Fast Facts: Moose at Iowa – Oct. 12

The Manitoba Moose visit the Iowa Wild tonight (6 p.m. CT) as the divisional foes open the 2024-25 regular season. Both sides seek to improve on their body of work from the 2023-24 campaign that saw the Moose and Wild both finish below the .500 mark. Manitoba still managed to snag the final playoff spot in the Central Division, but bowed out in two games to the Texas Stars. The Moose and Wild split their season series in 2023-24, with both teams winning twice at home and twice on the road.

Coverage of this evening's season-opener begins at 5:45 p.m. CT on CJOB.com/sports, the Winnipeg Jets App and AHLTV on FloHockey. Further coverage on 680 CJOB begins just before puck drop at 6 p.m. CT.

All-Rookie, Back for More

Brad Lambert’s first full AHL campaign saw the Finnish centre crack the 2024 AHL All-Rookie team. Lambert posted 55 points (21G, 34A) in 64 games. That mark placed Lambert second among all AHL rookies in scoring. It also represented the second-highest point total posted by a Moose rookie in franchise history. Lambert was just the ninth rookie in franchise history to tally 20 or more goals. The Winnipeg Jets 2022 first round pick tallied a point in seven consecutive games to open the 2023-24 campaign, posting 10 points (5G, 5A) in that span.

Former Foes, Familiar Faces

The Moose saw some familiar foes become friends this summer, and those players open the season facing off against their former team. Former Iowa Wild forwards Mason Shaw and Kevin Conley signed with the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba over the summer. Shaw played 197 games for Iowa, tallying 121 points (43G, 78A) and was named the team’s captain in 2022 before playing most the season in the NHL. Conley played 95 games over two seasons with the Wild, notching 21 points (10G, 11A).

Second Rounders

Manitoba opens the season with four Winnipeg Jets second round selections on the roster. Simon Lundmark (2019), Daniel Torgersson (2020), Nikita Chibrikov (2021) and Elias Salomonsson (2022) represent four consecutive drafts for Winnipeg. Lundmark has appeared in 188 games for the Moose and scored a goal for the Jets in the pre-season. Torgersson has 125 games in antlers, tallying 32 points (14G, 18A). Chibrikov had a dynamic first AHL season, racking up 47 points (17G, 30A) in 70 games in 2023-24. While Salomonsson is set to make his North American professional debut when he gets into regular season action with the Moose. Salomonsson captured the 2024 SHL Championship with Skellefteå.

Silver Anniversary

It's a season to celebrate in Manitoba as the Moose honour their 25th season playing in Winnipeg. The team took its first strides in 1996 as part of the IHL after moving to the Manitoba capital from Minnesota. The Moose joined the AHL in 2001 and made a trip to the Calder Cup Final in 2009. The franchise relocated to St. John’s, Newfoundland for four seasons with the return of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets in 2011. The AHL club then returned to Winnipeg in 2015 where it has continued to operate since.

Who's Trending?

Nikita Chibrikov finished fourth on the Moose with 47 points (17G, 30A) in 70 games in the 2023-24 campaign. That mark was tied for seventh among AHL rookies during season. His 30 helpers and 20 power play points (7G, 13A) were third among Moose skaters. Chibrikov posted two points (1G, 1A) in three pre-season games with the Winnipeg Jets.