PREVIEW: Holding back the ‘Hogs
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: March 28th 2018
The Manitoba Moose (39-21-4-4) are back at Bell MTS Place tonight, for the final regular season meeting with the Rockford IceHogs (35-25-4-4). With only one win in their last five games, the Moose are fighting to get healthy and to reclaim their winning ways. Sami Niku and Brendan Lemieux have led the charge against Rockford, each with four points through the first three meetings. You can still get tickets for tonight’s 7 p.m. (CT) puck drop by visiting moosehockey.com/tickets/.
THE NEW GUY
Forward C.J. Suess signed a one-year entry level contract with the Winnipeg Jets earlier this week. The Hobey Baker Award finalist has joined the Moose for the rest of this season on an amateur tryout agreement. The Forest Lake, Minnesota native led the Minnesota State - Mankato Mavericks with 43 points (22G, 21A) in 40 games while capturing the WCHA regular season scoring title and player of the year honours.
APPLETON ASCENDING
Forward Mason Appleton keeps on knocking down milestones. The rookie notched his 20th goal and 60th point of the season against the IceHogs on Monday. Appleton is fourth in league scoring and holds a nine-point lead in the rookie scoring race. The Green Bay, Wis. product is the first Moose player to record 60 points since 2008-09 when Jason Krog posted 86 points.
HUTCH IS BACK
The Jets have also reassigned goaltender Michael Hutchinson to the Moose. Hutchinson has appeared in 21 games with the Moose this season while posting a 15-2-1 record with a 1.95 GAA (2nd-AHL) and a 0.942 SV% (1st-AHL). The Barrie, Ont. product participated in the AHL All-Star Classic earlier this season and was named the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month in November and December.
INSTANT IMPACT
Forward Elgin Pearce wasted no time in hitting the score sheet on his call- up from the Jacksonville Icemen. The first-year pro picked up an assist in Monday's loss and was a plus-two rating. Pearce has points in each of the last two AHL games he has appeared in, scoring his first career AHL goal back on Jan. 26 at Laval.
THE KOSTA SUCCESS
Prior to this month, Jan Kostalek had four goals in 137 career AHL games. In his nine games in March, Kostalek has matched that total, scoring four times. The third-year pro is tied for second on the Moose this month in goals. In 146 career games, Kostalek has 21 points (8G, 13A).
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Moose roll into a weekend set with the AHL-leading Toronto Marlies, with back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s matchup is also the club’s Autism Awareness Day. The players will wear unique jersey’s for that game which will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefitting the St.Amant Foundation. For tickets, head to moosehockey.com/tickets/.
