The Moose have gotten off to a 3-3-0-0 begin to their tenth season since returning to Manitoba from St. John’s and their twenty fifth season total in Winnipeg. When coaching camp was underway standard knowledge urged certainly one of Eric Comrie or Kaapo Kahkonen can be despatched to the AHL to kind a tandem with second-year Jets goalie prospect Thomas Milic. The group’s different goalie prospect Domenic DiVincentiis, was anticipated to take the identical route as Milic did the season prior which was to begin within the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals and attempt to work his approach as much as the AHL.

That acquired tossed out the window when Eric Comrie was declared the backup to Connor Hellebuyck with Kaapo Kahkonen occurring waivers and thereafter being claimed by the Avs. This meant to begin the 2024-25 marketing campaign the Moose would have a 21-year outdated (Milic) and 20-year outdated (DiVincentiis) duo between the pipes. Not going how the group would have anticipated issues to be however like with all issues in life it’s a must to adapt.

We caught up with Manitoba goalie coach Drew MacIntyre for somewhat Q and A following yesterday’s non-compulsory Moose observe as they put together for a two-game set towards the Admirals this weekend at Canada Life Centre.

Dave: What have you ever seen from this younger tandem by means of six video games:

Drew: “Yeah. I imply, now we have the youngest mixture of goalies right here within the league, and it’s been positively not what we anticipated with Kapo getting claimed, however that’s goaltending. That’s form of the message that we’ve despatched to each Thomas final 12 months and Dom this 12 months, to each of them, is you gotta be prepared for something, and also you gotta be prepared when your identify is named. And there’s no form of, oh, nicely, you understand you had this or that. There’s no excuses. You’re able to go when your identify’s referred to as. And Milli clearly did a heck of a job of that final 12 months, and to this point, Dom is doing it this 12 months. However yeah, they gotta simply keep within the second. And that’s my greatest message to them is don’t look forward. Professional hockey, if you look forward and get snug that’s normally not a recipe for fulfillment.”

Dave: On Domenic having the ability to adapt to this surprising path to begin his profession:

Drew: “He realized plenty of classes final 12 months in North Bay. It was a 12 months of ups and downs, so he realized some actually helpful classes which might be actually serving to him on this state of affairs. So my message ever since final season and growth camp this summer season was ‘we don’t know what is going to occur’ however it’s essential to put together your self. Thomas mainly lived out of a suitcase final 12 months. And I didn’t say that’s what’s occurring to you, however it’s essential to be prepared for something. In order that may very well be a case, you understand, which is form of that’s goaltending, I did that many occasions. So there’s simply such a scarcity of jobs. They know that they’re very, there’s no entitlement to them proper now. They’re grateful for the second, the chance, they usually’re simply going to do every part that they will with that chance.”

Dave: How a lot work does it take to get on the identical web page philosophically as a prospect netminder’s goalie coach along with his junior membership or his summertime goalie coach so that everybody is working collectively to assist the participant turn into one of the best that they are often?

Drew: “Yeah, once we draft a goalie, so similar to these two, I form of my job is to get on that instantly, to determine the connection with these guys and to form of get on the identical web page with each of their goalie coaches again dwelling. It was very straightforward. We have been on the identical web page instantly. Something, any suggestions that I had, it was by no means led to with any, there was no battle again or something, no arguments by any means. It was form of some fairly apparent issues. I do know, once we drafted Dom, there have been mechanically some large modifications to be made. And his goalie coach at dwelling, his goalie coach in North Bay, they purchased in instantly. In order that that made my job a lot simpler once I’m doing zoom classes or doing video with them in particular person in North Bay, I knew that I didn’t have any pushback in any of his individuals round him. In order that’s good. Similar with Thomas. Thomas was totally different as a result of we didn’t have him for 2 years to develop him. He form of, we drafted him and he turned professional, so I didn’t have all that point, however, you understand, I’ve, within the final two summers, been involved along with his goalie coach and all that stuff.”

Dave: What can early season success, like Domenic being named 1st Star of the Night time within the AHL on Sunday, do for his confidence?

Drew: “It’s about getting snug at that degree. So what I like proper now’s that he’s taking part in with management. You recognize, he’s taking part in with construction. It’s been fairly clear within the final 12 months for him, that that’s when he has success. No totally different, if it’s the OHL, nevertheless it’s form of simply extra obvious right here at this degree. He’s taking part in with management, and that’s what’s bringing him success. At occasions he may, previously, get overactive and form of chase the play, and he’s not doing that proper now, and that’s what’s having, bringing success. So it’s extra solidifying the model of play that we wish him to play, and he’s having success with that model.”

Dave: What’s the advantage of having two younger prospect goalies as a tandem?

Drew: “Yeah, I imply, this wasn’t the plan so we’re profiting from the state of affairs however I like the best way that it’s proper now. With these two, they’re good pals, they help one another. From day one, they’ve been very shut. Proper now, we’re going with mainly rotation the appropriate now, in order that they’re supporting one another. And I do know if that modifications, if the rotation, or no matter modifications, I do know they’re going to be execs about it. They get alongside, they usually’re there for one another. So, you understand, I’m not fearful about that by any means, so far as their relationship.”

You’ll be able to subsequent see these two younger netminders in motion this weekend in Winnipeg because the Moose tackle the Admirals on Friday (7PM) and Saturday (6PM).

Video of our chat with Drew MacIntyre:

Audio of our chat with Drew MacIntyre:

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