Manitoba solidifies its roster with hometown blueliner Ashton Sautner’s steady defence and Tyson Empey’s gritty physicality, ensuring veteran leadership remains a cornerstone for the upcoming AHL campaign.
The Manitoba Moose are keeping a pair of familiar faces in the fold.
The club announced Wednesday that it had re-signed veteran defenceman Ashton Sautner and forward Tyson Empey, bringing back two experienced players ahead of the 2026-27 American Hockey League season.
For Sautner, the deal keeps the Flin Flon product with his hometown province’s club after another steady campaign on the Moose blueline.
Photo by Steve Sasaki/Game On MagazineThe 32-year-old appeared in 68 regular-season games for Manitoba in 2025-26, putting up three goals and 13 points while finishing with a plus-four rating. He also suited up in all seven of Manitoba’s Calder Cup Playoff games.
Sautner has become one of the longest-serving members of the Moose roster, appearing in 266 games with the franchise. That total ranks 11th all-time among defencemen in club history.
The left-shot blueliner originally joined the Winnipeg Jets organization in 2022 and has provided the Moose with a reliable veteran presence over the past four seasons. Overall, Sautner has appeared in 547 career AHL games between Manitoba, the Abbotsford Canucks and Utica Comets, collecting 26 goals and 108 points.
Before settling into his role as an AHL veteran, Sautner also spent time at the NHL level with the Vancouver Canucks. The undrafted defenceman appeared in 23 NHL games with Vancouver, recording three assists.
The Moose also brought back some physicality and grit with the return of Empey.
The Swift Current native appeared in 24 games for Manitoba during the 2025-26 campaign, recording one goal, three points and 69 penalty minutes. He also appeared in one postseason contest.
Empey, who turns 31 next week, has played parts of the last two seasons with the Moose and brings a heavy, physical element to Manitoba’s forward group.
The six-foot-two winger has appeared in 167 career AHL games between the Moose, Hershey Bears and Tucson Roadrunners, registering 12 goals, 31 points and 311 penalty minutes.
Before establishing himself in the AHL, Empey spent significant time in the ECHL, producing 69 points in 147 games with the Atlanta Gladiators, Rapid City Rush and South Carolina Stingrays.
