The inaugural season of the Minnesota Moose was a season to remember. With an ownership group intent on making a splash in Blaine, Minnesota, the franchise made sure home games were a thing to attend. Not just by winning the home games, but having giveaways during games and fun games for the kids. The Moose have set the foundation for a successful run in Blaine and a name to remember in tier 3 junior hockey. Let's take a look at the ultra impressive first season of the Minnesota Moose:

The first victory for the franchise came on their very first game. September 17th, 2017 the Moose met the Minnesota Mullets in Blaine and defeated them, 4-2. The first winning streak starting on October 6th and lasted for five games. Part of that winning streak included the first ever showcase for the Moose. They ended up going 3-1 in the four games in Illinois. The Moose went on another winning streak after the one loss in the showcase, this time an eight game win streak. The Moose would finish 2017 with eight more wins including an undefeated second showcase. 

The new year of 2018 started with another showcase, this time in Boston. This time the Moose went 2-2 in their first ever trip to Boston, but it would not end up being their last trip. The Moose finished the regular season with 11 straight wins and earned themselves a regular season title in the Midwest West division. The Moose finished with a 37-5-2 record and showed a real knack for the net, scoring 43 more goals than any other team in the Midwest West division.  That set the stage for the  franchise  hosting their very first playoff series as a number one seed. The Moose had been chasing the Minnesota Blue Ox in the standings for most of the year, but were able to catch them. 

The playoffs were a success with a sweep of the Dells Ducks in the first round and the Minnesota Mullets in the second round. The Moose gave up just three goals in those four playoff games.  That meant the Moose were off to Boston along with the Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings to face the best of the best the Premier division of the USPHL. 

The Moose were victorious in the first game, defeating the Northern Cyclones 7-5. The next game wasn't as memorable as the New Jersey Rockets gave the Moose a wake up call, beating them 7-1. The Moose bounced back to win their next playoff game, 4-1, over the Tampa Bay Juniors. That win placed them in a semi-final match up with the defending champions, the Charlotte Rush. The Moose would fall short, losing 5-2 to Charlotte. There was nothing to hang their heads about as the Moose were the only first year franchise in the entire playoffs. 

The Moose also moved three players on to the next level as captains Dylan Gast and Riley Keays accepted offers to play college hockey next season, along with 1998 forward Matej Krasny, the Moose will have at least 5 more college commitments before June. Head coach Jon Jonasson and assistant coach Blake Mendenhall far surpassed expectations for the 2017-2018 Inagural season.

Now Fogerty Arena in Blaine will not be known just for hosting high school hockey, but for high level junior hockey as well. 

If your interested in playing for the Moose for the 2018-2019 season or on the Moose tournament teams this summer please contact Assistant Coach Blake Mendenhall at (907)317-5568 or b.mendenhall49@gmail.com or visit www.minnesotamoosehockey.com