Insight on Winnipeg Jets goalie prospects forming youngest tandem in AHL

The Moose have gotten off to a 3-3-0-0 start to their 10th season since returning to Manitoba from St. John’s and their 25th season overall in Winnipeg. When training camp was underway conventional wisdom suggested one of Eric Comrie or Kaapo Kahkonen would be sent to the AHL to form a tandem with second-year Jets goalie prospect Thomas Milic. The organization’s other goalie prospect Domenic DiVincentiis, was expected to take the same route as Milic did the season prior which was to start in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals and try to work his way up to the AHL.

That got tossed out the window when Eric Comrie was declared the backup to Connor Hellebuyck with Kaapo Kahkonen going on waivers and thereafter being claimed by the Avs. This meant to start the 2024-25 campaign the Moose would have a 21-year old (Milic) and 20-year old (DiVincentiis) duo between the pipes. Not likely how the organization would have expected things to be but like with all things in life you have to adapt.

We caught up with Manitoba goalie coach Drew MacIntyre for a little Q and A following yesterday’s optional Moose practice as they prepare for a two-game set against the Admirals this weekend at Canada Life Centre.

Dave: What have you seen from this young tandem through six games:

Drew: “Yeah. I mean, we have the youngest combination of goalies here in the league, and it’s been definitely not what we expected with Kapo getting claimed, but that’s goaltending. That’s kind of the message that we’ve sent to both Thomas last year and Dom this year, to both of them, is you gotta be ready for anything, and you gotta be ready when your name is called. And there’s no kind of, oh, well, you know you had this or that. There’s no excuses. You’re ready to go when your name’s called. And Milli obviously did a heck of a job of that last year, and so far, Dom is doing it this year. But yeah, they gotta just stay in the moment. And that’s my biggest message to them is don’t look ahead. Pro hockey, when you look ahead and get comfortable that’s usually not a recipe for success.”

Dave: On Domenic being able to adapt to this unexpected path to start his career:

Drew: “He learned a lot of lessons last year in North Bay. It was a year of ups and downs, so he learned some really valuable lessons that are really helping him in this situation. So my message ever since last season and development camp this summer was ‘we don’t know what will happen’ but you need to prepare yourself. Thomas basically lived out of a suitcase last year. And I didn’t say that’s what’s happening to you, but you need to be ready for anything. So that could be a case, you know, which is kind of that’s goaltending, I did that many times. So there’s just such a shortage of jobs. They know that they’re very, there’s no entitlement to them right now. They are grateful for the moment, the opportunity, and they’re just going to do everything that they can with that opportunity.”

Dave: How much work does it take to get on the same page philosophically as a prospect netminder’s goalie coach with his junior club or his summertime goalie coach so that everyone is working together to help the player become the best that they can be?

Drew: “Yeah, when we draft a goalie, so just like these two, I kind of my job is to get on that right away, to establish the relationship with those guys and to kind of get on the same page with both of their goalie coaches back home. It was very easy. We were on the same page right away. Anything, any recommendations that I had, it was never brought about with any, there was no fight back or anything, no arguments by any means. It was kind of some pretty obvious things. I know, when we drafted Dom, there were mechanically some big changes to be made. And his goalie coach at home, his goalie coach in North Bay, they bought in right away. So that that made my job so much easier when I’m doing zoom sessions or doing video with them in person in North Bay, I knew that I didn’t have any pushback in any of his people around him. So that’s good. Same with Thomas. Thomas was different because we didn’t have him for two years to develop him. He kind of, we drafted him and he turned pro, so I didn’t have all that time, but, you know, I have, in the last two summers, been in contact with his goalie coach and all that stuff.”

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

Drew: “It’s about getting comfortable at that level. So what I like right now is that he’s playing with control. You know, he’s playing with structure. It’s been pretty clear in the last 12 months for him, that that’s when he has success. No different, if it’s the OHL, but it’s kind of just more apparent here at this level. He’s playing with control, and that’s what’s bringing him success. At times he could, in the past, get overactive and kind of chase the play, and he’s not doing that right now, and that’s what’s having, bringing success. So it’s more solidifying the style of play that we want him to play, and he’s having success with that style.”

Dave: What’s the benefit of having two young prospect goalies as a tandem?

Drew: “Yeah, I mean, this wasn’t the plan so we’re making the most of the situation but I love the way that it is right now. With these two, they’re good friends, they support each other. From day one, they’ve been very close. Right now, we’re going with basically rotation the right now, so they’re supporting each other. And I know if that changes, if the rotation, or whatever changes, I know they’re going to be pros about it. They get along, and they’re there for each other. So, you know, I’m not worried about that whatsoever, as far as their relationship.”

You can next see these two young netminders in action this weekend in Winnipeg as the Moose take on 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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