By: Frankie Benvenuti

The Winnipeg Jets announced their opening night roster, which features eight players who have suited up for the Manitoba Moose. 

Of the eight, two played with the Moose in 2025-26, with Brad Lambert cracking the Jets out of camp the second straight season. Tyrel Bauer becomes an NHLer for the first time. 

Bauer has played 214 games across four seasons in antlers, recording 21 points (5G, 16A) and wracking up 401 penalty minutes. He won the Yanick Dupré Memorial Award in 2025-26. 

The Cochrane, Alta. native has long been outgoingly supportive of his teammates who have earned call-ups in the past. Now, it’s their turn to show Bauer the love.

“I’m so happy for him,” said Ashton Sautner, who played 39 games as Bauer’s defensive partner in 2025-26. “I know he’s putting in a ton of work.”

“He’s one of those guys who was never a high draft pick, not a high-profile guy. He did it the hard way. He’s a guy who’s willing to put his body on the line on a nightly basis for us. I’m super happy for him and can’t wait to watch the first game.”

The excitement for Bauer extends beyond Sautner, and into the rest of the Moose locker room.

“The group is happy for him,” Head Coach Mark Morrison explained. “That will tell you enough about our group right there. They’re all excited and happy. Everyone was calling him and congratulating him. It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”

A total of 602 players across the NHL’s 32 opening-day active rosters have spent time in the AHL, making up more than 83 percent of the NHL’s initial player pool to begin its campaign. The Jets have 20 AHL grads on the roster, tied for fifth-most among NHL clubs.

For the Moose, the continued journey to make the NHL begins now. They kick off the regular season on Saturday, hosting the Chicago Wolves at Canada Life Centre. 

With the Jets’ roster made, Morrison is beginning to have some more clarity on what his lineup will look like come the weekend, though nothing is set in stone. 

“We’ve got some lines together, and we can get a little bit of power play time,” he said. “It’s fun to work and have some purpose.”

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.