October 27, 2025 • 28 mins
This week on Between the Benches, David Mooradian and Patrick Moore break down the Roadrunners’ upcoming matchup with the Manitoba Moose. They are also join with the voice of the Manitoba Moose Daniel Fink. From key players to watch to the storylines shaping the series, they get you ready for puck drop.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
From road Runners Weekly. This is Between the Benches. You're
all access brief you love the week ahead. We'll look
at the road Runners upcoming opponents, get the inside story
and here directly from the voices and players that know
them best, with David Moradian and Patrick Moore and.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Welcome back to another edition of Between the Benches and
Tucson Roadrunners podcast. David Meridian alongside Patrick Moore. We're going
to talk to Daniel Fink in a few minutes. He
is the voice of the Manitoba Moose, so we'll get
his thoughts on the upcoming matchup between Manitoba and Tucson.
But before we do that, Patrick, I understand you had
a hockey tournament this weekend, maybe a little bit sore.
(00:39):
How did it go, did you pick up some wins?
And how are you feeling well?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
David, thank you so much. I hope you had a
good weekend too. Honestly, with the two games it went good.
It's gonna be kind of an interesting season. We have
some very I guess, as you say, interesting lineup. We
have a goaltender who's for the tournament, never played goalie,
He's never really played organized hockey, so I would say
(01:05):
it was shootout type games like ten nine scores four,
But I had one of my probably my best weekend
in my career so far. Eighteen points wasn't so bad
through five games. But it's gonna be very long seasons. Yes, yes,
eight year, so you're kind of carrying the team here.
(01:28):
We only have three guys who recorded over five points
this weekend, so that's a yes, yes, yes, David, Yes,
But I think it's going to be exciting. We're going
to get our normal goaltender back from his internship in Florida,
so I think we'll be we'll be ready to go.
We'll be playing some of the Arizona schools November fifteenth.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
So it sounds like your your goaltender situation is not
as rich as the road Runners, who have a good
combination Withalta and Stabur. Unfortunately, interestingly enough, Jackson Stauber is
still looking for his first victory of the season. He's
got one overtime loss and then two losses in regulation,
and the theme for that is the road Runners have
(02:16):
been very consistent with how they've used their goaltenders. They've
had the Walta start the first game of every series,
Staubers start the second and Steve Bodman is very comfortable
with the fact that they have two goaltenders and the
two goaltenders that he trusts playing you know, basically even time.
And unfortunately the Roadrunners just haven't played their best hockey
in those second games the back end of these series,
(02:38):
and it is tough on a back to back, But
once again we saw them play well the first game,
their best game of the season on Friday, and then
comes Saturday not the same team. And again Jackson Stauber
kind of has to suffer because he wasn't getting the
performance he needed in front of the first two periods
Patrick the puck was stuck in the offensive zone for Bakersfield,
(03:02):
so it was not certainly not to the benefit of
Jackson Stauber. And like I said, I think both of
them have played good hockey this year, both goaltenders, and
it's unfortunate for Jackson that Matthew Valta is three and
oh and then Starbar's two and one, because I don't
think they've performed that differently, to be perfectly honest with you,
it's just what's been in front. So we'll see if
(03:23):
Stalber can pick up his first victory against Manitoba this
week with an interesting series on Tuesday and Wednesday. So
let's kind of get into what those two goaltenders will
be facing. Patrick, some of the statistics behind Manitoba's offense,
and whether or not you think the goaltenders will be
set up for success.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, David, Mantoba has a very interesting situation. They started
off with the first win in the first game in
season against Leavel but ever since then they've had five
consecutive losses, one in overtime for in regulation, they got
swept by Grand Rapids and also Chicago and including another
loss to Level after their first win. Their power play
(04:05):
has been very streaky. Only two goals on their power
play and a very you know the power the penalty kill.
They're kind of similar with Tucson. They've been very successful. However,
it just they've been very streaky. They've had a very
tough start this season. Some teams do this, but I don't.
I don't think they're going to be able to get
out of this hole, is the statistics wise. But and
they've been on a very long road trip, David, as
(04:27):
you could recall just about saying, I mean three straight
games against Grand Rapids, that does not seem like fun
road trip.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
And then and then a quick trip down to Chicago
right after that.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, so it'll be very interesting David to see, uh
what this matchup of the road Uns can be. Maybe
a chance for Jacksonberg to get his first win, and
offense and offensively the Roaders can maybe pilon a couple
of goals.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Here here's an interesting thing to speak to the struggling
offense for Manitoba. They have just one player with five
points this year. Tucson has several over five points and
Ben McCartney is the team leader with seven. So Manitoba
has just one player at five points and we'll get
to him in a second. And they also have just
(05:14):
thirteen goals scored this year. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners have scored
twenty one and the two teams have each played six games.
So that's a pretty that's a pretty big contrast there, Patrick.
You know, the Roadrunners have been scoring much more frequently
than Manitoba has been.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, it's just sometimes just teams get off to a
bad start. Some teams get off to a very hot start.
I think the Rudunners have just carried some momentum from
preseason action to the regular season and they've just been
playing well, they've been jolling urry. I mean, Ben McCartney's
probably had one of the best starts to his career.
And you know they had again, as you said, best
game of the season so far. They beat baker Shire.
(05:51):
They were down one nothing earlier, they came back, they
piled on a couple of goals on a former roadrunner,
Connor Ingram. So I think this is He's going to
be an interesting serious to see if Manitoba could really
figure out their offense or their offense will just continue
to sputter. So we'll see what happens in this midweek action.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And the players who have been impressive for Manitoba this year,
I mentioned just one player with five points this year.
That's David Gustafson two goals, three assists. Now, gustav Sin's
an interesting prospect because he's kind of in that in
between Fayz Patrick. He spent a lot of time with
the Winnipeg Jets. Right he's twenty five years old. He's
their draft pick, a second round pick in twenty eighteen,
(06:36):
so Winnipeg certainly is aware of him. He's played over
one hundred games with the Jets since twenty twenty two,
but this year starting with Manitoba, so kind of interesting.
There you have somebody who has really been a part
of the club in Winnipeg, not even start the season,
hasn't played a game yet for the Jets, but he's
playing very well at the AHL level, so you have
to think maybe he's trying to play his way back
(06:58):
up to the big club. And and then you also
have another player, Danny Zilgin, and he's just a little
bit younger, but another quality draft pick, a third round
pick by the Jets four points this year, he's been
their second most productive offensive player with two goals and
two assists. So these are two guys, both centers, trying
(07:19):
to claw their way back up make a statement, and
they've really been the main catalysts for Manitoba. The rest
of the team has struggled to kind of support those
two and it would really be interesting for the Moose
if one of them were to get brought up, because
like I said, it hasn't been a very deep team
so far this year, certainly top heavy and struggling generally
(07:42):
on offense with thirteen goals, so they really can't afford
if they're looking to win games. Can't afford to lose
some of these guys to Winnipeg. But those are kind
of the two names that keep an eye on. Zilkin
and Gustavson the only two players with four more points,
both of them quality prospects and certainly on the radar
of the Winnipeg Jets.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Yeah, I know, I think it's just gonna be interesting
to see. David Gueston kind of reminds me of Roy
Karns from Calgary, one of those guys who's just right
on the edge, you know. Obviously, Winnipeg's been very successful.
Lasco Layers had a great season last year, so we'll
see if he can maybe be an impact player for Mantoba.
But again, it's really just going to come up to
how Toucson can defend these players for Manitoba and we'll
(08:27):
see what happens again Tuesday Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I think Winnipeg has got to be a fun place
to play. I mean, you see that arena, especially in
the playoffs, Patrick, it's all white. They get really loud
and in the places rocking. So I think they'll be
motivated to try to get their way up there. What
do you think I think so too.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
I mean the wide out they have has been just
the last couple of years. I mean, my favorite team,
the Ducks played them, I think their first playoff appearance
back since Winnipeg came back into the NHL, and it's
just such a loud atmosphere. I mean even on the
TV you can hear how loud it is when they rules.
But David, I think we should talk about the goaltending matchups.
(09:05):
And as we talked about Jackson Staubers still looking for
his first win. Matthew Valta perfect so far in these
three appearances. But the goaltending situation for Mantoba is very
interesting on if you want to get into that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
We can't get into it. I just want to put
a ribbon on this one point and then we will
jump to the goaltender. So I mentioned the Roadrunners have
quite a few players with at least five points this year,
Manitoba has just one Gustafson. The road Runners actually have
five players with five points and they've played the same
amount of games. Each team has played six games, so
it's pretty substantial. Walker boot he Big, Piruinovich and McCartney
(09:37):
leads the team with seven and if you take it
a step further. Manitoba has two players with four points
or more, and we touched on both of them. The
Roadrunners have ten and some of them are defensemen. I
think three of them are defenseman, and one of them
is no longer with the road Runners, Kevin Rooney. So
it's pretty stark that two side, you know, they have.
It seems like much more depth and production at the
(09:59):
top end compared to Manitoba offensively, so that's certainly an
encouraging statistic there. Okay, let's jump to the goaltenders. We
started with Tucson Matthew Valta expected to get the start
on Tuesday, and probably Jackson Stauber on Wednesday. And something
I said to James yesterday is we've seen the Roadrunners
(10:20):
now play a complete game. Patrick. They had a very
solid victory in all three phases. On Friday night. Offense
was flying around. They scored five goals. Defensively, I thought
they performed well and gave Valta the protection in front.
But Matthew Valalta made several key saves and some of
them really changed the outlook of the game. So it
was good goaltending, good defense, good offensive, five to one victory.
(10:43):
We'd like to see them now stretch that to a
complete series, which we have not seen from Tucson. It's
been three splits so far, whether they were regulation losses
or overtime losses, but they haven't been able to string
together six periods and so I think that's kind of
the next step for this team to see if they
can do that. And you would think had manifested itself
in a Jackson's st Auburn victory. Okay, As for Manitoba
(11:05):
and the goaltending situation, my guest Patrick is a devntentis
who will get the start for Manitoba on Tuesday. One
in three on the season, but not that Statistically, he's
saving about eighty nine percent of the shots he faces,
which is pretty standard, and the team has allowed between
three and four goals per game in his four starts.
(11:26):
Last year, he did play twenty eight games with Manitoba
and allowed less than three goals a game, so again
a pretty good mark there, and saved almost ninety one
percent of his shots, so he is a reasonable, you know,
first option for the Moose. He was a seventh round
draft pick by Winnipeg in twenty twenty two, so another
player that's been with this franchise, this system for his
(11:49):
entire professional excuse me, his entire professional career. I expect
him to get the start on Tuesday and Thomas Millick
on Wednesday, again probably like what the Roadrunners do to
shake it up. He's played two games this year, loss
in an overtime loss, so he'll also be looking for
win number one, So that could be a something's gotta
give game if it's Stabburn against both goalies looking for
(12:11):
their first victory. And he played last year with the
Moose as well. He's a former fifth round pick in
twenty twenty three. He's played with Manitoba most of his
career as well.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Yeah, I think the goaltending matchup is gonna be very
interesting to see, you know. It's just it's just I
feel like it's very skewed with the statistic because I
feel like the goaltenders, both to Vintintes and melanch have
played very solid games, just like they're not getting any
offensive help from their from Manitoba in the last few games.
And I feel like it's just kind of if you
(12:44):
look at you know, if people look at the stats
so well, they're giving up the goaltender their goals against
his three point five to seven. But they're they're basically
stopping eighty nine to eighty five percent of shots. So
I'm curious to see what will happen and how to
song can generate offense. And we'll see, we'll see what
(13:04):
goes on. Will what happen this Tuesday and Wednesday? And David,
do you think this is probably the I'm not seen easy,
easiest matchup. Tucson has this in this home stand, but
I feel like they have a chance to really get
that as they go that goal of sweeping a series
instead of splitting.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
What do you think, Well, we circled Calgary, right, we
thought that the Roadrunners were gonna have the upperhand against
the Wranglers, and again, they played an impressive first game.
It looked like they were gonna have a chance to
go for the sweep. Didn't happen, but they got to
overtime the second game. So that's the closest they've been
to a sweep, right, just one shot in overtime away
from winning both of those games. Then we thought maybe
against Bakersfield, another team that came in cold, dominated the
(13:45):
first game and just not the same team I think
it's more a matter of Tucson Patrick and this is
something Steve Podvins said to me as well. I think
it's a lot more about them than the opponent. And
Anatoba again another team that's kind of limping into the
TCC and probably based on trends, the road Runners will
jump on them Tuesday and then we'll have to see
what happens on Wednesday. That's sort of the way I
(14:08):
see it is can the Roadrunners play to their best
abilities for six periods? And I think that's going to
be critical. I think Agazino was an interesting infusion into
that top line. Daniel Boot is getting better and better
by the game. Really. He scored twice on Friday, and
that was with his line being changed up, Kevin Rooney
(14:29):
departing the team, Agasino taking that center role in the
top line, and Daniel Boot did not seem to mind,
including a nice connection from Agazino to Boot on a
powerplay was a beautiful cross ice pass and then Daniel
did the rest. So I think the team, like I said,
I expect them to play to their standards on Tuesday.
We'll see if they can follow it up Wednesday. But
(14:49):
as for Manitoba again, I said they're limping into southern Arizona.
You mentioned it an opening victory, a home win on Friday,
October tenth against the Ball Since then, four losses is
one overtime loss hasn't been pretty. So they will be
coming in maybe with some urgency and some desperation, and
we'll have to see how that plays out. All right,
(15:10):
Coming up next, we are going to talk to the
Voice of the Manitoba Moose, Daniel Think. And just a reminder,
you can buy your tickets for this week's matchup at
Tucson Roadrunners dot com. If you can't make it to
the game, no concern. Listen to the game on Fox
Sports fourteen fifty or watch on HLTV by Flow Sports
Daniel Think.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Coming up next, it's time to go Between the Benches
on road Runners Weekly and welcome.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Back to Between the Benches, a Tucson Roadrunners podcast, now
joined by the Voice of the Manitoba Moose, Daniel Think
and Daniel, let's jump right in. On paper, it looks
like a bit of a slow start for Manitoba. Just
take us through that and what you've seen in the
first six games.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Yeah, I think coming into the season, there's a lot
of excitement about the depth of the Moose, especially in
that forward group. I mean, when you look at some
of the names that have joined this roster in the offseason,
there's certainly some firepower. There's certainly some interesting young players
and some established veterans, especially when so many players were
able to come through waivers from the Winnipeg Jets. And
I think it's a lot of guys who haven't really
(16:04):
played together yet, so it's been a process to try
and figure things out. I mean, you look at some
of the firepower they can put out for the power
play hasn't quite connected yet. The lines seemed to shimmy
around every single game, so just tried to find that mix,
and I think maybe they started to land on it.
And they're lost in Chicago the other night to four
to three OT defeat, but couldn't get the result there,
(16:28):
but started to see more of that blueprint, especially about
two of the last three games. Probably played well enough
to be the winning team, but just didn't get the results.
So I think it slow start, for sure, but maybe
understandable when you consider just how many new players there
are and the team just kind of trying to find
its way and find its identity.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And one of the things you just said players coming
down from Winnipeg, which the team is excited to have.
I'm guessing one of those David Gustafson, who played over
one hundred games I believe with the Jets the past
few years. What have you seen from him in the
opening a few games?
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Yeah, I mean David gustav Sin. I mean going back
to his time in the American Hockey League with the
move speck when he was but a young rookie. He's
just such a solid player and he's not necessarily going
to blow you away by with great flashes of skill
things like that. But what he's gonna do. He's gonna
win over fifty percent of the face offs he takes.
He's going to win his battles on the wall, and
(17:16):
he's got enough skill to put the puck away when
he gets those opportunities or set his teammates up like
he did the other night in Chicago. So he's just
going to go out there and play the right way.
He's not going to make a lot of mistakes, and
that's why he can be a successful NHL player. And
it's played over one hundred games, in the National Hockey
League and what makes him so effective in the AHL
level as well.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
You mentioned the team has been playing better recently the
past couple games, that overtime loss to Chicago. What do
you think has been one of the key areas of
improvement recently.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
Well, I think a lot of it is just finding
that that pace in their game and that consistency. I mean,
they're starting to figure out, well, this is how this
line starts to match together. I mean the couple of
games where they've found success despite not getting the results,
is they've had that consistency to their game and they've
been able to find some groupings that worked well together.
(18:08):
And then maybe it kind of goes away a game
in between, So we'll see if that starts to link
up over. But it's when the team can start kind
of finding that execution playing through the neutral zone with speed,
getting in on the four check, being relentless getting in
on the defense, forcing them to make mistakes. That's when
this team's going to be successful. It's not necessarily going
to be a running gun team. It's going to be
(18:28):
a team that's going to force other teams into mistakes
by being on top of them, by being strong physically,
things like that. So when they're able to play that
game consistently, they're going to find success. Tricky part of
that is it's a hard game to play consistently all
the time, every game, every night for seventy two games.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Sounds like limiting errors will be a key for the
Twoson roadrunners, let's shift gears a little bit. Manitoba has
been spending a lot of time on the road and
now here, you guys are kind of across the continent
in southern Arizona. How is the team staying together and
how are they managing all the travel?
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Yeah, I mean, look it's our itinerary. Last little bit.
We've been in three different time zones in at one
point three days, so they're certainly logging some miles here
in the early season. Tends to be a road heavy
schedule for the Moose every year to kick off the season,
which can be a really good thing, especially when you
have a whole bunch of new players who are trying
to kind of get linked up with each other. They
got to spend a lot of time together, gotten some
(19:19):
team building yesterday when they got into town here in Tucson.
So I think that's been really good and despite it
being a tough schedule. I mean, playing the Grand Rapids
Griffin's three straight at Van Andel Arena is not an
enviable task. That's a very good home team there and
a very good team this season, as the Moose found out,
so that makes it a little more difficult. But when
(19:40):
you're able to get out on the road, teams bond.
That's what happens early in the season. That can really
bring a group together. So despite the slow start, it
could have larger ramifications as they build throughout the season
as well.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Now I think you have to lobby the schedule makers
a little bit, Daniel, because the weather in Manitoba late October,
you guys are still hanging in there. Why can't we
make a trip down to two and let's say December Anuary.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Well, it's like we were talking about before we came
on the air here. It always seems like we'll get
a Texas trip in October, and I think we'll be
down in Texas in a couple of weeks here, but
it doesn't quite get cold enough for us to really
get that relief, like you were saying in February and January.
But hey, anytime you're able to come down and visit
a place like Tucson, and especially for us, so team
(20:23):
hasn't been here since twenty seventeen, so it's really nice
to get to essentially a new city. For myself, I
haven't been able to visit Tucson before, so it's really
exciting to get into a new building, new environs, do
some exploring. So that's always nice anytime here. Now.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
I know you're here for not a very long period
of time, but I'm sure some of our fans in
Tucson residents are curious how you look to spend your
time here in Tucson.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Yeah, I mean that's that's the only downside, right the
quick back to back and then we're gone, so not
a whole ton of time. Got a round of golf
when we got in yesterday. That was really nice. Got
out to I believe it's locale restaurant down in the
area last night is So that was really nice. And
we'll see if we can sneak in some more leisure
time here here tonight after the team practices. But yeah,
(21:07):
unfortunately a business trip. Maybe next year we'll have to
get in for one with a day in between. The
games too, get a little more time.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Yeah, maybe a Friday Sunday series. I'm guessing the Mexican
food scene a little bit better in Tucson than in Manitoba.
But I don't want to make any assumptions. All right,
let's go back to the hockey. Goaltending always something fans
are curious about. Most HL teams, Tucson especially comfortable rolling
with two different goaltenders, especially on back to backs like
this series will be. Will that be the case for Manitoba?
(21:34):
What have you seen from the goaltenders this year?
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Yeah, I think that's probably a reasonably safe assumption. I
never want to guarantee anything. You never know what happens.
But I mean, between Dominic Devegentis and Thomas Milich, the
Moose have two Winnipeg Jets prospect goaltenders that they're pretty
comfortable and rolling out there. I mean, Thomas Milich kind
of burst on the scene a couple of seasons ago
when he helped stabilize the Moose goaltending in a charge
(21:56):
towards a playoff spot where they started out one of
the bottom teams in the league and manage to sneak
into that last playoff spot. For twenty twenty four and
then Dominic Devin Gentis exploded into the American Hockey League
last season when he was just absolutely dominant to start
things out and then maybe found some in's consistencies as
you would expect for a young goaltender and spend some
(22:16):
time in the EHL, But when both Milich or devin
Chantis have been in the ECCHL, they've been one of
the best goaltenders in that league. So they're trying to
make that step up here now and I think you'll
see some growing pains throughout, as you tend to with
young goaltenders, but two options that the mousev been all
too happy to roll out. Devon Chantis has been getting
the bulk of the starts early and then Milich has
(22:37):
been kind of getting the seconds of those back to back.
So we'll see how it all shakes out here this week.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
So likely Devin Centis against Vilalta on Tuesday, but again,
never know until.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
The puck gets dropped right what coaches will pull a
fast one on us whenever they can.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Interestingly enough, and it worked out for bakers Field over
the weekend. Their only goal scorer on Friday and they're
leading goal scorer Yarvin Tea got benched on Saturday. We're
trying to figure that move out and what happens. Bakersfield
goes out and wins the game on Saturday without him,
So maybe a little bit of accountability was being put
(23:10):
in front of the team. But the point is you
never really know what the coaches are thinking. Okay, so
we've hit on kind of the obvious notes, some of
the top points, scores, starting goaltenders. Who are some players
that maybe you know, a casual person studying the roster
wouldn't jump out and see immediately that you think maybe
haven't shown out yet, but will be impressive players for Manitoba.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Yeah. I mean people are always going to gravitate to
those first round picks like Colby Barlow, like Billy Haynela
or Braden Yager who was a Pittsburgh first round pick
and then came over to the Winnipeg organization in a trade.
But when you start to look at some of the names,
you might not recognize. Danny Jilkin. He was a third
round pick of the Winnipeg Jets and the coaches have
been praising him lately. Is in to his third professional
(23:51):
season here and that can really be a jumping off
point for some players. It takes maybe a couple of seasons,
especially in Jilkin's case where he was injured and missed
basically half of each of his first two seasons. He's
come out of the gate really strong. He's got four
points in six games. His previous career high as ten points.
He had five points his final ten games of the
season in twenty four to twenty five, so started to
(24:13):
kind of find that offense. And now he's off to
a really good start and he's been playing with confidence,
very solid all the way back to Rookie Tournament, to
start off training camp and things like that with the
Winnipeg Jets. So he's had a really nice start to
the season and that's something that certainly the Winnipeg Jets
are happy to see and the Moose are happy to
have him driving things along. And then another player that
folks may not know here in Tucson, but he was
(24:34):
an All Star last season, played in the All Star Classic,
eliah Sela Monsen. He's got two assists in six games.
His second round pick of the Winnipeg Jets really looked
on to be one of those key defensemen of the futures.
So that's a couple of players that are Winnipeg Jets
prospects that may not have some of the notoriety or
may not be as familiar with his fans here as
they might be with Samuel Fogomo or Walker Door, who's
(24:55):
gonna have played here a couple of times with Pacific
Division teams. So that's a couple of guys to keep
your eyes on.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Yeah, we appreciate that. So we've got kind of the
identity of the team players to keep an eye on.
Goaltending situation. I have always one curious question that I
think is very important. Do you find that the goals,
the values, the principles that Winnipeg holds are being upheld
in Manitoba. Do you think that they're similar in philosophies
and players are being well prepared? Do you think there's
(25:21):
some differences?
Speaker 4 (25:22):
I think the nice thing about being very much in
the same organization as your NHL team, and the Moose
play in the same building as the Winnipeg Jets. They
work it out to the same practice facility, things like that,
so it is very much from top to bottom of
trun or sports and entertainment cohesive throughout the two teams.
So while there might be some subtle differences between how
(25:43):
maybe the Moose have to run a power play a
little bit differently, or they have to run a system
a little bit differently, everything holds true kind of the
same way on the ice and off it as well.
So the organization has very specific guiding principles that they follow,
and that's really great for players to be able to
step into the ahl, understand the expectations of the organization,
and then just nothing changes as they move essentially down
(26:06):
the hallway to the Winnipeg Jets or across the hallway,
as the case may be. So that really gives players
an opportunity to understand what's expected of them on a
daily basis and be comfortable. Not only especially if both
teams are at home at the same time. A guy
gets called up. He gets to sleep in his own bed,
walk into the same building, take the same path to
work every day, things like that. So it's something that
(26:27):
I think some of the veteran players really appreciate, especially
those guys with families, that they're not worrying about changing
cities things like that, They're able to just stay in
the same place other than their road trips that they
would have to be on anyway. So between that and
the communication between the two teams, that really leads to
a cohesive philosophy through.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Okay, last question here, not asking for any state secrets,
but if you had a hunch at what maybe the
practice focus was this week for Manitoba or some of
the things they're looking to accomplish here in southern Arizona.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Yeah, I guess we'll I guess when we're taping this
right now, Moose about to head onto the ice four
of practice, so I guess we guess we'll find out shortly.
But when you look at what this team needs to
improve on, and it's the special team side of things.
Right now that the penalty kill has come around much
more of the last little bit. Still surrendered a power
play goal against Chicago, but the powerplay just one hasn't
got a whole ton of opportunities to work, but two
(27:19):
just really hasn't been clicking early on, and they've given
up three short handed goals. They've scored twice on the
power play, So immediately you're looking at somewhere to improve
right there. And so though I think that's going to
be a big area of focus. Now, obviously that doesn't
run through the whole team. You're looking at two units
of players there. So I think it's going to be
a lot of that we were talking about earlier, about
being on the for check, getting up to pace, and
(27:40):
making sure that they're ready for a very good Tucson team.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
Here sounds good, Daniel, Thank you so much for the time.
Tucson and Manitoba tomorrow at six point thirty from the TCC,
and then it'll be same time on Wednesday. Tickets available
on Tucson Roadrunners dot Com. Coverage on fourteen fifty am,
Fox Sports, Tucson Sports Station, and HLTV on Flow Sports.
Thank you so much much for listening. We will see
you tomorrow at the TCC.
From road Runners Weekly. This is Between the Benches. You're
all access brief you love the week ahead. We'll look
at the road Runners upcoming opponents, get the inside story
and here directly from the voices and players that know
them best, with David Moradian and Patrick Moore and.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Welcome back to another edition of Between the Benches and
Tucson Roadrunners podcast. David Meridian alongside Patrick Moore. We're going
to talk to Daniel Fink in a few minutes. He
is the voice of the Manitoba Moose, so we'll get
his thoughts on the upcoming matchup between Manitoba and Tucson.
But before we do that, Patrick, I understand you had
a hockey tournament this weekend, maybe a little bit sore.
(00:39):
How did it go, did you pick up some wins?
And how are you feeling well?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
David, thank you so much. I hope you had a
good weekend too. Honestly, with the two games it went good.
It's gonna be kind of an interesting season. We have
some very I guess, as you say, interesting lineup. We
have a goaltender who's for the tournament, never played goalie,
He's never really played organized hockey, so I would say
(01:05):
it was shootout type games like ten nine scores four,
But I had one of my probably my best weekend
in my career so far. Eighteen points wasn't so bad
through five games. But it's gonna be very long seasons. Yes, yes,
eight year, so you're kind of carrying the team here.
(01:28):
We only have three guys who recorded over five points
this weekend, so that's a yes, yes, yes, David, Yes,
But I think it's going to be exciting. We're going
to get our normal goaltender back from his internship in Florida,
so I think we'll be we'll be ready to go.
We'll be playing some of the Arizona schools November fifteenth.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
So it sounds like your your goaltender situation is not
as rich as the road Runners, who have a good
combination Withalta and Stabur. Unfortunately, interestingly enough, Jackson Stauber is
still looking for his first victory of the season. He's
got one overtime loss and then two losses in regulation,
and the theme for that is the road Runners have
(02:16):
been very consistent with how they've used their goaltenders. They've
had the Walta start the first game of every series,
Staubers start the second and Steve Bodman is very comfortable
with the fact that they have two goaltenders and the
two goaltenders that he trusts playing you know, basically even time.
And unfortunately the Roadrunners just haven't played their best hockey
in those second games the back end of these series,
(02:38):
and it is tough on a back to back, But
once again we saw them play well the first game,
their best game of the season on Friday, and then
comes Saturday not the same team. And again Jackson Stauber
kind of has to suffer because he wasn't getting the
performance he needed in front of the first two periods
Patrick the puck was stuck in the offensive zone for Bakersfield,
(03:02):
so it was not certainly not to the benefit of
Jackson Stauber. And like I said, I think both of
them have played good hockey this year, both goaltenders, and
it's unfortunate for Jackson that Matthew Valta is three and
oh and then Starbar's two and one, because I don't
think they've performed that differently, to be perfectly honest with you,
it's just what's been in front. So we'll see if
(03:23):
Stalber can pick up his first victory against Manitoba this
week with an interesting series on Tuesday and Wednesday. So
let's kind of get into what those two goaltenders will
be facing. Patrick, some of the statistics behind Manitoba's offense,
and whether or not you think the goaltenders will be
set up for success.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, David, Mantoba has a very interesting situation. They started
off with the first win in the first game in
season against Leavel but ever since then they've had five
consecutive losses, one in overtime for in regulation, they got
swept by Grand Rapids and also Chicago and including another
loss to Level after their first win. Their power play
(04:05):
has been very streaky. Only two goals on their power
play and a very you know the power the penalty kill.
They're kind of similar with Tucson. They've been very successful. However,
it just they've been very streaky. They've had a very
tough start this season. Some teams do this, but I don't.
I don't think they're going to be able to get
out of this hole, is the statistics wise. But and
they've been on a very long road trip, David, as
(04:27):
you could recall just about saying, I mean three straight
games against Grand Rapids, that does not seem like fun
road trip.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
And then and then a quick trip down to Chicago
right after that.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, so it'll be very interesting David to see, uh
what this matchup of the road Uns can be. Maybe
a chance for Jacksonberg to get his first win, and
offense and offensively the Roaders can maybe pilon a couple
of goals.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Here here's an interesting thing to speak to the struggling
offense for Manitoba. They have just one player with five
points this year. Tucson has several over five points and
Ben McCartney is the team leader with seven. So Manitoba
has just one player at five points and we'll get
to him in a second. And they also have just
(05:14):
thirteen goals scored this year. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners have scored
twenty one and the two teams have each played six games.
So that's a pretty that's a pretty big contrast there, Patrick.
You know, the Roadrunners have been scoring much more frequently
than Manitoba has been.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, it's just sometimes just teams get off to a
bad start. Some teams get off to a very hot start.
I think the Rudunners have just carried some momentum from
preseason action to the regular season and they've just been
playing well, they've been jolling urry. I mean, Ben McCartney's
probably had one of the best starts to his career.
And you know they had again, as you said, best
game of the season so far. They beat baker Shire.
(05:51):
They were down one nothing earlier, they came back, they
piled on a couple of goals on a former roadrunner,
Connor Ingram. So I think this is He's going to
be an interesting serious to see if Manitoba could really
figure out their offense or their offense will just continue
to sputter. So we'll see what happens in this midweek action.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And the players who have been impressive for Manitoba this year,
I mentioned just one player with five points this year.
That's David Gustafson two goals, three assists. Now, gustav Sin's
an interesting prospect because he's kind of in that in
between Fayz Patrick. He spent a lot of time with
the Winnipeg Jets. Right he's twenty five years old. He's
their draft pick, a second round pick in twenty eighteen,
(06:36):
so Winnipeg certainly is aware of him. He's played over
one hundred games with the Jets since twenty twenty two,
but this year starting with Manitoba, so kind of interesting.
There you have somebody who has really been a part
of the club in Winnipeg, not even start the season,
hasn't played a game yet for the Jets, but he's
playing very well at the AHL level, so you have
to think maybe he's trying to play his way back
(06:58):
up to the big club. And and then you also
have another player, Danny Zilgin, and he's just a little
bit younger, but another quality draft pick, a third round
pick by the Jets four points this year, he's been
their second most productive offensive player with two goals and
two assists. So these are two guys, both centers, trying
(07:19):
to claw their way back up make a statement, and
they've really been the main catalysts for Manitoba. The rest
of the team has struggled to kind of support those
two and it would really be interesting for the Moose
if one of them were to get brought up, because
like I said, it hasn't been a very deep team
so far this year, certainly top heavy and struggling generally
(07:42):
on offense with thirteen goals, so they really can't afford
if they're looking to win games. Can't afford to lose
some of these guys to Winnipeg. But those are kind
of the two names that keep an eye on. Zilkin
and Gustavson the only two players with four more points,
both of them quality prospects and certainly on the radar
of the Winnipeg Jets.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Yeah, I know, I think it's just gonna be interesting
to see. David Gueston kind of reminds me of Roy
Karns from Calgary, one of those guys who's just right
on the edge, you know. Obviously, Winnipeg's been very successful.
Lasco Layers had a great season last year, so we'll
see if he can maybe be an impact player for Mantoba.
But again, it's really just going to come up to
how Toucson can defend these players for Manitoba and we'll
(08:27):
see what happens again Tuesday Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I think Winnipeg has got to be a fun place
to play. I mean, you see that arena, especially in
the playoffs, Patrick, it's all white. They get really loud
and in the places rocking. So I think they'll be
motivated to try to get their way up there. What
do you think I think so too.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
I mean the wide out they have has been just
the last couple of years. I mean, my favorite team,
the Ducks played them, I think their first playoff appearance
back since Winnipeg came back into the NHL, and it's
just such a loud atmosphere. I mean even on the
TV you can hear how loud it is when they rules.
But David, I think we should talk about the goaltending matchups.
(09:05):
And as we talked about Jackson Staubers still looking for
his first win. Matthew Valta perfect so far in these
three appearances. But the goaltending situation for Mantoba is very
interesting on if you want to get into that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
We can't get into it. I just want to put
a ribbon on this one point and then we will
jump to the goaltender. So I mentioned the Roadrunners have
quite a few players with at least five points this year,
Manitoba has just one Gustafson. The road Runners actually have
five players with five points and they've played the same
amount of games. Each team has played six games, so
it's pretty substantial. Walker boot he Big, Piruinovich and McCartney
(09:37):
leads the team with seven and if you take it
a step further. Manitoba has two players with four points
or more, and we touched on both of them. The
Roadrunners have ten and some of them are defensemen. I
think three of them are defenseman, and one of them
is no longer with the road Runners, Kevin Rooney. So
it's pretty stark that two side, you know, they have.
It seems like much more depth and production at the
(09:59):
top end compared to Manitoba offensively, so that's certainly an
encouraging statistic there. Okay, let's jump to the goaltenders. We
started with Tucson Matthew Valta expected to get the start
on Tuesday, and probably Jackson Stauber on Wednesday. And something
I said to James yesterday is we've seen the Roadrunners
(10:20):
now play a complete game. Patrick. They had a very
solid victory in all three phases. On Friday night. Offense
was flying around. They scored five goals. Defensively, I thought
they performed well and gave Valta the protection in front.
But Matthew Valalta made several key saves and some of
them really changed the outlook of the game. So it
was good goaltending, good defense, good offensive, five to one victory.
(10:43):
We'd like to see them now stretch that to a
complete series, which we have not seen from Tucson. It's
been three splits so far, whether they were regulation losses
or overtime losses, but they haven't been able to string
together six periods and so I think that's kind of
the next step for this team to see if they
can do that. And you would think had manifested itself
in a Jackson's st Auburn victory. Okay, As for Manitoba
(11:05):
and the goaltending situation, my guest Patrick is a devntentis
who will get the start for Manitoba on Tuesday. One
in three on the season, but not that Statistically, he's
saving about eighty nine percent of the shots he faces,
which is pretty standard, and the team has allowed between
three and four goals per game in his four starts.
(11:26):
Last year, he did play twenty eight games with Manitoba
and allowed less than three goals a game, so again
a pretty good mark there, and saved almost ninety one
percent of his shots, so he is a reasonable, you know,
first option for the Moose. He was a seventh round
draft pick by Winnipeg in twenty twenty two, so another
player that's been with this franchise, this system for his
(11:49):
entire professional excuse me, his entire professional career. I expect
him to get the start on Tuesday and Thomas Millick
on Wednesday, again probably like what the Roadrunners do to
shake it up. He's played two games this year, loss
in an overtime loss, so he'll also be looking for
win number one, So that could be a something's gotta
give game if it's Stabburn against both goalies looking for
(12:11):
their first victory. And he played last year with the
Moose as well. He's a former fifth round pick in
twenty twenty three. He's played with Manitoba most of his
career as well.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Yeah, I think the goaltending matchup is gonna be very
interesting to see, you know. It's just it's just I
feel like it's very skewed with the statistic because I
feel like the goaltenders, both to Vintintes and melanch have
played very solid games, just like they're not getting any
offensive help from their from Manitoba in the last few games.
And I feel like it's just kind of if you
(12:44):
look at you know, if people look at the stats
so well, they're giving up the goaltender their goals against
his three point five to seven. But they're they're basically
stopping eighty nine to eighty five percent of shots. So
I'm curious to see what will happen and how to
song can generate offense. And we'll see, we'll see what
(13:04):
goes on. Will what happen this Tuesday and Wednesday? And David,
do you think this is probably the I'm not seen easy,
easiest matchup. Tucson has this in this home stand, but
I feel like they have a chance to really get
that as they go that goal of sweeping a series
instead of splitting.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
What do you think, Well, we circled Calgary, right, we
thought that the Roadrunners were gonna have the upperhand against
the Wranglers, and again, they played an impressive first game.
It looked like they were gonna have a chance to
go for the sweep. Didn't happen, but they got to
overtime the second game. So that's the closest they've been
to a sweep, right, just one shot in overtime away
from winning both of those games. Then we thought maybe
against Bakersfield, another team that came in cold, dominated the
(13:45):
first game and just not the same team I think
it's more a matter of Tucson Patrick and this is
something Steve Podvins said to me as well. I think
it's a lot more about them than the opponent. And
Anatoba again another team that's kind of limping into the
TCC and probably based on trends, the road Runners will
jump on them Tuesday and then we'll have to see
what happens on Wednesday. That's sort of the way I
(14:08):
see it is can the Roadrunners play to their best
abilities for six periods? And I think that's going to
be critical. I think Agazino was an interesting infusion into
that top line. Daniel Boot is getting better and better
by the game. Really. He scored twice on Friday, and
that was with his line being changed up, Kevin Rooney
(14:29):
departing the team, Agasino taking that center role in the
top line, and Daniel Boot did not seem to mind,
including a nice connection from Agazino to Boot on a
powerplay was a beautiful cross ice pass and then Daniel
did the rest. So I think the team, like I said,
I expect them to play to their standards on Tuesday.
We'll see if they can follow it up Wednesday. But
(14:49):
as for Manitoba again, I said they're limping into southern Arizona.
You mentioned it an opening victory, a home win on Friday,
October tenth against the Ball Since then, four losses is
one overtime loss hasn't been pretty. So they will be
coming in maybe with some urgency and some desperation, and
we'll have to see how that plays out. All right,
(15:10):
Coming up next, we are going to talk to the
Voice of the Manitoba Moose, Daniel Think. And just a reminder,
you can buy your tickets for this week's matchup at
Tucson Roadrunners dot com. If you can't make it to
the game, no concern. Listen to the game on Fox
Sports fourteen fifty or watch on HLTV by Flow Sports
Daniel Think.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Coming up next, it's time to go Between the Benches
on road Runners Weekly and welcome.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Back to Between the Benches, a Tucson Roadrunners podcast, now
joined by the Voice of the Manitoba Moose, Daniel Think
and Daniel, let's jump right in. On paper, it looks
like a bit of a slow start for Manitoba. Just
take us through that and what you've seen in the
first six games.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Yeah, I think coming into the season, there's a lot
of excitement about the depth of the Moose, especially in
that forward group. I mean, when you look at some
of the names that have joined this roster in the offseason,
there's certainly some firepower. There's certainly some interesting young players
and some established veterans, especially when so many players were
able to come through waivers from the Winnipeg Jets. And
I think it's a lot of guys who haven't really
(16:04):
played together yet, so it's been a process to try
and figure things out. I mean, you look at some
of the firepower they can put out for the power
play hasn't quite connected yet. The lines seemed to shimmy
around every single game, so just tried to find that mix,
and I think maybe they started to land on it.
And they're lost in Chicago the other night to four
to three OT defeat, but couldn't get the result there,
(16:28):
but started to see more of that blueprint, especially about
two of the last three games. Probably played well enough
to be the winning team, but just didn't get the results.
So I think it slow start, for sure, but maybe
understandable when you consider just how many new players there
are and the team just kind of trying to find
its way and find its identity.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
And one of the things you just said players coming
down from Winnipeg, which the team is excited to have.
I'm guessing one of those David Gustafson, who played over
one hundred games I believe with the Jets the past
few years. What have you seen from him in the
opening a few games?
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Yeah, I mean David gustav Sin. I mean going back
to his time in the American Hockey League with the
move speck when he was but a young rookie. He's
just such a solid player and he's not necessarily going
to blow you away by with great flashes of skill
things like that. But what he's gonna do. He's gonna
win over fifty percent of the face offs he takes.
He's going to win his battles on the wall, and
(17:16):
he's got enough skill to put the puck away when
he gets those opportunities or set his teammates up like
he did the other night in Chicago. So he's just
going to go out there and play the right way.
He's not going to make a lot of mistakes, and
that's why he can be a successful NHL player. And
it's played over one hundred games, in the National Hockey
League and what makes him so effective in the AHL
level as well.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
You mentioned the team has been playing better recently the
past couple games, that overtime loss to Chicago. What do
you think has been one of the key areas of
improvement recently.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
Well, I think a lot of it is just finding
that that pace in their game and that consistency. I mean,
they're starting to figure out, well, this is how this
line starts to match together. I mean the couple of
games where they've found success despite not getting the results,
is they've had that consistency to their game and they've
been able to find some groupings that worked well together.
(18:08):
And then maybe it kind of goes away a game
in between, So we'll see if that starts to link
up over. But it's when the team can start kind
of finding that execution playing through the neutral zone with speed,
getting in on the four check, being relentless getting in
on the defense, forcing them to make mistakes. That's when
this team's going to be successful. It's not necessarily going
to be a running gun team. It's going to be
(18:28):
a team that's going to force other teams into mistakes
by being on top of them, by being strong physically,
things like that. So when they're able to play that
game consistently, they're going to find success. Tricky part of
that is it's a hard game to play consistently all
the time, every game, every night for seventy two games.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Sounds like limiting errors will be a key for the
Twoson roadrunners, let's shift gears a little bit. Manitoba has
been spending a lot of time on the road and
now here, you guys are kind of across the continent
in southern Arizona. How is the team staying together and
how are they managing all the travel?
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Yeah, I mean, look it's our itinerary. Last little bit.
We've been in three different time zones in at one
point three days, so they're certainly logging some miles here
in the early season. Tends to be a road heavy
schedule for the Moose every year to kick off the season,
which can be a really good thing, especially when you
have a whole bunch of new players who are trying
to kind of get linked up with each other. They
got to spend a lot of time together, gotten some
(19:19):
team building yesterday when they got into town here in Tucson.
So I think that's been really good and despite it
being a tough schedule. I mean, playing the Grand Rapids
Griffin's three straight at Van Andel Arena is not an
enviable task. That's a very good home team there and
a very good team this season, as the Moose found out,
so that makes it a little more difficult. But when
(19:40):
you're able to get out on the road, teams bond.
That's what happens early in the season. That can really
bring a group together. So despite the slow start, it
could have larger ramifications as they build throughout the season
as well.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Now I think you have to lobby the schedule makers
a little bit, Daniel, because the weather in Manitoba late October,
you guys are still hanging in there. Why can't we
make a trip down to two and let's say December Anuary.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Well, it's like we were talking about before we came
on the air here. It always seems like we'll get
a Texas trip in October, and I think we'll be
down in Texas in a couple of weeks here, but
it doesn't quite get cold enough for us to really
get that relief, like you were saying in February and January.
But hey, anytime you're able to come down and visit
a place like Tucson, and especially for us, so team
(20:23):
hasn't been here since twenty seventeen, so it's really nice
to get to essentially a new city. For myself, I
haven't been able to visit Tucson before, so it's really
exciting to get into a new building, new environs, do
some exploring. So that's always nice anytime here. Now.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
I know you're here for not a very long period
of time, but I'm sure some of our fans in
Tucson residents are curious how you look to spend your
time here in Tucson.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Yeah, I mean that's that's the only downside, right the
quick back to back and then we're gone, so not
a whole ton of time. Got a round of golf
when we got in yesterday. That was really nice. Got
out to I believe it's locale restaurant down in the
area last night is So that was really nice. And
we'll see if we can sneak in some more leisure
time here here tonight after the team practices. But yeah,
(21:07):
unfortunately a business trip. Maybe next year we'll have to
get in for one with a day in between. The
games too, get a little more time.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Yeah, maybe a Friday Sunday series. I'm guessing the Mexican
food scene a little bit better in Tucson than in Manitoba.
But I don't want to make any assumptions. All right,
let's go back to the hockey. Goaltending always something fans
are curious about. Most HL teams, Tucson especially comfortable rolling
with two different goaltenders, especially on back to backs like
this series will be. Will that be the case for Manitoba?
(21:34):
What have you seen from the goaltenders this year?
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Yeah, I think that's probably a reasonably safe assumption. I
never want to guarantee anything. You never know what happens.
But I mean, between Dominic Devegentis and Thomas Milich, the
Moose have two Winnipeg Jets prospect goaltenders that they're pretty
comfortable and rolling out there. I mean, Thomas Milich kind
of burst on the scene a couple of seasons ago
when he helped stabilize the Moose goaltending in a charge
(21:56):
towards a playoff spot where they started out one of
the bottom teams in the league and manage to sneak
into that last playoff spot. For twenty twenty four and
then Dominic Devin Gentis exploded into the American Hockey League
last season when he was just absolutely dominant to start
things out and then maybe found some in's consistencies as
you would expect for a young goaltender and spend some
(22:16):
time in the EHL, But when both Milich or devin
Chantis have been in the ECCHL, they've been one of
the best goaltenders in that league. So they're trying to
make that step up here now and I think you'll
see some growing pains throughout, as you tend to with
young goaltenders, but two options that the mousev been all
too happy to roll out. Devon Chantis has been getting
the bulk of the starts early and then Milich has
(22:37):
been kind of getting the seconds of those back to back.
So we'll see how it all shakes out here this week.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
So likely Devin Centis against Vilalta on Tuesday, but again,
never know until.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
The puck gets dropped right what coaches will pull a
fast one on us whenever they can.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Interestingly enough, and it worked out for bakers Field over
the weekend. Their only goal scorer on Friday and they're
leading goal scorer Yarvin Tea got benched on Saturday. We're
trying to figure that move out and what happens. Bakersfield
goes out and wins the game on Saturday without him,
So maybe a little bit of accountability was being put
(23:10):
in front of the team. But the point is you
never really know what the coaches are thinking. Okay, so
we've hit on kind of the obvious notes, some of
the top points, scores, starting goaltenders. Who are some players
that maybe you know, a casual person studying the roster
wouldn't jump out and see immediately that you think maybe
haven't shown out yet, but will be impressive players for Manitoba.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Yeah. I mean people are always going to gravitate to
those first round picks like Colby Barlow, like Billy Haynela
or Braden Yager who was a Pittsburgh first round pick
and then came over to the Winnipeg organization in a trade.
But when you start to look at some of the names,
you might not recognize. Danny Jilkin. He was a third
round pick of the Winnipeg Jets and the coaches have
been praising him lately. Is in to his third professional
(23:51):
season here and that can really be a jumping off
point for some players. It takes maybe a couple of seasons,
especially in Jilkin's case where he was injured and missed
basically half of each of his first two seasons. He's
come out of the gate really strong. He's got four
points in six games. His previous career high as ten points.
He had five points his final ten games of the
season in twenty four to twenty five, so started to
(24:13):
kind of find that offense. And now he's off to
a really good start and he's been playing with confidence,
very solid all the way back to Rookie Tournament, to
start off training camp and things like that with the
Winnipeg Jets. So he's had a really nice start to
the season and that's something that certainly the Winnipeg Jets
are happy to see and the Moose are happy to
have him driving things along. And then another player that
folks may not know here in Tucson, but he was
(24:34):
an All Star last season, played in the All Star Classic,
eliah Sela Monsen. He's got two assists in six games.
His second round pick of the Winnipeg Jets really looked
on to be one of those key defensemen of the futures.
So that's a couple of players that are Winnipeg Jets
prospects that may not have some of the notoriety or
may not be as familiar with his fans here as
they might be with Samuel Fogomo or Walker Door, who's
(24:55):
gonna have played here a couple of times with Pacific
Division teams. So that's a couple of guys to keep
your eyes on.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Yeah, we appreciate that. So we've got kind of the
identity of the team players to keep an eye on.
Goaltending situation. I have always one curious question that I
think is very important. Do you find that the goals,
the values, the principles that Winnipeg holds are being upheld
in Manitoba. Do you think that they're similar in philosophies
and players are being well prepared? Do you think there's
(25:21):
some differences?
Speaker 4 (25:22):
I think the nice thing about being very much in
the same organization as your NHL team, and the Moose
play in the same building as the Winnipeg Jets. They
work it out to the same practice facility, things like that,
so it is very much from top to bottom of
trun or sports and entertainment cohesive throughout the two teams.
So while there might be some subtle differences between how
(25:43):
maybe the Moose have to run a power play a
little bit differently, or they have to run a system
a little bit differently, everything holds true kind of the
same way on the ice and off it as well.
So the organization has very specific guiding principles that they follow,
and that's really great for players to be able to
step into the ahl, understand the expectations of the organization,
and then just nothing changes as they move essentially down
(26:06):
the hallway to the Winnipeg Jets or across the hallway,
as the case may be. So that really gives players
an opportunity to understand what's expected of them on a
daily basis and be comfortable. Not only especially if both
teams are at home at the same time. A guy
gets called up. He gets to sleep in his own bed,
walk into the same building, take the same path to
work every day, things like that. So it's something that
(26:27):
I think some of the veteran players really appreciate, especially
those guys with families, that they're not worrying about changing
cities things like that, They're able to just stay in
the same place other than their road trips that they
would have to be on anyway. So between that and
the communication between the two teams, that really leads to
a cohesive philosophy through.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Okay, last question here, not asking for any state secrets,
but if you had a hunch at what maybe the
practice focus was this week for Manitoba or some of
the things they're looking to accomplish here in southern Arizona.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Yeah, I guess we'll I guess when we're taping this
right now, Moose about to head onto the ice four
of practice, so I guess we guess we'll find out shortly.
But when you look at what this team needs to
improve on, and it's the special team side of things.
Right now that the penalty kill has come around much
more of the last little bit. Still surrendered a power
play goal against Chicago, but the powerplay just one hasn't
got a whole ton of opportunities to work, but two
(27:19):
just really hasn't been clicking early on, and they've given
up three short handed goals. They've scored twice on the
power play, So immediately you're looking at somewhere to improve
right there. And so though I think that's going to
be a big area of focus. Now, obviously that doesn't
run through the whole team. You're looking at two units
of players there. So I think it's going to be
a lot of that we were talking about earlier, about
being on the for check, getting up to pace, and
(27:40):
making sure that they're ready for a very good Tucson team.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
Here sounds good, Daniel, Thank you so much for the time.
Tucson and Manitoba tomorrow at six point thirty from the TCC,
and then it'll be same time on Wednesday. Tickets available
on Tucson Roadrunners dot Com. Coverage on fourteen fifty am,
Fox Sports, Tucson Sports Station, and HLTV on Flow Sports.
Thank you so much much for listening. We will see
you tomorrow at the TCC.
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