Manitoba Moose

In an effort to spark the offence, the Manitoba Moose have loaned veteran centre Marty Murray to the Milwaukee Admirals and received left-winger Peter Olvecky in return.

Olvecky, 24, has 11 goals and 34 points in 62 games with the Admirals this season.

During his five-year pro career, the Trencin, Slovakia product has 60 goals and 149 points in 300 AHL games and two goals and seven points in 32 NHL games.

Olvecky, who remains property of the Nashville Predators, was fourth in team scoring with the Admirals.

“We made lots of calls on Olvecky,” said Moose head coach Scott Arniel. “A lot of people really like this guy and what he brings. They feel he’s a good talent and has a real good skill-set. Too many people said good things. It was one of those deals where we felt it was a change that was needed for us.

“It gives us a younger body and a bigger body we desperately need.”

Murray, 35, was brought in last summer to play on the top two lines and provide offence and leadership.

While he continues to be an effective player and strong face-off guy, Murray hasn’t produced at the point per game level like he has in the past.

In 59 games with the Moose, the Lyleton product had 10 goals and 30 points.

“We were in a bit of a veteran situation with Marty and this helps us a little bit,” said Arniel. “In saying that, you can’t say enough about what Marty did for us this year. He did a great job with his leadership, both in the dressing room and on the ice with the way he played every night and the way he prepared and practised.”

Murray was popular in the Moose dressing room and news of his departure hit several players hard.

“It’s never easy,” said Moose goalie Cory Schneider. “A good guy like Marty, who was great in the locker room and a real good influence on the team. It’s unfortunate seeing him get moved, but again it’s part of the business. It could be anybody at any time and you’ve got to be prepared for it.”

“Marty is a big loss and a great hockey player and we’re going to miss him,” added Moose centre Marco Rosa.

Due to league policy, Arniel wouldn’t talk about the 22-man clear-day roster the Moose submitted but there aren’t expected to be any big surprises on it.

One thing the Moose found out Wednesday was that defenceman Brad Lukowich has opted to have season-ending shoulder surgery rather than report to the club.

“He’s had an injury here and been playing with it for some time,” said Arniel. “He’s no longer part of our picture.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Moose found out they would be without winger Sergei Shirokov for one game after he received a suspension for his hit on Ole-Kristian Tollefsen during last Saturday’s game against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

“Sergei is not a dirty player, that’s not what he does and he doesn’t have a record of doing things like that,” said Arniel. “Sergei stuck his leg out and you hate to see it in the game. I’m happy it’s only one game. We need his offence.”

The Moose face the Rockford IceHogs on Friday at the MTS Centre to open a six-game homestand.