Moose add Grit and Toughness to Lineup

By Andrew Bourgeois
With the 2000-01 season rapidly approaching the Manitoba Moose have been busy signing players to bolster their lineup for the upcoming season, when the Moose aquired the rights to Scott Thomas, Manny Legace and Johan Hedberg, and tough guy Mel Angelstad.


With the signing of Scott Thomas who is making a return to Winnipeg, Moose coach Randy Carlyle is hoping that Thomas can find the net like he did when he was here 2 years ago. “Scott had a career year here (in 1998-99) and we were able to provide him with an environment he had success in,” said Carlyle.


Manitoba’s training camp is set to kick off in 2 weeks and with the signing of these 4 players the Moose brought their roster up to 16 players. All 4 of the new signees will hit NHL training camps that kick off next week but will return to Winnipeg if they are unable to secure a spot with their parent NHL club.


Thomas was missed dearly a year ago, especially on the Moose power play, when he suited up for the Long Beach Ice Dogs.


Although Thomas’s production dropped to 15 goals and 31 points in 52 games, Thomas still netted 10 power-play goals and had three game-winners last year.


The Los Angeles Kings farmhand presently holds Moose single-season records for goals with 45, 16 power-play goals and 8 game-winning goals, which were all set in 1998-99. “He’s one of those guys who knows how to get it done,” said Carlyle. “He’s a big man that goes to the front of the net.”


Legace, whose rights remain with the Detroit Red Wings, could return to the Moose after posting a record of 17-18-5 and a 2.68 goals against average.


If Hedberg is unable to crack the San Jose Sharks lineup, he will compete for the No. 1 job with the Moose.
The Swedish native had an outstanding campaign with the American Hockey League’s Kentucky Thoroughblades last year, going 18-9-5 with a 2.68 GAA. Hedberg would also be making his second stop in Winnipeg. He led the Moose to their first ever playoff appearance in 1997-98.


Mel Angelstad should add toughness to the Moose after racking up 2,775 penalty minutes in 469 professional games.
“Every team in the league has tough guys that can play,” Carlyle explained. “He’s the type of guy that will add some character.”

MANITOBA MOOSE CURRENT LINEUP



Name                       Position
Mel Angelstad              Left Wing 
Doug Ast                   Centre 
Brian Chapman              Defence
Dion Darling               Defence 
Rusty Fitzgerald           Left Wing
Justin Kurtz               Defence
Derek Landmesser           Defence
Manny Legace               Goalie 
Dmitri Leonov              Centre
Johan Hedberg              Goalie
Bret Meyers                Right Wing 
Jeff Parrott               Defence 
Sean Pronger               Left Winger 
Jimmy Roy                  Left Winger 
Mike Ruark                 Defence 
Scott Thomas               Right Wing

MOOSE RETURN TO TV


After an absence from tv for over a year the Moose are now back on tv. This year local tv channel The A-Channel will broadcast 8 games this year. Calling the play by play will be the voice of the Moose from CJOB radio Kelly Moore. Moore will pull double duty this year as he will broadcast live play by play on CJOB radio and live play by play during Moose tv broadcast.

MOOSE TV SCHEDULE

Thursday, October  12th, 2000 vs. Houston      7:30 p.m.
Friday,   December 1st,  2000 vs. Grand Rapids 7:30 p.m.
Sunday,   December 31st, 2000 vs. Cincinnati   4:00 p.m.
Friday,   January  12th, 2001 vs. Chicago      7:30 p.m.
Sunday ,  February 4th,  2001 vs. Utah         4:00 p.m.
Sunday,   March    25th, 2001 vs. Houston      2:00 p.m.
Sunday,   April    8th,  2001 vs. Kansas City  2:00 p.m.
Sunday,   April    15th, 2001 vs. Chicago      4:00 p.m.

All times are Central Time

The Orlando Solar Bears also released their TV schedule for the 2000-01 season.

SOLAR BEARS TV SCHEDULE

TV Games on Sunshine Network

OCTOBER
Thu. 26	 @ Houston       8:00 PM

NOVEMBER
Thu. 30	 CHICAGO         7:00 PM
 
DECEMBER
Wed. 13	 @ Utah          9:00 PM*
Sat. 16	 HOUSTON         7:00 PM
Wed. 27	 HOUSTON         7:00 PM*

JANUARY
Fri. 5	 @ Houston       8:30 PM
Fri. 26	 DETROIT         7:00 PM

FEBRUARY
Fri. 9	 MANITOBA        7:00 PM
Sat. 24	 @ Cincinnati    7:30 PM*

MARCH
Fri. 9	 UTAH            7:00 PM*
Mon. 19	 MILWAUKEE       7:00 PM

APRIL
Sat. 14	 @ Detroit       7:00 PM

HOME GAMES IN CAPS
All Times Eastern
*Televised live on Sunshine Network in northern and central Florida ONLY
(outside Miami Heat territory).

TODAY IN HOCKEY:



September 2, 1999: Expansion Minnesota Wild hire
Doug Risebrough as General
Manager

IHL FASTFACTS


When Rich Parent was called up to the St. Louis Blues in November 1997 the Moose had no backup and had to call for an emergency replacement. The replacement– A meat inspector from nearby Illes des Chenes by the name of Bob Brisbois.

DID YOU KNOW?


Art Ross came up with the idea of a metal handed stick with a replaceable wooden blade. The invention was tested briefly at the beginning of the 1939-40 season, though no one knows how successful it was.

IHL TRANSACTIONS



Chicago: Re-sign centre Steve Larouche.
         Re-sign forward Brian Noonan.
Grand Rapids: Sign forward Bobby Stewart.
              Sign defenceman Josh Harrold.
Orlando: Sign defenceman Wade Brookbank.
Utah: Announce the retirement of defenceman Jeff Sharples.