by Frankie Benvenuti | AHL On The Beat
The Manitoba Moose had a remarkable 28 season starts in 2025-26. The team got fifteen wins and stayed in second place in the Central Division as they entered the Christmas break but most of the headlines were focused on three players in particular.
With the parent club the Winnipeg Jets exploded, defender Elias Solomonsson and the goalkeeper Thomas Milic were given the opportunity to make their NHL debuts. Then, netminder Domenic DiVincentiis earned his first call-up, supporting Moose student Eric Comrie in two games.
Salomonsson and Mlic made their respective debuts in back-to-back tournaments. Salomonsson skated in his first NHL game against the legendary Washington Capitals offense at Capital One Arena on Nov. 26. Milic was tasked with a tough road contest against the perennial Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center on Nov. 28.
A second-round pick of the Jets in 2022, Salomonsson recounted his time on the ice for a rookie solo lap in Washington.
“It was actually the first thing I thought of: Don’t fall,” Salomonsson laughed with reporters following his debut. “It was amazing. Yeah, a lot of emotions. You just did that, so it was really cool.”
The product of Skellefteå, Sweden, appeared in four games with the senior team while averaging 14:44 of ice time. Salomonsson came within an inch of scoring his first NHL goal, scoring in his second game against Carolina.
The defenseman was grateful for his experience skating in the NHL.
“It meant a lot,” Salomonsson said. “This is something I’ve been chasing since I was little.”
With the injury to the Jets goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyckone with Moose degrees, two current Manitoba goalkeepers given some time across the aisle.
Milic turned away 30 shots in his debut, including 26 of the Hurricanes’ first 28 field goal attempts. Although it ultimately culminated in a record loss for the 22-year-old, it was an experience he will never forget.
“It was cool, I was very excited before,” said Mlicic about his first match. “I had my parents and other family and friends come in. I think a lot of that was for them. It was very special. They all helped me get to this point. I wanted to do my best for them and do my best for myself, too.”
The Coquitlam, BC, native saw relief action in two more games before being loaned back to the Moose in Dec. 8. At the same time, the Jets remembered DiVincentiis, as the new netminder exchanged places in the NHL locker room.
“It’s been a dream,” DiVincentiis said. “Obviously, being called up to the NHL is a kid’s dream and to be able to do that was unbelievable. To know that my family came down and shared those days with them and made it all the way to watch these practices was special for me. Just being able to give back for all the things they’ve done for me.”
There’s always a friendly rivalry between the Jets’ network drivers, but underneath it all, there’s a deep level of support.
“I was very happy for him,” Mlic said of DiVincentiis’ call-up. “I was very happy for him, I’ve said it many times, but it’s very good
it’s nice to have a guy like that. We are at similar stages in our careers and get to share a lot of new information.
“No matter what happens, no matter who is playing, we are always there and cheering each other on, but we also fight,” Mlic added. “We fight for games every night, so we do everything we can to keep that healthy competition going.”
Although DiVincentiis did not play in a game before being loaned back to the Moose on December 14, the short time each goaltender got with the Jets was valuable experience.
“It’s great to be able to get on the ice with those guys and learn from them and expand the toolbox,” explained the Bolton, Ont., native. “There’s never going to be a day where you stop learning from this game. So for me, getting that percentage better every day, learning from those guys, and being able to come back (to Moose) and incorporate them into my game.”
