Milic & DiVincentiis Learning to Control Manitoba Moose Crease – The Hockey Writers – Manitoba Moose

It’s not out of the ordinary to have a young goalie taking the crease every now and then in the American Hockey League (AHL). In fact, it’s common practice to have a veteran and rookie tandem to help the teaching process. For the Manitoba Moose, they’ve bucked the trend and have two goalies who are 21 or younger controlling their crease.

Thomas Milic, 21, and Domenic DiVincentiis, 20, are the last line of defense for the Moose, and it’s been a learning process as they work their way into their professional careers. Milic has one professional season under his belt, while DiVincentiis is a true rookie.

While neither has spent a great deal of time in the professional ranks, that isn’t stopping them from seizing their moment and playing their respective games. Both of them appear wise beyond their years, and it’s going to be an exciting road ahead as they develop in the AHL.

Both Milic and DiVincentiis Have a Successful Track Record

Milic is coming off of a successful rookie campaign in the AHL, recording a 19-9-3 record in 33 games while finishing up with a 0.900 Save Percentage (SV%). After starting his season with the Norfolk Admirals, the Winnipeg Jets’ ECHL affiliate, he quickly made his way up to the AHL and helped the Moose make a charge to the playoffs.

Before making his professional debut, he was a member of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Seattle Thunderbirds and won the 2022-23 Ed Chynowyth Cup, the WHL’s Championship trophy. He also won gold for Canada at 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 but finished strong with a 27-9-5 record and a 0.895 SV%. Just one year prior, the netminder from Bolton, ON won the Jim Rutherford Trophy as the OHL’s top goaltender.

DiVincentiis was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, with Milic following a year later, being selected by the Jets in the fifth round in 2023. What’s impressive is that both goaltenders, drafted in consecutive years, are already making their mark at the professional level.

With the coaching staff seemingly going with a straight split between the two, the crease is getting equal action. Both goalies have started four games, with DiVincentiis winning two of his starts and recording a 0.941 SV%, and Milic currently at 1-3-0…