17°c Light rain showers
13°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Locked-out Jet Burmi happy to be on The Rock
mike deal / winnipeg free press archives Jets centre Alex Burmistrov would probably rather be playing in Russia, but he's taking his AHL assignment in stride. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
CORNER BROOK, N.L. -- A day after it was announced Evander Kane of the Winnipeg Jets was heading to the Kontinental Hockey League, and the Carolina Hurricanes' Jeff Skinner was taking a pass, for the time being, on playing in the American Hockey League, Alex Burmistrov was still toeing the party line on joining the St. John's IceCaps.
"That's his decision," Burmistrov said of Kane, his teammate in Winnipeg last season. "He can do whatever he wants.
"This is a team decision and they (Jets management) think St. John's is better for me."
Winnipeg can send Burmistrov to the AHL because he is still on an entry level contract.
Kane, a 30-goal scorer for the Jets last season, left for Dinamo Minsk of the Russian-based KHL over the weekend, as Burmistrov joined the IceCaps' hopefuls for the American Hockey League team's training camp in Corner Brook.
Burmistrov skated with a handful of IceCaps Sunday at the Pepsi Centre in advance of today's official start to camp.
"It's a team decision," Burmistrov said of his playing in the AHL during the NHL lockout. "They think this is better for my game."
It's the 20-year-old Russian's first look at the minors after playing the past two years in the NHL.
He registered 20 points during the 2010-11 season with the Atlanta Thrashers before tallying 13 goals and 28 points last year in Winnipeg.
It's no secret Burmistrov, who hails from Kazan, Russia, hoped to head home to play during the lockout, to suit up for the Ak-Bars Kazan Snow Leopards.
But Jets' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and assistant GM Craig Heisinger, who is the St. John's GM, felt it best he play in St. John's where Winnipeg could keep close tabs on his game.
"I've never been here, and I've never seen an AHL game," he said after Sunday's skate. "There's a lot of good players here, so this is probably the best fit for me.
"There were a lot of great players who came down to the AHL in the last lockout, and it helped their game."
Either way, Burmistrov is glad to be back on the ice, when the IceCaps begin scrimmaging Tuesday following a couple of practices and medicals today.
"It's a long time just working out," he said. "It's boring not playing."
Meantime, the Charlotte Checkers said over the weekend the Hurricanes' Skinner won't be starting the season with the AHL club.
Rather, the 2011 NHL rookie of the year will remain in the Toronto area skating with a number NHLers.
rshort@thetelegram.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 1, 2012 C2
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 34 articles for today)
Province announces service for Elijah Harper
4:56 PM 0View Related
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Two women face rare charges of harbouring alleged murderer
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- One dead in Highway 10 collision
- Calgary man charged with murder of woman and her five-year-old son
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Flood victim gets six years for shotgun threat, attack
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- VIDEO: Left on the ice to rot
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- US zoo looking into conception mystery after birth of anteater; no male in pen
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Li granted additional day passes
- Calgary man charged with murder of woman and her five-year-old son
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- Raleigh holds annual tour of backyard chicken coops, part of national spread of urban farming
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Guitar-playing astronaut bows out of space station with music video of Bowie's 'Space Oddity'
- Microsoft update to address Windows 8 complaints, confusion will be free; to be called 8.1
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Uganda: Blessed are the children
- Winning 6/49 ticket purchased in Winnipeg
- New website profiles neighbourhoods of Winnipeg
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- VIDEO: Left on the ice to rot
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- RCMP charge man with double-homicide in Ethelbert
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.