Halifax Mooseheads - Feed

Halifax acquires draft picks from Moncton for Kilfoil

chlwebproduct — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:36:17 +0000

2026-08-06 The Halifax Mooseheads made a trade on Thursday with the Moncton Wildcats to acquire second and third round draft picks in 2027 in exchange for 19-year-old forward Liam Kilfoil. The move creates space in an increasingly crowded forward group for the Mooseheads and brings in some assets to build for the future of the organization. Kilfoil, a Northeastern commit, will have a chance to finish his QMJHL career close to his hometown of Quispamsis, New Brunswick. The 2027 second round pick coming to Halifax in the deal originally belonged to the Mooseheads, while the third round pick was originally owned by the Gatineau Olympiques. Halifax has added a number of forwards in the offseason, including Mateo Nobert, Austrian import Paul Sintschnig, Americans Evan Nee & Jackson Smail as well as first round pick Emrik Menard. The Mooseheads had sent their 2027 second round pick to Blainville-Boisbriand as part of the Nobert deal and it was acquired by Moncton earlier on Thursday as part of a Wildcats/Armada trade. Kilfoil joined the Mooseheads in 2023 when the team nabbed him in the second round of the QMJHL Entry Draft, 31st overall. He played in 180 career regular season games and scored 105 points. The Mooseheads will open Goodlife Fitness Training Camp on August 19th at the team practice facility in Dartmouth, while the preseason begins just two days later versus Cape Breton.

2026 Preseason Tickets On Sale Now

chlwebproduct — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:00:41 +0000

2026-08-06 Tickets for Halifax Mooseheads Goodlife Fitness preseason home games are on sale now. Grab your seat and lock in your chance to be among the first to see a new crop of players and prospects for the 2026-27 season. Prices are $16 for adults and $8 for youth 16-and-under, plus applicable fees. BUY TICKETS HERE Halifax will play three home games in the preseason, starting on Friday, August 21^st at 6pm when they entertain the Cape Breton Eagles at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth. The Mooseheads then host the Charlottetown Islanders on Wednesday, August 26^th at 7pm at the Joseph Zatzman Sportsplex in Dartmouth. The final home game of the preseason will be played against the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday, September 11^th at 7pm at the RBC Centre. PRESEASON SCHEDULE The Mooseheads will host their regular season Home Opener at Scotiabank Centre on Saturday, September 19^th at 7pm versus Moncton. Tickets for all 32 regular season home games will go on sale in early September. Details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Mooseheads Sign Goaltender Jack Fichthorn

chlwebproduct — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 14:38:32 +0000

2026-07-30 Halifax, N.S. — The Halifax Mooseheads have signed goaltender Jack Fichthorn to a QMJHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, adding an experienced netminder to the club’s crease ahead of the 2026-27 season. Fichthorn, a 19-year-old from Darien, Connecticut, was selected by the Mooseheads in the third round, 43rd overall, at the 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft. The left-catching goaltender joins Halifax after spending last season with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League. He appeared in 36 regular-season games with Sioux City where he elevated his play in the postseason, appearing in five playoff games while recording a 2.65 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. “We’re very excited to add Jack to our organization,” said Mooseheads General Manager Cam Russell. “He is a competitive goaltender who brings valuable experience and will be a great addition to our team this season.” Fichthorn is expected to play an important role in Halifax’s goaltending tandem during the 2026-27 campaign as the Mooseheads continue to build depth and competition at the position. Following his junior career, Fichthorn is committed to continuing his hockey and academic path at NCAA Division 1 Sacred Heart University. He joins fellow American draft pick Jackson Smail, free agent Brady Smith and Austrian imports Paul Sintschnig & Nico Uschan as players to have signed with Halifax in recent days. He will join the Mooseheads for Goodlife Fitness Training Camp on August 19^th in Dartmouth, NS. Season Tickets for 2026-27 are on sale now, while Half-Season Tickets will go on sale on August 5th.

Austrian Imports Sintschnig & Uschan sign with Halifax

chlwebproduct — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:18:06 +0000

2026-07-29 The Halifax Mooseheads have officially secured both of their selections from the 2026 CHL Import Draft, as forward Paul Sintschnig and defenceman Nico Uschan have signed QMJHL Scholarship and Development Agreements ahead of the 2026-27 season. "We're very excited to officially welcome Paul and Nico to the Mooseheads organization," said General Manager Cam Russell. "Both players bring a strong combination of skill, competitiveness, and international experience, and we believe they'll be great additions to our lineup and our dressing room. We look forward to helping them continue their development in Halifax and are eager to see the impact they can make this season." The Mooseheads traded up with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar prior to the June 30 CHL Import Draft to acquire the second overall selection, which they used to choose highly regarded Austrian forward Paul Sintschnig. The 17-year-old from Klagenfurt, Austria, enters the season as an NHL Draft-eligible prospect after gaining valuable experience at multiple levels during the 2025-26 campaign. Sintschnig appeared in 32 games with Villacher SV of the ICEHL, Austria's premier professional hockey league, and also represented his country at the IIHF World Junior Championship Division IA tournament. Across all levels, he collected 35 points in 64 games. The 6-foot-1, 176-pound left-shot forward has already made history as one of the youngest players ever to debut for the Austrian senior national team, earning his first appearance at just 16 years old. Halifax later selected Nico Uschan with the 81st overall pick in the second round of the import draft. The 19-year-old defenceman was a teammate of Sintschnig's with hometown club Villacher SV in the ICEHL. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 185 pounds, Uschan is a left-shot blueliner expected to provide a steady veteran presence on the Mooseheads' blue line. His professional experience and mature defensive game should make him a valuable addition to Halifax's backend heading into the 2026-27 season. Both players will be with the Mooseheads when training camp opens on August 19th at the team practice facility in Dartmouth. Season Tickets for 2026-27 are on sale now, while Half-Season Tickets will go on sale on August 5th.

Mooseheads Sign American Forward Jackson Smail

chlwebproduct — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:31:32 +0000

2026-07-28 The Halifax Mooseheads have signed 18-year-old American centre Jackson Smail to a QMJHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, adding another promising forward to the organization ahead of the 2026-27 season. “We’re excited to add a player of Jackson’s calibre to our organization,” said Mooseheads General Manager Cam Russell. “He has shown strong offensive ability and we’re looking forward to seeing him compete at training camp.” Smail, a native of Milton, VT, was selected by Halifax in the third round, 44th overall, in the 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft. He was one of several American-born players chosen by the Mooseheads in a draft class that reflected the club’s continued focus on expanding its talent pipeline. The 18-year-old is coming off a strong offensive season at Winchendon School in the USHS Prep league, where he finished second on his team in scoring with 62 points. Smail scored 30 goals and added 32 assists in 34 games, showcasing both a finishing touch and playmaking ability from the centre position. He also made an impact in the Eastern Hockey Federation U18 League, where he ranked third in league scoring with 28 points in 24 games. Smail will join the Mooseheads for GoodLife Fitness Training Camp, which begins August 19 in Dartmouth, NS.

Minella named to USA’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster

chlwebproduct — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:03:53 +0000

2026-07-28 Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Cam Minella will have the honour of representing the United States this summer at the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup, set for Aug. 3-9 at Rogers Place and the Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton. The young blueliner - who will not celebrate his 17th birthday until August 29th - was among the 23 players named to the USA Hockey roster on Monday evening which consists of 13 forwards, seven defencemen and three goaltenders. He cracked the squad after USA Hockey held a 36-player selection camp at TRIA Rink in Saint Paul, Minnesota last week. Minella is set to enter his second season in the QMJHL with the Mooseheads and is coming off a solid rookie season that saw the Darien, CT native score nine points on three goals and six assists. He was selected by the Herd in the second round, 21st overall, in the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft. The Americans will be looking to successfully defend their 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup title after they defeated Sweden in last year's championship final. The U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team will play preliminary games against Group B opponents Czechia, Finland and Germany. Group A consists of Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and Slovakia. For more information, including the full U.S. roster and schedule, click HERE.

Malik L’Italien named to Canada’s U18 summer training camp

chlwebproduct — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:03:45 +0000

2026-07-22

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the 27 players who will take part in Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp ahead of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, set for Aug. 3-9 at Rogers Place and the Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton.

Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Malik L’Italien has been named to the initial roster, which includes three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards. The 27 players were selected by Program of Excellence (POE) general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), alongside POE head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and U18 assistant general manager Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QC/Drummondville, QMJHL), with input from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations.

L'Italien is coming off a stellar first season with the Mooseheads after the team drafted him third overall in 2025. The native of Montreal, QC scored 24 points in 64 games played – making him the highest scoring 16-year-old defenceman in the league. He was named to the QMJHL’s All-Rookie Team in April.

“We are excited to unveil the 27 players who will begin the road to the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup at training camp in Edmonton. This is a talented and well-rounded group of young players,” Millar said. “Our staff have worked tirelessly to identify a roster that we believe gives us the best chance to be successful on home ice. We look forward to gathering in Edmonton next week to continue our preparations for the tournament, and for the opportunity to get Canada back on top of the podium in front of Canadian fans in August.”

Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp, set for July 27-Aug. 1 at NAIT Arena and Rogers Place in Edmonton, will include practices and a game against Sweden on July 30. Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will also take on Czechia on Aug. 1 as part of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup pre-tournament schedule before the roster is finalized ahead of the start of the tournament.

Mooseheads Head Coach Brad MacKenzie will serve as an Assistant Coach for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Canada opens the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Switzerland on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. MT. It will face Slovakia on Aug. 4 and Sweden on Aug. 5 to close out the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 8.

Mooseheads add free agent defenceman Brady Smith

chlwebproduct — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:56:07 +0000

2026-07-21 The Halifax Mooseheads have made their second American Free Agent signing of the offseason. General Manager Cam Russell announced the addition of Brady Smith today, following a USHS Prep career with Taft School in Connecticut. “We’re very pleased to add a defenceman who brings a strong offensive mindset to our roster. His ability to move the puck efficiently and contribute to our transition game makes him an excellent fit for the direction we’re taking as a team,” Russell said. Smith will be entering his 19-year-old season with the Mooseheads in 2026-27. The Columbine Valley, CO native is 6-feet-tall and weighs 172 pounds. He played four seasons at Taft where he served as an Alternate Captain. Smith scored 41 points in 99 career games. He also played at various levels of the Yale Junior Bulldogs program over the last six seasons. The left-handed shooting blueliner scored 16 points in 21 games this past season with Yale U18 AAA. Smith appeared in two games as a call-up with the USHL’s Madison Capitols last season and notched three assists during that stint. The Mooseheads previously announced the free agent addition of 19-year-old American forward Evan Nee in April. Halifax will open 2026 Goodlife Fitness Training Camp at the team practice facility on Wednesday, August 19th. The Moose begin the QMJHL Preseason two nights later in Dartmouth versus Cape Breton. The full training camp schedule and preseason ticket information will be released in the coming weeks.

Mackenzie to represent Canada at Hlinka/Gretzky Cup

chlwebproduct — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:58:18 +0000

2026-07-08 Halifax Mooseheads bench boss Brad MacKenzie has been named an Assistant Coach for Canada's National Men's Summer U18 team at the upcoming Hlinka/Gretzky Cup to be held August 3-8 in Edmonton, AB. The Charlottetown, PE native will join the staff of Head Coach Ryan Oulahen (North Bay / OHL) along with fellow Assistants Ryan McDonald (Prince Albert / WHL) and Kyle Chipchura (Edmonton / WHL) as Canada seeks its 26th summer U18 Gold Medal. Other coaches include goaltending coach Jeff Harvey (Saskatoon / WHL) and Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia's Matthew Smith of the Newfoundland Regiment, who will serve as the video coach. The coaching staff was selected by Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar, Yanick Lemay (Drummondville / QMJHL), assistant general manager of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy, director of hockey operations. “We are thrilled to welcome Ryan, Ryan, Brad and Kyle to the staff for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” said Millar. “Each brings a pedigree of coaching experience, particularly in short-term international competition, which will be a tremendous asset as we prepare for the tournament. We’re excited to continue the process of building a team and working with a group of players who will proudly represent Canada and showcase their talent to hockey fans in Edmonton in August.” MacKenzie was promoted to head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League in July 2025 and guided them to the playoffs in his first season at the helm while posting a 29-29-3-3 record for 64 points in 64 games. He served one season as associate coach with the Mooseheads (2024-25) and three as an assistant coach (2022-24). Prior to joining the Mooseheads, he was head coach of the Grand Falls Rapids of the Maritime Hockey League (2019-21), earning MHL Coach of the Year honours in 2020-21. MacKenzie also won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge. The roster for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp will be announced at a later date. Canada will play its opening game of the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. MT. It will also face Slovakia on Aug. 4 and Sweden on Aug. 5 to close out the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 8. Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will hold a training camp prior to the start of the tournament, set for July 27-30 at NAIT Arena in Edmonton, which will include practices and a game against Sweden on July 30. It will also take on Czechia on Aug. 1 as part of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup pre-tournament schedule.

Mooseheads add two Austrians including star Paul Sintschnig

chlwebproduct — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:02:48 +0000

2026-06-30 The Halifax Mooseheads landed their targeted player in the CHL Import Draft on Tuesday when they selected Austrian centre Paul Sintschnig second overall. The Herd traded up from 20th overall on Monday in a deal with Baie-Comeau to secure the talented 17-year-old. Sintschnig will be entering his NHL Draft eligible season and played at several levels in 2025-26 including 32 games with Villacher SV of the ICEHL - the premier professional hockey league in Austria. He also suited up for Austria in the World Junior - Division 1A tournament. In total, Sintschnig scored 35 points in 64 games played. The Klagenfurt, AUT native stands 6-foot-1, weighs 176 pounds and is a left-handed shot. He is known for his explosive skating and two-way play. He became one of the youngest players to debut for the Austrian senior national team at 16-years-old. Draft Prospects Hockey described him as standing out for his effortless skating, smooth edgework, and quick pivots. Furthermore, he boasts high hockey IQ, makes intelligent plays across all three zones, and isn't afraid to play physically. GM Cam Russell went back to Austria to grab 19-year-old defenceman Nico Uschan with the 81st overall pick in the second round. Uschan and Sintschnig were teammates in the ICEHL with his hometown Villacher SV squad. The 6-foot-1 blueliner weighs 185 pounds and is a left-handed shot. Uschan will be looked upon to bring a steady, veteran presence to the backend for the Mooseheads. https://twitter.com/HFXMooseheads/status/2071993697810452707 Both players will be with the Mooseheads when training camp opens on August 19th at the team practice facility in Dartmouth. Season Tickets for 2026-27 are on sale now, while Half-Season Tickets will go on sale on August 5th.