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The end of a long season approaches, and the Manitoba Moose closed out the home portion of their schedule with a pair against the Iowa Wild. After a challenging season, the Moose were looking to end things at home on a high note.
It was a tale of two very different games over the weekend, as the first one was positively dreadful, while the second was a thrilling end to the home schedule.
Game Recaps
Game 1, Apr. 11, 2025: IA 3 – 1 MB
The Wild opened the scoring less than 10 minutes into the first period on a goal from Caedan Bankier. He found some space in front of Moose netminder Thomas Milic, took a pass from Luke Toporowski, and buried his 11th of the season.
Toporowski made it 2-0 just under four minutes later, one-timing an impressive pass from the point past Milic. His 12th of the season turned out to be the game winner.
Bankier added his second of the game just over three minutes into the second period to make it 3-0. Like his first, it was off a feed from Toporowski from the right circle, with Bankier beating Milic on the blocker side.
The Moose finally got on the board with just 13 seconds left in the game. Brad Lambert took a pass from Danny Zhilkin and tried to return it, but the puck deflected off of a Wild stick and past Samuel Hlavaj. It was too little too late for the Moose, as the game ended 3-1.
It’s worth noting, even in the loss, that the series opener marked the professional debut for Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Kieron Walton. He joined the Moose after signing his Entry-Level contract on Apr. 7.
Game 2, Apr. 12, 2025: IA 2 – 3 MB (OT)
The Moose opened the scoring in the series finale on their first shot of the game. C.J. Suess deflected home an Elias Salomonsson point shot to make it 1-0 just under five minutes into the game.
Liam Malmquist, who scored his first professional goal on Sunday, Apr. 6, potted his second of the season to make it 2-0. He got a piece of a bouncing Dylan Coghlan point shot to beat Jesper Wallstedt on the second consecutive shot.
After a scoreless second period, the Wild finally got on the board in the third on a goal from Liam Ohgren. He got a piece of a Will Zmolek point shot for his 19th of the campaign.
Late in the third, the Wild took advantage of a questionable goal call to tie the game. Moose netminder Domenic DiVincentiis appeared to have the puck covered before Toporowski lifted it off the puck before burying it for the equalizer. DiVincentiis was rightfully livid, as it seemed like a clear-cut example of goaltender interference.
Well, the Moose managed to shake it off and send the fans home happy for one final time this season. In overtime, Mason Shaw took a pass from Salomonsson and wired it past Wallstedt for the winner. Salomonsson, who was awarded the team’s top defenceman award earlier in the night, had two assists in the 3-2 win.
It’s Award Season
With the home schedule coming to an end, that also means that the Moose handed out this season’s team awards before puck drop on Apr. 12. There were seven awards handed out in total, and there were some repeat winners.
Salomonsson was named both the Rookie of the Year and Defenceman of the Year, DiVincentiis took home the Three-Stars Award, Lambert was named the Fan Favorite winner for the second consecutive year, and Shaw was named team MVP.
Moose defender Tyrel Bauer also took home two awards, both of which represented his work off the ice. He was named the winner of the Julian Klymkiw Community Service Award, and was the inaugural winner of the Richard Bue Ultimate Teammate Award, selected by his teammates.
After the game, Bauer was incredibly grateful for the recognition.
“It means a lot,” he explained. “It’s tough to find words because that goes beyond the ice. You always want to try to be as good of a person as you can, and try to help out. I’m very thankful.”
Head coach Mark Morrison had a lot of high praise for the young defender.
“Ty deserves it,” Morrison said. “He does a lot off the ice, he does a lot in the dressing room. Just a good person, a good leader, has a lot of great qualities. Well deserving.”
Morrison also had a lot to say about the Richard Bue Ultimate Teammate Award as well, as Bue was the video coach for the Moose for six seasons, including one with Morrison at the helm. Bue passed away in 2024, but his impact is widely felt.
“There was no better teammate,” Morrison said of Bue. “The award is perfect as far as exemplifying what he was. Just a guy that got around the dressing room and got to know all different parts of our organization, our team, our players, and just a great human being.”
Wrapping Up in Texas
The Moose close out their 2024-25 season with a pair against the Texas Stars on Apr. 18 and 19. With the Moose eliminated from playoff contention, the two games will be their last of this long season and will likely signal a start to the “black aces” call-ups, where the Jets will likely dip into their farm system for depth.
More must-reads:
- Rangers forward in a fight for his future amid new competition
- Maple Leafs make six roster cuts with two notable surprises
- The 'Multiple 30-TD pass NFL seasons' quiz
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