Enlarge Image

Winnipeg Jets prospect Mark Scheifele was at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club today to participate in former Jet Dale Hawerchuk's golf tournament. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Related Items

1. Articles

   • REPLAY: Chipman, Noel chat Jets with Hustler and Lawless at News Café

Mark Scheifele is making a brief pit stop in Winnipeg this week, he'll be back early next month and then, come September, he has his fingers crossed he’ll be looking for more-permanent digs in the city.

The Winnipeg Jets’ first pick in last year’s draft was swinging clubs at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club on Wednesday as one of the celebrities in the Scotia Mortgage Authority Dale Hawerchuk Charity Classic.

And it didn’t take long for the 19-year-old centre to be reminded of how popular he already is in this town. After all, it was last year when he got a glimpse at his new-found fame during a visit for the same event.

"I remember last year I was at Earl’s for the VIP dinner thing and I took two steps out of the area we were in and somebody was like, 'Aren’t you Mark Scheifele?’" said Scheifele during a break in his round at Elmhurst and while signing a fan’s baseball hat.

"It’s pretty cool to be back. It feels like home already. I got in Monday night and it already felt like home. I just hope I can be here next year."

Scheifele is coming off a whirlwind year in which he was drafted by the Jets, flashed his skillset during the NHL pre-season and in seven regular-season games — including scoring his first goal — wore Canada’s colours at the World Junior Hockey Championship, led the Barrie Colts deep into the Ontario Hockey League playoffs and then joined the St. John’s IceCaps for the AHL post-season.

"I’ve been all over the place… St. John’s, world juniors… and there have been some ups and downs," said Scheifele. "It’s been good growth for me. I’ve learned a lot of things. I’ve learned how to be a pro, how to handle myself and how to handle those ups and downs. It’s been a good learning curve. I’m happy I got to play in so many places this year."

Since the end of the IceCaps’ run he’s been off skates — as ordered by the Jets — until next month’s development camp for the team’s top prospects in Winnipeg and has hit the gym to put more muscle onto his frame. He’s up to 190 pounds -- he finished the OHL season at 180 – and hopes to be at 196-97 for the start of Jets training camp.

"That’s what I’m working at all this summer: working hard to make that team and stick," Scheifele said. "So far I’m doing a pretty good job. I’ve just got to stay focused and continue to do a good job."

This is the third year of Hawerchuk’s tournament here in Winnipeg — he’s run another tournament in Orangeville, Ont. for the last 10 years — with all the money raised going to the Jets’ True North Foundation.

Among the participants at this year’s event were: Scheifele and Hawerchuk, Bryan Trottier, Gerry Cheevers, Brad Park, Butch Goring, Jimmy Mann, Billy Smith, Charlie Huddy, Dennis Maruk, Keith Acton, Kris King, Ron Flockhart, Shane Hnidy, Trevor Kidd, Kraig Nienhuis and Dave Ellett.

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait