Central2017—Did not qualify
2017–18764226—44922531983rd, Central2018—W, 3–2, GRL, 0–4, RFD——
2018–19763930—52851972195th, Central2019—Did not qualify
2019–20612733—10551601908th, Central2020—Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Players

Current roster

Updated February 1, 2021.[43]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
40 Mikhail Berdin G L 22 2018 Ufa, Russia Jets
38 Trent Bourque D L 22 2020 Burlington, Ontario Moose
47 Declan Chisholm D L 21 2021 Bowmanville, Ontario Jets
48 Brett Davis RW L 21 2021 Oakbank, Manitoba Moose
27 Tyler Graovac C L 27 2021 Brampton, Ontario Canucks
45 Luke Green D R 23 2018 Halifax, Nova Scotia Jets
50 Victor Hadfield LW L 20 2021 Oakville, Ontario Moose
24 Nick Jones C R 24 2021 Edmonton, Alberta Moose
31 Cole Kehler G R 23 2021 Altona, Manitoba Moose
4 Johnathan Kovacevic D R 23 2019 Grimsby, Ontario Jets
26 Biagio Lerario C L 25 2020 Addison, Illinois Moose
18 Joona Luoto LW L 23 2019 Tampere, Finland Jets
46 Bobby Lynch RW R 22 2019 Grand Blanc, Michigan Moose
41 Cole Maier C R 25 2019 Pequannock, New Jersey Moose
43 Skyler McKenzie LW L 23 2018 Sherwood Park, Alberta Jets
16 Westin Michaud LW L 25 2020 Cloquet, Minnesota Moose
14 Jimmy Oligny D L 27 2019 Saint-Michel, Quebec Moose
37 Brent Pedersen LW L 25 2018 Arthur, Ontario Moose
20 Kristian Reichel C R 22 2018 Litvinov, Czech Republic Jets
6 Ashton Sautner D L 26 2021 Flin Flon, Manitoba Canucks
28 Hayden Shaw D L 24 2019 Woodbury, Minnesota Moose
30 Arturs Silovs G L 19 2021 Riga, Latvia Canucks
25 C. J. Suess LW L 26 2018 Forest Lake, Minnesota Jets
29 Nathan Todd C R 25 2020 Kemptville, Ontario Moose

Team captains

Retired numbers
Manitoba Moose retired numbers
No. Player Position Career No. retirement
12Mike KeaneRW2005–2010February 12, 2011
21Jimmy RoyLW1997–2006February 7, 2020[44]

Head coaches

Team records
Single season
Goals: 45 Scott Thomas (1998–99)
Assists: 81 Stephane Morin (1994–95)
Points: 114 Stephane Morin (1994–95)
Penalty minutes: 285 Wade Brookbank (2004–05)
Wins: 35 Cory Schneider (2009–10)
GAA: 2.04 Cory Schneider (2008–09)
SV%: .935 Michael Hutchinson (2017–18)
Career
Career goals: 158 Jason Jaffray
Career assists: 244 Jason Jaffray
Career points: 402 Jason Jaffray
Career penalty minutes: 1434 Jimmy Roy
Career goaltending wins: 84 Cory Schneider
Career shutouts: 12 Cory Schneider
Career games: 603 Jimmy Roy

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed regular season.[45]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game;   = current Moose player

Points
PlayerPosGPGAPtsP/G
Jason JaffrayLW4931582444020.82
Brett HauerD322581932510.78
JC LiponRW452801422220.49
Nolan BaumgartnerD451451692140.47
Jimmy RoyLW6031011112120.35
Stephane MorinF173631382011.16
Bill BowlerC187551341891.01
Brandon ReidC259701111810.70
Lee GorenRW19380911710.89
Scott ArnielF222671041710.77

Team general managers
  • Jean Perron, 1996–97 (fired 50 games into first season)
  • Randy Carlyle, 1997–2002 (became Washington Capitals assistant coach)
  • Craig Heisinger, 2002–present (held position with franchise in St. John's from 2011 to 2015)

See also

References
  1. Wong, Craig (May 31, 2011). "Chipman's work to return NHL to Winnipeg began almost as soon as Jets left town". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  2. "Future of Manitoba Moose uncertain". May 31, 2011. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  3. Wiebe, Ken (May 31, 2011). "Winnipeg fans have Moose to thank". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  4. Turner, Randy (June 22, 2010). "Moose job prestigious gig in hockey circles". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  5. Lawless, Gary (June 8, 2011). "Chevy solid selection as GM". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  6. Campbell, Tim (April 3, 2009). "Captain Gilhen took one for team". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  7. Lawless, Gary (June 1, 2011). "Way to go, Winnipeg! Perseverance pays". Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  8. "Just Plain Goofy". Winnipeg Free Press. April 4, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  9. Bourgeois, Andrew (June 3, 2001). "IHL To Fold This Week and Merge To AHL". Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  10. "Randy Caryle bio". Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  11. Wiebe, Ken (December 26, 2004). "A year of change for the Moose". Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  12. "Moose advance to Calder Cup final with 3–1 victory over Aeros". Winnipeg Free Press. May 25, 2009. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  13. Campbell, Tim (June 10, 2009). "Hershey Bears take Calder Cup with 4–1 win over Moose". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  14. "Moose Head Coach Arniel Named AHL Coach of the Year". The Sports Network. April 7, 2009. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  15. "Scott Arniel named Blue Jackets head coach". The Sports Network. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  16. "Manitoba Moose hire new coach". AHL.com. June 21, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  17. "Moose retire Keane's number 12". AHL.com. February 13, 2011. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  18. Lawless, Gary (February 12, 2011). "No hard feelings, says Keane". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  19. "Bulldogs Eliminate Moose in Longest Game 7 in AHL History". The Sports Network. May 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  20. "AHL Attendance Report 2010-11". AHL.com. May 31, 2011.
  21. "Winnipeg's new NHL team faces economic realities (AP)". MSN Money. May 31, 2011.
  22. "AHL statement on True North announcement". AHL.com. May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  23. "AHL returning to St. John's". ahl.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  24. Wiebe, Ken. "Mr". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  25. "Pro hockey returning to St. John's". CBC News. June 10, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  26. Short, Robin (November 14, 2014). "IceCaps put the brakes on losing skid". The Packet. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  27. Campbell, Tim (March 20, 2015). "AHL would give fans a look at Jets' future". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  28. "Texas Stars win first Calder Cup with OT victory". National Hockey League. June 17, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  29. Chura, Peter (January 21, 2014). "True North has 'preliminary' plan for AHL team in Thunder Bay". Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  30. "Hamilton Bulldogs moving to St. John's, IceCaps to Winnipeg". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 12, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  31. "True North relocates AHL franchise to Winnipeg". Winnipeg Jets. March 12, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  32. Roberts, Meghan (March 12, 2015). "Winnipeggers and local businesses welcome AHL team". CTV Winnipeg. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  33. Campbell, Tim (May 4, 2015). "Welcome (back) to the Manitoba Moose". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  34. Campbell, Tim (May 9, 2015). "Of Moose and men". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  35. "Jets Elect Not to Renew Contract of Moose Coach Keith McCambridge". OurSports Central. April 22, 2016.
  36. Hobson, Russ (April 9, 2018). "Manitoba Moose Pascal Vincent voted AHL coach of the year". globalnews.ca. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  37. Johnston, Mike (May 4, 2015). "Manitoba Moose return to AHL with new look". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  38. Peterson, Christopher (May 21, 2007). "Logo Wars". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  39. Roylen, Rory (January 17, 2014). "Top 10 NHL Mascots". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  40. "Fan favourite Mick E. Moose drafted into the NHL ranks". Winnipeg Free Press. October 8, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  41. Roberts, Meghan (March 12, 2015). "Winnipeggers and local businesses welcome AHL team". CTV Winnipeg. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  42. "MTS Iceplex to undergo $7.5M expansion to make room for Jets and Moose". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 31, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  43. "Manitoba Moose playing roster". American Hockey League. October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  44. "Manitoba Moose to retire Jimmy Roy's sweater Friday". Global News. February 6, 2020.
  45. "All-Time scoring leaders". eliteprospects.com. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
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