The Manitoba Moose opened the 2026 edition of training camp this morning at hockey for all centre. A total of 22 players (two goalies, seven defencemen and 13 forwards) are on the roster to begin camp. The Moose announced 14 of those players are in camp on tryout agreements.

Adapting to the NHL landscape is nothing new for AHL clubs. This season, changes to the NHL’s pre-season put AHL camps on a bit of a different timeline ahead of the regular season opening Friday, Oct. 2 across the league. The Moose, specifically, get rolling on Saturday, Oct. 3. That all means it’s imperative for players to get out to a strong start with just three practice days before the Moose head down to St. Paul, Minn. for their own exhibition games against the Iowa Wild on Friday and Saturday.

“I think you get to know everybody. Obviously we’re coming together as a team for Friday/Saturday,” said forward Mikey Milne after Manitoba’s first skate. “At the end of the day, everyone is competing for a spot. I know that’s my mindset. Teammates off the ice, but as soon as you’re on the ice, it’s all compete and trying to make the team.

Milne, who celebrates his 24th birthday on Monday, signed with the Moose this summer after spending the bulk of his first four AHL seasons with the Iowa Wild. The Abbotsford, B.C. product has 196 AHL games under his belt, tallying 66 points (32G, 34A) in that span. The winger is back in Winnipeg after spending most of his WHL career in Manitoba with the Winnipeg ICE.

Another newcomer to the organization is forward Deni Goure. The 23-year-old has been productive in the ECHL, racking up 104 points (43G, 61A) in just 135 games. Goure does have some familiarity with the Moose as an opponent. In a strange twist of coincidence, all three of the AHL games the Chatham, Ont. product has played in his career have been against Manitoba. After signing with the AHL outfit this summer, Goure is looking forward to displaying his abilities in this week’s pre-season action.

“You get to actually show what you’re made of in a game instead of just practices,” Goure explained. “I feel like there are a lot of guys that don’t get to show all their capabilities in practice, whereas in a game they get to all play their game and show the coaches what they’re really about.”

The camp has been a reunion of sorts for Goure as he links up with a former Owen Sound Attack teammate, defenceman Sam Sedley, this week. Sedley joined the Jets for the Rookie Showcase in Gatineau and now skates with the Moose on a tryout agreement. Goure, Sedley and Winnipeg Jets 2023 first round pick Colby Barlow made up a prolific trio in their OHL days. While Barlow has been busy with Jets camp, Goure and Sedley have relished the chance to catch up.

“(Barlow)’s been pretty busy with the Jets so far, so I don’t want to bug him too much,” said Goure. “It’s pretty cool that Sam Sedley is here at Manitoba camp as well so I’ve been out to dinner with him a couple times. It’s pretty cool.”

Mikey Milne, Deni Goure and the rest of the Moose continue training camp Tuesday and Wednesday at hockey for all centre. Both skates get going at 10:30 a.m. and are open to the public.

Manitoba gets the season started Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4 with the defending Western Conference Champion Chicago Wolves in town. Tickets are available at moosehockey.com/tickets.