Updated 10/16/15
After stomping all over the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers), the Reign look to continue their hot start this weekend in Winnipeg against the Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets). Things went well on Thursday, as Ontario scored a decisive 4-1 victory over Manitoba. This was the inaugural home opener for the second incarnation of the Manitoba Moose; last year, they were the St. John’s Ice Caps.
Heading into tonight’s re-match, Moose Head Coach Keith McCambridge wants his team to “move past the nerves and focus in on the game.”
Ontario Reign vs. Manitoba Moose (MTS Centre)
Time: 5 PM Pacific (Thursday, Saturday)
Listen: Mixlr
Watch: AHL Live
Lines
Reign (based on 10/15/15) (starters in bold):
9 Adrian Kempe – 11 Kris Newbury – 16 Sean Backman
27 Michael Mersch – 26 Nic Dowd – 7 Valentin Zykov
39 Justin Auger – 21 Andrew Crescenzi – 25 Scott Sabourin
15 Paul Bissonnette – 24 Ryan Horvat – 12 Johnny Brodzinski
2 Kurtis MacDermid – 5 Vincent Loverde
4 Kevin Gravel – 6 Jamie McBain
55 Jeff Schultz – 33 Kevin Raine
31 Peter Budaj
32 Ray Emery
Moose (based on 10/15/15) (starters in bold):
25 Matt Fraser – 28 Patrice Cormier – 10 Joel Armia
15 Matt Halischuk – 19 Chase De Leo – 24 Scott Kosmachuk
17 Jimmy Lodge – 16 John Albert – 34 JC Lipon
22 Darren Kramer – 9 Ryan Olsen – 50 Austen Brassard
44 Julian Melchiori – 8 Brenden Kichton
20 Jay Harrison – 3 Jan Kostalek
7 Josh Morrissey – 2 Andrew MacWilliam
37 Connor Hellebuyck
1 Eric Comrie
Game Notes
- The Moose are back in Winnipeg, having moved from St. John’s to Manitoba this summer when the AHL Pacific Division was taking shape.
- The Moose are 0-2-0-1, 1 point (6th Central Division, 13th Western Conference) while the Reign are 2-0-0-0, 4 points (Tied-1st Pacific Division, Tied-2nd Western Conference)
- Connor Hellebuyck is a legit goaltending prospect who is the future of Winnipeg. He has always presented a huge challenge for the Monarchs so it should be a fun game tonight.
- There was quite a bit of roster turnover for both teams, but most of these guys are fairly familiar with each other and Do Not Like Each Other. Games are usually a chippy affair on both sides and it’ll behoove the Reign to make sure they stay out of the penalty box.
- The Reign will return for their own home opener on Friday, Oct. 23./