Going all the way back to the end of Winnipeg Jets training camp the player fans consistently spoke about was Rhode Island product Parker Ford who was signed by the NHL club of Manitoba out of Providence College to a two-year ELC. He was one of the last players assigned to the Moose as he actually led the pre-season in production but being waiver exempt and his need for seasoning as a pro saw him head down to the AHL to start his career.
He began the season playing alongside veteran Jeff Malott and Jets 2022 1st rounder Brad Lambert for the first 24 games of the season where he had five goals and five assists. While that was good he really found his groove playing and learning alongside Jeffrey Viel and Kristian Reichel on the Identity Line for the Moose. He would put up 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 48 games with them. He was also the only player to play in all 72 games for Manitoba this season which is impressive given the most games he’d played in the last four years of college was 38.
He will definitely be a player to keep an eye on at training camp after a summer of preparing to try and make the jump up to the big club.
We spoke about playing his first season as a pro, the adjustment from NCAA to AHL, playing every single game for Manitoba, the amount he produced as a pro, the Identity Line, what he learned about Winnipeg, his summer plans and more.
