17°c Overcast
10°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Scheifele making tenacious bid to stick with Jets
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Related Items
-
Articles
THIS is Mark Scheifele's world these days: Every game -- heck, every second of every shift -- is essentially an evaluation.
And still, the decision on whether he sticks with the Winnipeg Jets or returns to the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts is very likely out of his hands.
Officially, there are two games left in the open window the Jets have before making a decision to send him back to junior. Just for the record, it should be pointed out there is no rule prohibiting the team keeping him longer and then returning him, even if it burns up a year of his entry-level contract.
But as Scheifele completed practice Thursday working at one end of the ice while the majority of the roster was at the other during a special-teams session, the question is getting asked again:
Will he stay or will he go now?
"You have no idea how bad I want it," Scheifele said. "Every day I think about how bad I want to be here. That's the focus. Every day I go in with the mindset that I'm going to do whatever it takes to stay here.
"It's tough because if I make a little mistake I get down on myself. But I think about this is what I want and I have to go out and make it that much better on my next shift."
Scheifele has played primarily on the Jets' third and fourth lines and has been reliable defensively while registering five shots in three games. But the move to right wing hasn't necessarily been the biggest adjustment to the pro game, it's been trying to be productive in a different role with reduced minutes than he was used to as the Colts' star.
And that's all part of the maturation the Jets need to see as well.
"It's pretty tough, but that's what the coach feels the best way to help the team," said Scheifele. "Whatever (role) I'm in, I'm going to work my hardest to help the team.
"That's the focus. It's whatever the management thinks. It's part of the process and I just have to continue to word hard and continue to show what I can do with the time I'm given."
The Jets will soon have to make this call: What serves Scheifele and the team best -- sending him back to star in Barrie or keeping him in this current role learning how to be a pro?
"Mark's been good," said head coach Claude Noel. "This isn't a race to five games for us. It's a time we have to help him grow and help him feel comfortable. Our situation doesn't lend itself too great for him. If we had six or seven exhibition games that's more experience. (Now) you get none.
"Every day here is good. Again, to me it's not a race to five. I'm happy with how he's played."
ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 25, 2013 C2
More Other Sports
- Back to Top
- Return to Other Sports
More Other Sports
(1 of 5 articles for today)
First day of England-New Zealand 2nd test a wash out at Headingley
10:13 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Other Sports
- Handball family gathering
- Ski-Doo maker's IPO price values BRP at about $2.5B, prices shares at $21.50
- Jocks behaving badly...
- Rochette pondering return to Olys
- California man identified as victim of fatal skiing accident in southeast B.C.
- Test bowler Sreesanth denies spot-fixing in ongoing Indian T20 case
- Senior Bowl has retro look
- Improvements eyed for Birds Hill bike trail
- Be sure to get your paper ducks in a row
- A crash course in hunting coyotes
- Owl River opens to paddlers
- Handball family gathering
- Canberra ends Melbourne's 15-match win streak in the National Rugby League
- Here's how to catch a cat
- Rochette pondering return to Olys
- Ailing Hesjedal gets off the bike
- Why does Manitoba get short end of fishing rod?
- Unexpected Honours
- California man identified as victim of fatal skiing accident in southeast B.C.
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Jocks behaving badly...
- Why does Manitoba get short end of fishing rod?
- Sports scientist admits offering peptides to rugby league players, denies link to cancer death
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Impact study: Questionnaire aims to help local medical researcher shape new guidelines for when and how to safely get kids back on the field or rink after a concussion
- Riley family's $500-K donation covers most of Sports Hall of Fame
- Canberra ends Melbourne's 15-match win streak in the National Rugby League
- Owl River opens to paddlers
- On the HomeFront
- Rochette pondering return to Olys
- Owl River opens to paddlers
- Impact study: Questionnaire aims to help local medical researcher shape new guidelines for when and how to safely get kids back on the field or rink after a concussion
- Love the wilderness? Put Bloodvein on life list
- Trappers are happy -- very happy
- California man identified as victim of fatal skiing accident in southeast B.C.
- Going fishing -- but will it be on water?
- Bugs don't ruin day at Downs, they rule it
- Jocks behaving badly...
- Handball family gathering
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.