Fast Facts: Moose Vs. Laval – Oct. 12

The Manitoba Moose (1-0-0-0) are back on home ice against the Laval Rocket (0-1-0-0) this afternoon. The action from Canada Life Centre begins at 2 p.m. CT. Manitoba tasted victory for the first time in 2025-26 on Friday night, bagging a 4-1 win over Laval. The win was the first of the season for the Moose, while the Rocket started their campaign with a loss. Tickets for this afternoon's game are available at moosehockey.com/tickets.

Yager’s Quick Start

Brayden Yager started off his professional hockey career with a bang on Friday night, scoring his first AHL goal on his very first shift. Only 2:32 into the first period, the Saskatoon, Sask. native ripped a shot past Rocket goaltender Jacob Fowler, opening the scoring for the Moose. Yager’s first professional goal comes after totalling 332 points (129G, 203A) in 265 WHL games split between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Lethbridge Hurricanes. The 20-year-old was the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first-round pick (14th overall) in 2023, before being acquired by the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Rutger McGroarty in 2024.

Gustafsson Back In Antlers

David Gustafsson was loaned to the Moose on Friday. Gustafsson’s first appearance with the Moose this season will be his first in antlers since recording two assists on Feb. 24/24 against the Calgary Wranglers. The Tingsryd, Sweden native has played in 88 AHL games in his career, posting 59 points (24G, 35A). He was previously named the Moose team MVP during the 2020-21 season when he posted 19 points (7G, 12A) in 22 contests during a 36-game season. Gustafsson picked up six points (2G, 4A) in 36 games with the Winnipeg Jets in 2024-25, adding one goal in four playoff games.

Salomonsson Knows Season Openers

Swedish defenceman Elias Salomonsson hasn’t wasted any time finding the scoresheet in his career, recording three points (1G, 2A) over two season-opening games. On Friday night, the 21-year-old assisted on Walker Duehr’s second-period goal that extended the Moose lead to 3-1. In last season’s opener in Iowa, Salomonsson scored a pair of points (1G, 1A) in a 6-4 win over the Iowa Wild. He went on to score 27 points (5G, 22A) in 53 games.

Spread the Wealth

Nine members of the Moose tallied their first point of the season in Friday night’s win over the Laval Rocket. Danny Zhilkin was the only player with a multi-point night (1G, 1A). Walker Duehr and Brayden Yager (1G), and Samuel Fagemo (1A) all hit the scoresheet for the first time with the Moose. Kevin Conley scored the other goal for Manitoba.

Barlow Adds Another

Colby Barlow only officially turned pro this season, but the start to his Moose career dates back to the end of the 2023-24 season. In three games, he notched three points (1G, 2A), and on Friday night, he continued his point-per-game pace with a helper on Yager’s first-period goal.

Broadcast coverage of tonight's game begins at 1:45 p.m. CT on cjob.com, the Winnipeg Jets App or AHLTV on FloHockey. Puck drop is at 2 p.m. CT on 680 CJOB.