FAST FACTS: Moose vs. Abbotsford – Jan. 29
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: January 29th 2022
The Manitoba Moose get back to it today following nearly a week off game action. The antlered ones host the newly minted Abbotsford Canucks for the first time this afternoon at Canada Life Centre. The Moose are coming off a pair of wins last weekend against Chicago, while the Canucks roll in with victories in three straight. Limited tickets are available for today's game at MooseHockey.com/TICKETS. Tune in to the historic meeting on CJOB.com/sports, AHLTV and the Manitoba Moose App.
Roster Moves
The Moose have seen multiple players head up to join the Winnipeg Jets or the Taxi Squad in recent days. Chief among those, Johnathan Kovacevic who made his NHL debut Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Kovacevic played 10:21 and registered one shot on goal. Also joining Kovacevic with the big club this week were Declan Chisholm, Leon Gawanke and Mikey Eyssimont. Meanwhile, the Moose have signed forward Tristin Langan to a professional tryout. Langan has 25 points (8G, 17A) in 20 games with the Orlando Solar Bears this season. The team also reassigned goaltender Evan Cormier to the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers.
Getting on the Board
Nelson Nogier picked a perfect time to score his first two goals of the campaign. The forward tallied his first of the season in the third period of the Moose win over the Chicago Wolves on Jan. 23. The tally pushed the Moose ahead 2-1 before Nogier iced the game with his second of the period into the empty net. It was Nogier’s first AHL multi-goal game and marked his first goal and game-winner since May. 6/21 at Toronto. Nogier’s two goals tie a previous career-high, for a full season, he set with the Moose back in the 2016-17 campaign. Nogier has recorded four points (2G, 2A) through 16 games with Manitoba this season.
Nice to Meet Ya!
Today’s game marks the first time the Manitoba Moose face the Abbotsford Canucks in AHL action. The two squads were originally slated to duke it out back on Dec. 30 and 31 but due to COVID-19 protocols, the pair of games were rescheduled to April 28 and 30. The last time the Moose faced a Canadian opponent was Dec. 8 when the squad faced the Laval Rocket. Manitoba is currently 22-10-2-1 heading into the two-game weekend. That places them second in the Central Division after 35 games. The Canucks find themselves sitting at 14-12-3-1 through 30 games played.
The Abbotsford... Moose?
The Abbotsford Canucks and Manitoba Moose have a few things in common. Aside from the Moose serving as Vancouver’s AHL affiliate from 2001-2011, Abbotsford has three players that have worn Moose aviator blue, silver and white in the not too distant past. Forward Nic Petan is a former Moose and recorded 89 points (28G, 61A) over the course of 108 games with the team. Defenceman Adam Brubacher suited up for Manitoba last season and registered two goals over that span. The final skater is goaltender Arturs Silovs. The Latvian netminder suited up last season for one game with the Moose in a narrow 2-1 loss against the Laval Rocket on Feb. 27/21.
Who's Trending?
Forward Bobby Lynch recorded an assist on Nelson Nogier’s game-winning goal against the Wolves this past Sunday. Lynch’s third assist of the season, along with two goals, brings him to five points through 14 games. The forward is also in the midst of his first point-streak of the season, registering three points (2G, 1A) over the course of his last pair of games.
