The Manitoba Moose's 2025-26 ice hockey season has drawn to a close following a decisive 5-2 loss against the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena in Michigan. This game marked the conclusion of their playoff journey, as they were eliminated in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
After successfully navigating the initial round of the playoffs for the first time since 2018, the Moose encountered a formidable opponent in the Griffins. Despite securing a narrow 1-0 victory in the series opener against the league's second-ranked team, Manitoba was unable to maintain momentum, ultimately dropping the subsequent three contests and conceding the best-of-five series by a margin of three games to one.
In the final game, Dylan Anhorn opened the scoring for the Moose, and Phil Di Giuseppe also found the net in the third period. However, these efforts proved insufficient against the Griffins, who dominated the 78-point Moose. Thomas Milic, the goaltender for Manitoba, faced a barrage of shots, stopping 21 of the 25 attempts, with three of Grand Rapids' goals coming from power plays, where they were highly efficient, converting three out of four opportunities. Reflecting on their season, defenseman Ashton Sautner shared sentiments of pride for the team's resilience through both triumphs and challenges, highlighting the strong bond among the players.
The conclusion of their playoff run brings an end to Manitoba's competitive season. While the Grand Rapids Griffins advance to face the Chicago Wolves in the Central Division Final, the Moose will now return home to prepare for the upcoming summer break, with training camp scheduled to commence in late September, following the initial training sessions of the Winnipeg Jets.