Monday, August 30, 2021

Ehlers Helps Denmark Make Olympics

Halifax Mooseheads alumni Nikolaj Ehlers could be an Olympian in February. The 25-year-old helped his Denmark team be victorious in the Olympic qualifying tournament over the weekend in Olso, Norway. 

Nikolaj had nine points over the 3 games as the Danes won all three to be first in their group to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in their history. His second goal in their opening game ended up being the game winner as Denmark picked up a 4-3 victory over Slovenia before the team dominated South Korea on Friday by a score of 11-1. Ehlers once again had the game winning goal and finished the match with 2 goals and 4 assists. Sunday's game was a big one as the red and white took on Norway for top spot in their group. The Danish team won 2-0 with Nik scoring his 5th tally of the weekend to finish the tournament as the top scorer.

I say he could be an Olympian because the National Hockey League has not yet determined if they will allow their players to participate in the 2022 Olympics. The league has released the regular season schedule with a two week break in February so it is a bigger possibility this time than it was 4 years ago in 2018. If NHLers are allowed, I imagine Ehlers will make the Denmark team as he has been pretty good for them in other tournaments as well. We may also see a few other former Mooseheads players on Olympic rosters if the NHL does participate. 

Congrats to Denmark on qualifying for the Olympics and good luck in February. Cross your fingers Moose Country that NHLers will be heading to Beijing and we will see some alum playing. 


Photo - IIHF Twitter

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Herd Word

NEW COACHING POSITIONS 
More former Halifax Mooseheads coaches have been given positions with new teams. Townsend, ON native Jim Midgley has joined the National Hockey League's New York Rangers staff as an assistant coach. Midgley, who head coached the Herd during the 2017-18 season, is currently an assistant coach on Team Canada at the Women's World Championships in Calgary. Check out the reaction from the ladies when they were told of Jim's new job here

The Saint Mary's Huskies announced last week that Cole Harbour native Jon Greenwood has been added to their coaching staff as the new defense coach. Greenwood had spent the last 7 seasons with our Mooseheads. 

Photo - Rangers website


RECENT CUTS
After the pre-season game on Friday night, Cam Russell, Sylvain Favreau and the staff announced another round of cuts which leaves 26 players now in training camp. A surprise to many, the Herd reassigned free agent Bryson Boudreau along with Liam Welsh and Merle Putnam. Boudreau was on another level during the first week of camp, scoring 8+ goals over the multiple intrasquad games and picked up 3 assists in 3 pre-season matches. Many expected him to make the team after his performance the last two weeks. 

With the moves, the regular season roster is starting to shape up and unlike I previously thought, we could see the announcement of who made the team sometime this week. We're getting close Moose Country. 

SIGNINGS
It looks like a couple more Herd alumni will be playing in the ECHL in 2021-22. The Allen Americans announced they re-signed tough guy Kelly Bent on Tuesday. The Halifax native played for the Americans last season in 18 games and collected 71 penalty minutes. Bent was apart of the Mooseheads for two seasons (2014-16) before joining the Dalhousie Tigers for university. 

A teammate of Bent with both the Herd and Tigers, 25 year old forward Andrew Shewfelt will presumably turn pro after being signed by the Wichita Thunder late last week. He suited up for his hometown junior team for three seasons (2013-16) collecting 58 points with Halifax. Shewfelt was supposed to play in his fourth season with Dalhousie in 2020-21 but the pandemic cancelled university hockey. 

"I'm thrilled to be coming to Wichita for my first year of professional hockey," stated Shewfelt. "I've heard nothing but great things about the city, fans, and the organization. I'm excited to get down there and get to work."

Check back later in the year to see which teams the other former players are suiting up for this season in the next Where Are They Now? blog post. 

TICKETS
Some new about Halifax Mooseheads tickets for 2021-22. Previous season ticket and 15-game pack holders have until September 3 to renew their tickets or their seats will be released. The team has been told that they should be able to have full capacity this year meaning that members who had season tickets in 2019-20 should have those seats again. For fans who want to become members, full season, 15-games and family flex 20 packs go on sale tomorrow August 30 at 10 a.m. 

Individual tickets for the general public will go on sale September 23. For full info (including benefits) and prices, check out mooseheadstickets.ca 

MCKENNA


Herd alumni Jordan Mckenna had some big news come his way on Saturday evening as he was drafted by the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League. McKenna, who played 55 games for Halifax in 2019-20, plays for the Orangeville Northmen lacrosse team during the hockey off-season. The 21-year-old captained the Yarmouth Mariners last year picking up 14 goals and 41 points in 35 games. He is committed to York University for the upcoming season. The NLL is a professional lacrosse league with teams in the United States and Canada. Congrats to Jordan on being selected. 


TIM HORTONS
It looks like we'll get a new Tim Hortons commercial featuring a couple of the top Nova Scotian hockey players. Alumni Nathan MacKinnon shared an Instagram story of himself and fellow Cole Harbour native Sidney Crosby in front of a Tim Hortons store with both wearing Team Canada jerseys. The two have done many advertisements together for Canadian restaurant chain over the years. Hopefully Nathan will have another fantastic season and be able to lead the Colorado Avalanche past the second round. 

TRADE
Your Halifax Mooseheads made a minor trade on Sunday afternoon, moving prospect Alex Carr to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. In return, Halifax receives a 4th round pick in 2023. Carr was drafted by the Herd in 2020 and recently participated in the team's training camp before being reassigned on Friday. He was set to play in the Maritime Hockey League this season but could possibly make the Huskies team. 

I'm sure we will see more trades in the coming days and there have been plenty already by other teams around the league as all 18 QMJHL clubs get ready for the regular season which is set to start September 30. 


Photos - teams' Facebook pages & MacKinnon's Instagram

Friday, August 27, 2021

Orr Leads Mooseheads to Win


Our Halifax Mooseheads picked up their second win of the pre-season schedule on Friday night at the RBC Centre with a 7-4 victory over the Moncton Wildcats. Sophomore Robert Orr continued on his hot streak scoring another 2 goals while the goaltenders that suited up once again played about half a game each. Moncton got on the score board first at the 3:14 mark of the opening period but Halifax led 3-2 after 20 minutes. Senna Peeters scored early in the third for the Mooseheads 5th goal which ended up being the game winner in the high shooting match. The Herd's next exhibition game will be on September 10 against Cape Breton. 

Game at a Glance
FINAL: Moncton 4 at Halifax 7
Moncton scorers: Charles Antoine-Pilote (2), Alexis Daniel, Thomas Auger
Halifax scorers: Dylan MacKinnon, Mathieu Cataford, Robert Orr (2), Senna Peeters, Jordan Dumais, Attilio Biasca
Powerplay: MON - 2/6, HAL - 1/5
Shots: Wildcats - 41, Mooseheads - 40


Photo - Saltwire

Foston Traded To Saint John

The Halifax Mooseheads have made their first trade of the 2021-22 season after making a move with the Saint John Sea Dogs this afternoon. 

Halifax announced that they have moved forward Cole Foston to the Sea Dogs for a 2023 eighth round pick. Foston played 34 career games with Halifax after being picked in the fourth round of the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft. The Beaver Bank, NS native picked up his first career point last season and finished the 20-21 regular season with two goals and 7 points. 

This leaves 29 players on the training camp roster which means we are bit closer to the opening night roster being named. 

Good luck to Cole with Saint John. 


Photo - Elite Prospects

Pre-season Game vs. Moncton

Opponent: Moncton Wildcats
Where: RBC Centre
When: August 27, 2021
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Moncton Wildcats
Preseason record: 2-2-0-0, 4pts
Goals for: 17
Goals against: 15
Head coach: Daniel Lacroix
Scoring leader: Alex Mercer 6pts (2G & 4A)

Halifax Mooseheads
Preseason record: 1-1-0-0, 2pts
Goals for: 7
Goals against: 6
Head coach: Sylvain Favreau
Scoring leader: Robert Orr 3pts (2G & 1A)

Notes

  • As announced earlier today, six more players were cut from the team leaving 30 in training camp 
  • Tonight's match will again be behind closed doors so you can watch it on the Mooseheads YouTube page 
  • Below is the roster for Halifax 


CAMP: 6 Players Reassigned


The Halifax Mooseheads seem to have figured out there goaltending situation after making another round of cuts on Friday morning, trimming the roster by 6 players. Goalies Adam Tkacz and Jack Milner were reassigned which leaves sophomore Brady James and rookie Mathis Rousseau as the choices for head coach Sylvain Favreau in net but there is always the possibility the Herd trade for or sign another goaltender at some point. 

Below are the 6 players that were cut from the training camp roster.
D  Alex Carr    Draft '20
D  Jack Martin    Draft '21
D  Michael Sack    Draft '19
F  Brandon Abbass    FA invite
G  Jack Milner    Draft '21
G  Adam Tkacz    FA invite

It was also announced that three more players left earlier in the week for different reasons. They are forwards Ethan Landry and Braeden MacPhee and defenceman Sid McNeill. 

This leaves 30 guys on the current training camp roster. 


Photo - Mooseheads website

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Events

The Halifax Mooseheads have announced their promotional schedule for the 2021-22 regular season and there are a change to one of the yearly charity events. Pink in the Rink will not be played in October like normal, instead it is being replaced by a Mooseheads Fights Cancer night. The full list of promotional nights can be found in the schedule tab above but below you will find the yearly charity events.

HOMOPENE- October 2 vs. Cape Breton Eagles
Teddy Bear Toss - December 17 vs. Charlottetown Islanders
Battle of Nova Scotia - December 31 vs. Cape Breton Eagles
DND Appreciation Night - January 21 vs. Quebec Remparts 
Mooseheads Fight Cancer
- February 18 vs. Saint John Sea Dogs
Fan Appreciation Night 
- April 2 vs. Charlottetown Islanders