JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Hockey is back with the return of the Jackson Hole Moose to action at the Snow King Sports and Event Center. The Moose have a 26-game schedule slated for the 2021-22 season, 20 of those contests will be at home.
The Moose will get their first look at league newcomers the Reno Ice Raiders. The Ice Raiders are not only new to the Black Diamond Hockey League, but the two-timer champions of the Mountain West Hockey League just completed a move to Reno from northern California where the team has been based.
Both teams have had to deal with a season nearly completely lost last year. The Moose managed just 8 games, going 7-1, in the COVID-shortened season. The Ice Raiders did not play at all in the 20-21 season.
A little rusty, perhaps, when these two teams meet this weekend?
“It’s not hard at all [the time off]. It’s like riding a bike,” Moose coach Eric Ballard says. “Sometimes, in situations like this a program comes back even stronger. We have more motivation now and I’ve seen a really positive attitude here. The on-ice product will be as good if not better.”
New season, same look
The Moose will look very much the same as they did when they left the ice last March to end the season. The bad news is both goaltenders—Joe Noonan and Tim Cooney—have moved on. The good news is Jackson’s all-time stats leader Nick Krauss is back with the team. Krauss will be backed up by Robbie Leslie, who comes to the team after his collegiate career with the University of Denver.
Up front, the Moose say goodbye to winger Jeff Thompson (4G 6A in 8 games last year). Coach Ballard is high on first-year forward Davis Bruch (#89), who was 6th in points for D1 Cornell in the 2019-20 season.
Joe Zelenka (#92) is the other new face at forward. Zelenka led the Michigan State Spartans in scoring 2 of the 3 years he started there.
Reno
The Ice Raiders might be new to Reno but this team has been around. Led by the speedy Mickey Lang, the Ice Raiders will be a good early test for the Moose. Reno has already played to exhibition games this early season, winning both handily.
Mickey is one guy we are going to have to keep an eye on. [Upesleja] has played with him before in his professional career,” Ballard says. “They are going to bring a pretty good team but we’ll match up well with them.”
Reno Ice Raiders vs. Jackson Hole Moose. Snow King Sports and Event Center. Music by The Opskamatrists. Doors at 7pm, puck drops at 7:30pm.
