Enlarge Image

x%k (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Related Items

1. Articles

   • Learning what it takes to be a pro

NO player in the Winnipeg Jets organization -- outside of Mark Scheifele, of course -- has generated more buzz in the last year or so than Ivan Telegin.

The gifted forward, who has flashed a deft scoring touch and world-class speed that had some dubbing him 'The Russian Roadrunner' is in town but will not participate this week in the Jets Development Camp.

The 20-year-old sniper suffered a hand injury which team officials said "occurred in an off-ice accident" and required surgery. The silver lining is Telegin should be good to go when main camp opens in September.

The last two Jets' first-round picks were on the ice for the opening of D-Camp on Monday -- Mark Scheifele (7th overall in 2011) was the first to step onto the ice at MTS Iceplex to a rousing cheer from roughly 500 fans and was followed not long after by 2012 first-rounder Jacob Trouba.

"It was fun. It was a little nerve-racking at the beginning but I think I got the hang of it," said Trouba of his first day on the ice as a Jet. "It was cool to be out there and see all those people who came out to support the team.

"I want to get better as a player and get used to the Jet organization. It's a development camp. I'll use it to get to know some of the guys. It's new for me, it's a good experience."

The experience -- getting used to Winnipeg, the organization and possible future teammates -- is old hat for Scheifele.

"I like to be a leader and help when I'm needed," said Scheifele. "I try to lead by example. I look at myself as a leader and like to lend a guiding hand, having gone through what I did last year. I do feel like I have a little experience but have a lot of learning to do as well."

Trouba, incidentally, is rooming with Zach Redmond, who had Scheifele as a roommate last year at rookie camp.

"(Redmond) was joking that he keeps getting the first-round draft pick," said Scheifele. "He's a great mentor and I'm sure he's doing a lot with Trouba. But if Trouba needs any help I'm definitely open ears for him."

WHO'S WATCHING: The first day of camp saw Jet co-ordinator of player development Jimmy Roy along with St. John's IceCaps coaches Keith McCambridge, Mark Morrison and Rick St. Croix run the practice while a number of Jets brass looked on in earnest.

Among those paying close attention were GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, assistant GM Craig Heisinger, co-owner Mark Chipman, head coach Claude Noel and assistants Charlie Huddy and Wade Flaherty, assistant to the GM Larry Simmons, hockey ops boss Ryan Bowness, director of amateur scouting Marcel Comeau, head scout Mark Hillier, European scout Dean Fedorchuk, Colorado Eagles (the Jets ECHL affiliate) coaches Chris Stewart and Greg Pankewicz.

FRESH FACE: The Jets added one more face to the D-Camp roster on Monday, perhaps to replace Telegin -- Winnipegger Blair MacAulay, who has spent the last three years with the University of Manitoba Bisons (36 goals and 66 points in 56 CIS games).

Other than Telegin, all other players scheduled to attend were on the ice.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 10, 2012 C2