Herd Word

Photo - Mooseheads website

FREE AGENT SIGNING
Our Halifax Mooseheads announced back on April 21 that they had signed free-agent forward Evan Nee. According to the Herd's press release; 'Nee, a native of Arlington, Massachusetts, will join the Mooseheads as he enters his 19-year-old season. The dynamic left-shooting forward stands 5'11" and weighs 185 pounds, bringing speed, skill, and a proven scoring touch to Halifax's lineup.' He played at St. Mark's School for the last 4 seasons and recorded 146 points during in 118 regular season games. Nee put up impressive numbers during 2025-26 while wearing the C on his jersey, scoring 25 goals and 32 assists over 30 games. 

THIS IS MOOSE COUNTRY
Check out the video below which is the second season finale episode of the This is Moose Country podcast. 

SILVER FOR SWITZERLAND
For the third year in a row, the Switzerland men's national hockey team secured a silver medal at the IIHF World Championships after losing 1-0 in overtime to Finland on May 31. In the 2026 version, the Halifax Mooseheads had three former players on the Swiss team in Attilio Biasca, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. 27-year-old Hischier has been apart of all three final games in 2024, 2025 and 2026. I'm sure this loss was a disappointing one as the 2026 World Championship was hosted in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland. During a round robin game on May 21 against Austria, all three hooked up together for a goal that finished with Nico putting the puck in the net, see it below. 

An All-Mooseheads goal for 🇨🇭 Switzerland at the #MensWorlds.

🚨 Nico Hischier from Timo Meier & Attilio Biasca

Plus the play by play call from former Mooseheads announcer @DanRTSN ‼️#GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/tdwbOIafmx

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) May 21, 2026

DRAFT DAY TRADE
General Manager Cam Russell announced a big move on June 5 during the first round of the draft. The team traded the third overall selection in the 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft to Blainville-Boisbriand, along with a 2027 second rounder plus forward Amelio Santini and goalie Nick Cirka in exchange for forward Mateo Nobert. Entering his 19-year-old season, Halifax is hoping that he will bring in more offence after recording 30 goals in 78 points in 62 games played for the Armada during 2025-26. Welcome to the team Mateo and good luck to Santini and Cirka with Blainville. 

14 PICKED IN HALIFAX
Talking about the draft, it was held in Halifax on June 5-6 and the Mooseheads pulled out the red carpet, literally. Prospects along with their families got to walk on the red carpet with fans cheering them on. The Herd selected 14 players over the twelve rounds, most of which are American (9). After trading their 3rd overall pick, Halifax was first up at seventh overall and before making their selection, a nice video was shown on the jumbotron to showcase the club. 

Photo - Mooseheads website

Find the selections below:
#7 - Emrik Menard RW (Woodbridge Wolfpack 16U)
#20 - Jack Cameron D (Pictou County Weeks)
#25 - Maveric Thisdelle RW (Woodbridge Wolfpack Premier 15's)
#33 - John Queally C (St. Sebastian's School Arrow)
#43 - Jack Fichthorn G (Sioux City Musketeers)
#44 - Jackson Small C (Winchendon School Wapitis)
#61 - Samuel Fishbone D (St. Sebastian's School Arrow)
#72 - Carson Mertz G (Blackfalds Bulldogs)
#97 - Chase Cleary C (Notre Dame College Albatros)
#133 - Jake Donatelli D (St. George's School Dragons)
#151 - William Laplante G (OHA Mavericks Prep U17)
#164 - Jamie Calla C (Governor's Academy Governors)
#187 - JP Montgomery D (St. Louis Blues AAA 16U)
#205 - Aaron Carrier LW (Ecole Sec. la Decouverte D2)

Congrats to all the young men who were drafted. Looking forward to seeing these guys in August. Hear what Cam Russell and Allie MacDonald had to say in the Mooseheads draft panel here.  

PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced the pre-season schedule last week and our Mooseheads will play six games against three different teams. All times in ADT.

August 21     6:00 pm    vs. Cape Breton Eagles (RBC Centre - Dartmouth, NS)       
August 22     7:00 pm    at Cape Breton Eagles (Membertou Sport & Wellness Centre
August 26     7:00 pm    vs. Charlottetown Islanders (Zatzman Sportsplex)
August 29     4:00 pm    at Charlottetown Islanders (Simmons Sports Centre - Charlottetown, PE)
September 4     7:00 pm    at Saint John Sea Dogs (TD Station)
September 11   7:00 pm    vs. Saint John Sea Dogs (RBC Centre - Dartmouth, NS)

Herd Word

BEST GOALIE
Goaltender Owen Bresson of our Halifax Mooseheads was named to the Team of the Week on Monday after going 2-0-0-0 during the previous weekend with wins over Baie-Comeau and Moncton. It's the first time this season that a Herd player has been named to the team. Bresson also had a 0.97 GAA between the two matches. Congrats Owen!

Photo - QMJHL website

MACKINNON TRADED
Former Herd defenseman Dylan MacKinnon has been traded from the Moncton Wildcats to the Charlottetown Islanders. The announcement was made on Tuesday, and could be done because MacKinnon is a 20 year old. Moncton receives 3 draft picks in return. Dylan was a healthy scratch in the Wildcats match against the Mooseheads on Saturday so this would explain why. 

The Moncton, NB native has no points so far this season but has only played two games. 'For the Islanders, who currently sit 1st place in the QMJHL, this acquisition sends a clear message: the team is all-in on a championship push. MacKinnon's arrival adds experience, toughness, and a winning mentality to a defensive group that already ranks among the league's best,' says Charlottetown's press release. 

QMJHL PROSPECTS GAME
The QMJHL announced on Thursday the names of the 40 players who will participate in the first-ever QMJHL Prospects Game on October 21 at the Palais Leopold-Drolet in Sherbrooke. A few of the young men named are currently playing for Halifax this season; forwards Daniel Walters, Oleg Kulebyakin and William Bent will take part. 

Congratulations to our three players on being named and good luck. The rosters of the two teams participating in the game, which will be called Team Lafleur and Team Crosby, will be announced in the coming days. Full release here. 

THIS IS MOOSE COUNTRY
The second season of the team's podcast; This is Moose Country, is underway and episode 2 was released earlier this week. Episode 1 talked about the home opener and the 2025-26 roster plus Scott MacIntosh and Brad Cuzner were joined by new coaches Brad MacKenzie and Josh Hepditch. Below is the video for the most recent episode where Herd alumni Zach Fucale joined the hosts to talk about his time with Halifax, getting traded to Quebec plus more. 

 

Photo - Avalanche Twitter

FRANCHISE LEADER
The Colorado Avalanche have a new all-time leader in points since the franchise relocated and I am sure it is no surprise that it is former Moose player Nathan MacKinnon. The 30-year-old recorded an assist in the Avs opening game on Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Kings. It was his 1,016th point (367 goals, 649 points) in 871 games to break a tie with Joe Sakic (1,015 points in 870 games). 

"He means a ton," Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog said of MacKinnon. "He drives our team on a nightly basis, offensively. ... Just so many things he does so well, and I'm not surprised that he's, yet again, breaking another franchise record. You know, it's just kind of what he does, so exciting to see."

Keep it going Nate, congrats on becoming the points leader!