It’s not out of the abnormal to have a younger goalie taking the crease every so often within the American Hockey League (AHL). Actually, it’s frequent observe to have a veteran and rookie tandem to assist the educating course of. For the Manitoba Moose, they’ve bucked the development and have two goalies who’re 21 or youthful controlling their crease.
Thomas Milic, 21, and Domenic DiVincentiis, 20, are the final line of protection for the Moose, and it’s been a studying course of as they work their manner into their skilled careers. Milic has one skilled season underneath his belt, whereas DiVincentiis is a real rookie.
Whereas neither has spent a substantial amount of time within the skilled ranks, that isn’t stopping them from seizing their second and enjoying their respective video games. Each of them seem clever past their years, and it’s going to be an thrilling street forward as they develop within the AHL.
Each Milic and DiVincentiis Have a Profitable Monitor Report
Milic is coming off of a profitable rookie marketing campaign within the AHL, recording a 19-9-3 file in 33 video games whereas ending up with a 0.900 Save Share (SV%). After beginning his season with the Norfolk Admirals, the Winnipeg Jets’ ECHL affiliate, he rapidly made his manner as much as the AHL and helped the Moose make a cost to the playoffs.
Earlier than making his skilled debut, he was a member of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Seattle Thunderbirds and gained the 2022-23 Ed Chynowyth Cup, the WHL’s Championship trophy. He additionally gained gold for Canada on the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship.
DiVincentiis had an up-and-down 2023-24 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) North Bay Battalion however completed robust with a 27-9-5 file and a 0.895 SV%. Only one 12 months prior, the netminder from Bolton, ON gained the Jim Rutherford Trophy as the OHL’s high goaltender.
DiVincentiis was drafted within the seventh spherical of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, with Milic following a 12 months later, being chosen by the Jets within the fifth spherical in 2023. What’s spectacular is that each goaltenders, drafted in consecutive years, are already making their mark on the skilled degree.
With the teaching workers seemingly going with a straight break up between the 2, the crease is getting equal motion. Each goalies have began 4 video games, with DiVincentiis successful two of his begins and recording a 0.941 SV%, and Milic at present at 1-3-0 with a 0.857 SV%. Don’t let Milic’s counting stats idiot you although, as a result of he’s battling in there. Don’t be shocked to see his numbers begin climbing because the season progresses.
I requested head coach Mark Morrison about what he’s considered his two younger netminders, however he doesn’t essentially see their age as one thing to place emphasis on.
“I don’t take a look at them as a younger tandem,” Morrison mentioned. “I simply take a look at them as two succesful goalies who’ve given us an opportunity to win all of the video games they’ve performed.”
That a lot is true, because the Moose have performed the competitors, win or lose, very tight this 12 months and plenty of that’s because of their goaltending. With the ability to run each of them virtually equally goes to be a severe benefit down the road, and Morrison thinks so too.
“I like them so much,” he mentioned. “We appear to have that good one-two tandem there it doesn’t matter what age they’re.”
On and Off Ice Relationships Rising for Milic & DiVincentiis
The frequent thread that got here from speaking to each Milic and DiVincentiis was how necessary it was to have that aggressive steadiness on the ice whereas being shut mates off of it. Each understand that pushing one another within the crease solely makes them higher goaltenders, and it’s one thing the group has achieved an excellent job of supporting.
“We’re competing on the ice, however off the ice, we’re the very best of mates,” DiVincentiis defined. “I feel that’s essential to have as goalie companions since you’re at all times there for one another. We’re the youngest tandem within the league and I feel we’ve each achieved a incredible job with that, and the group has achieved an excellent job dealing with it too.”
Milic is in full settlement and is aware of that the connection goes a great distance for each of them to stay assured and answerable for their state of affairs.
“I feel it’s big to have a superb relationship along with your goalie companion,” Milic mentioned. “We clearly have that aggressive edge and we’re each preventing for video games every evening, however away from the rink we get alongside nice and hang around and we love chopping it up collectively.’
The place can he see the connection firsthand? Properly, he doesn’t must look any additional than the NHL group down the corridor or on TV over the previous few years. The “goalie hug” development has grown over the previous a number of years, and it’s sometimes an extension of a friendship off the ice.
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“You’ll be able to see that [Connor Hellebuyck] and [Eric Comrie] get alongside nice,” he mentioned, smiling. “There are earlier examples within the NHL too, just like the [Boston] Bruins goalies final 12 months. You see that sort of brotherhood they’ve collectively.”
Drew MacIntyre Supplies Steerage, Perspective, and Stability
Usually, whenever you discuss to a goalie, it doesn’t take lengthy to listen to the identify of their goaltending coach. On this case, it got here within the type of the ringing praises for developmental goaltending coach, Drew MacIntyre.
MacIntyre has spent a substantial amount of time on ice with the 2 of them to maintain them sharp and work on something that wants attending. For DiVincentiis, he sees this as the important thing to creating positive he continues to be taught even on the skilled degree.
“It’s essential,” DiVincentiis defined. “It’s actually necessary to have a goalie coach on the ice with you, and it’s unreal that I’ve Drew with me day by day simply strolling me by way of issues I can work on and issues I’ve doing properly.”
Milic has the advantage of knowledgeable season underneath his belt and tends to work on the specifics outlined by MacIntyre, however DiVincentiis is utilizing each second he can with him to proceed bettering.
“Clearly, you need to educate your self and really feel issues out,” he mentioned. “However to have somebody there to lean on and discuss to on and off the ice is essential, and I feel that’s why it’s exhibiting for me and [Milic].”
MacIntyre, who was initially drafted 121st total in 2001 by the Detroit Pink Wings, has a wealth of expertise to drag on when refining the expertise of Milic and DiVincentiis. He performed 14 seasons within the AHL, together with two with the Moose from 2006 to 2008 once they had been an affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. He was employed by the Moose in 2021 to fill the function he now holds because the developmental goaltending coach.
He additionally has that distinctive shared expertise with the 2 younger netminders, as he additionally made his skilled debut in his early 20s. He made his AHL debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins at age 21 earlier than happening to have a really lengthy profession. It’s that have, together with the technical aspect of goaltending, that appears to set each Milic and DiVincentiis up for lots of future success.
A Busy Week Forward for the Moose
Milic and DiVincentiis are in for a busy week, as they’re going to face some robust groups as they kick off a five-game street journey. It begins on Saturday, Nov. 9 towards the Texas Stars earlier than heading north to play three video games in and across the Chicagoland space. That part of the journey opens with a rematch of final week’s collection towards the Milwaukee Admirals, adopted by the Rockford IceHogs and Chicago Wolves.
