Moose players stay low-key during team’s success

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/12/2017 (2908 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If there’s any strutting or chest-puffing going on these days, members of the Manitoba Moose are keeping it behind closed doors.

Because to hear the players talk, you’d have a hard time picking up on the fact they’re currently the cream of the American Hockey League crop.

“Whenever you have success like this, you don’t let it go unnoticed. At the same time, we know the game is humbling and it can really change in a matter of one or two games. So we’re just trying to keep our heads screwed on tight and stay strong and finish up these last two games before the break,” second-year pro Jack Roslovic said Wednesday following his team’s practice.

Manitoba (21-5-3) hasn’t lost in regulation in a franchise-record 14 straight games (13-0-1), and will look to extend that when they host the San Antonio Rampage tonight and Friday at Bell MTS Place. The Rampage (16-10-2) squad is the Colorado Avalanche’s farm team.

“It’s been great. You just go home, there’s way less negative. When you lose, everybody’s on edge,” said captain Patrice Cormier, who has already matched the 13 goals he scored in 69 games last year in just 28 this season. “But then it’s a double-edged sword. You don’t want to get too over-confident — you want to stay humble. But it’s way nicer, in the room, practices, the vibe has been real good. It’s fun to be winning and to make Winnipeg proud.”

Roslovic sits third in AHL scoring, with 14 goals and 16 assists through 29 games. Rookie teammate Mason Appleton is tied for eighth, with nine goals and 18 assists, while veteran forward Buddy Robinson is tied for 11th, with 12 goals and 14 helpers.

“This is a development league, for the most part. But I think this whole dressing room here is looking to win,” Roslovic said.

The 20-year-old said he’s not spending any time worrying about when he might earn a call-up to the Winnipeg Jets, who are flying pretty high themselves these days.

“You just try to keep it in the present. There’s nothing much you can do about it besides play your game. I’m looking to win down here right now.”

Roslovic has been using his time in the minors to round out his game, as he’s played both centre and on the wing this season, and is a major part of a penalty-killing unit that ranks No. 2 in the AHL, along with the league’s third-best power play.

“I was familiar with the PK a little bit last year, but I’m getting to be a PK regular. So I think adding those tools to your toolbox can never hurt you,” he said.

● ● ●

Moose goalie Eric Comrie has been ruled out of action until after Christmas.

Comrie was injured last Friday in a 7-3 win over the Belleville Senators, in his first game back after being up with the Jets for a couple weeks filling in for Steve Mason.

He finished the game, but didn’t dress for the Moose victories against the Marlies on Saturday and Sunday in Toronto. Jamie Phillips was summoned from the ECHL to back up Michael Hutchinson.

The team hasn’t disclosed exactly what Comrie’s ailment is, although it seems to have stemmed from a collision in the crease, where a Belleville player fell on him.

“We feel pretty positive that after the Christmas break he’ll be good to go,” head coach Pascal Vincent said Wednesday.

Forward Nic Petan missed practice with an illness, but is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Defenceman Jake Kulevich, who has been out of action since Nov. 21, is also expected to make his return.

● ● ●

After a slow start to the season, Moose crowds are starting to grow. Manitoba is currently 14th in AHL attendance, with an average of 5,559 fans over the team’s 12 regular-season games. That number got a boost, as more than 8,200 were in the seats for their last home game Dec. 10.

The Moose averaged 5,656 fans last season, which was a sharp drop from the 7,285 average in their return to Winnipeg a year earlier.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @mikemcintyrewpg