‘It’s all about getting better’: Jets prospect at CHL’s Subway Super Series

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This article was published 11/11/2014 (4269 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON – The first thing Nic Petan had to do was get over the disappointment of being cut by the Winnipeg Jets. Then he had to set his mind on getting better.

Lots of players have a bit of a hangover after being sent back to junior after a long look at an NHL camp and Petan was no different.

“You stay there so long and you start to think, ‘this is going to happen,’ and then they tell you to go back to junior. It’s hard at first. But then you have to get back to what your reality is and for me it’s all about getting better so I can make the Jets and the NHL down the road,” said Petan, during a media availability Tuesday morning as part of the CHL’s Subway Super Series.

The WHL all-stars feature Jets prospects Petan, Josh Morrissey and goalie Eric Comrie. The Russian team includes Jets draft pick Pavel Kraskovsky.

The Russians beat the WHL side 3-2 in the shootout on Monday in Saskatoon and the two clubs meet again tonight in Brandon (6 p.m., Keystone Centre).

“I’ve heard that players who have played as many years in junior don’t have anything to learn at this level. I’ve got lots to learn,” said Petan, who has two goals and 15 assists in 14 games with the Portland Winterhawks. “I need to get stronger and faster and I’m working on that. I did think I could fit in at the NHL level. I’m looking forward to the chance to compete with the best players in the world someday.”

For Comrie, watching his fellow Jets goaltenders is a lot of fun right now.

“Watching (Ondrej) Pavelec shutout the Rangers and beat (Henrik) Lundqvist and then the next night see (Michael Hutchinson) Hutch go in and beat the Blackhawks, that was amazing,” said Comrie. “Hutch has worked so hard and for him to get that moment – it was awesome.”

The WHL squad is coached by Dave Lowry, former NHLer and now also known as the father of Jets centre Adam Lowry.

“I try to watch all the games,” said Lowry. “It’s been real fun to see what Adam has been able to accomplish.”