by Frankie Benvenuti | AHL On The Beat
The Manitoba Moose had a notable first 28 video games of the season in 2025-26. The staff picked up 15 wins and sat in second place within the Central Division as they entered the Christmas break, however lots of the headlines have been targeted on three gamers particularly.
With the mother or father membership Winnipeg Jets banged up, defenseman Elias Salomonsson and goaltender Thomas Milic have been afforded the chance to make their NHL debuts. Then, netminder Domenic DiVincentiis earned his first call-up, backing up Moose alumnus Eric Comrie for a pair of video games.
Salomonsson and Milic made their respective debuts in back-to-back contests. Salomonsson skated in his first NHL contest towards the vaunted Washington Capitals offense at Capital One Enviornment on Nov. 26. Milic was tasked with a tough highway contest towards the relentless Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Middle on Nov. 28.
A second-round decide of the Jets in 2022, Salomonsson recounted the second he stepped on the ice for the standard rookie solo lap in Washington.
“That was really the very first thing I considered: Don’t fall,” Salomonsson laughed with reporters following his debut. “It was wonderful. After all, quite a lot of feelings. You simply do that when, so it was quite a lot of enjoyable.”
The Skellefteå, Sweden, product appeared in 4 video games with the large membership whereas averaging 14:44 of ice time. Salomonsson got here inside an inch of scoring his first NHL aim, ringing a shot of the submit in his second sport whereas dealing with off towards Carolina.
The defender was grateful for his expertise skating within the NHL.
“It meant rather a lot,” Salomonsson stated. “That is one thing I’ve all the time chased since I used to be slightly child.”
With an harm to Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, one other Moose graduate, Manitoba’s present goaltending duo have been every given a while throughout the hallway.
Milic turned away 30 pictures in his first sport, together with 26 of the Hurricanes’ first 28 makes an attempt on aim. Whereas it will definitely culminated in a loss on the 22-year-old’s document, it was an expertise he’ll always remember.
“It was cool, quite a lot of pleasure beforehand,” Milic stated of his debut. “I had my dad and mom and another household and pals are available. I feel quite a lot of that was for them. It was tremendous particular. They’ve all helped me get thus far. I simply needed to do my greatest for them and do my greatest for myself, as nicely.”
The Coquitlam, B.C., native noticed reduction motion in two extra video games earlier than being loaned again to the Moose on Dec. 8. In a corresponding transfer, the Jets recalled DiVincentiis, because the younger netminders swapped locations within the NHL locker room.
“It was a dream come true,” DiVincentiis stated. “Clearly, being recalled to the NHL is youngsters’ dream and to have the ability to try this was unbelievable. With the ability to have my household come down and share these days with them and have them come watch the practices was fairly particular to me. Simply with the ability to give again for all of the issues that they did for me.”
There may be all the time pleasant competitors between the pair of Jets prospect netminders, however beneath it, there’s a deeper degree of assist.
“I used to be so pumped up for him,” Milic stated of DiVincentiis’ call-up. “I used to be actually excited for him. I’ve stated it numerous occasions, however it’s tremendous
cool having a man like that. We’re in related levels in our careers and attending to share quite a lot of new experiences.
“It doesn’t matter what’s taking place, whoever’s enjoying, we’re all the time there for one another and cheering one another on, however we’re additionally battling,” Milic added. “We’re preventing for video games each night time, so we’re doing our greatest to maintain that wholesome competitors going.”
Although DiVincentiis didn’t make it right into a sport earlier than being loaned again to the Moose on Dec. 14, the brief stint every goalie received with the Jets was beneficial expertise.
“It’s fairly particular to have the ability to get on the ice with these guys and study from them and broaden the toolbox,” the Bolton, Ont., native defined. “There’s by no means going to be a day that you simply cease studying on this sport. So for me, it’s simply getting that one p.c higher on daily basis, studying from these guys there, and simply with the ability to come again (to the Moose) and put them into my sport.”
