Bjorck ready to rock Prospect Challenge

Viggo Bjorck isn’t getting ahead of himself, nor is he taking anything for granted.

A spot in the opening night lineup for the Winnipeg Jets?

Whoa, there.

The 18-year-old apparently isn’t even assuming he has an invitation to the NHL team’s main training camp when it starts next week.

“I’m going in the same as everyone. Just trying to do my best. Fight for a spot in training camp,” Bjorck said Friday of his main focus right now.

“Hopefully, if I play well, I have a good chance to make the Jets team. Like that’s the dream, to play in the NHL. That would be amazing. Hopefully I can make the dream come true. I just have to put the work in.”

No, you won’t find any sense of arrogance or entitlement or ego when it comes to the slick Swedish skater, who was selected eighth overall by the Jets earlier this summer. He’s as humble as they come.

No special perks. No priority based on his pedigree. Just a nose-to-the-grindstone approach.

Let the record show Bjorck is most certainly coming to camp next week, and it would be a complete shock if he doesn’t crack the big club right off the hop, likely getting a chance to hold down the second-line centre position.

But first things first.

What likely will be a very short road to the NHL begins this weekend when Bjorck suits up for the Jets in Gatineau, Que., as they play a pair of rookie/prospect games against the young guns of the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bjorck will undoubtedly be the centre of attention at the event. Just don’t tell him that.

“Just trying to play my own game, the way I’m used to. Not trying to change anything and be a person that I’m not,” he said.

“Just play my game and go out there and have fun. I mean, it’s hockey.”

Bjorck was skating on a line Friday with Davis Burnside, a college free agent signing by the organization last spring, and Kevin He, who is also about to turn pro after finishing up an impressive junior career in the Ontario Hockey League.

“Super great players. Super nice as well,” said Bjorck. “I haven’t spent that much time with them because I’ve only been here for a week, almost, but seem like super nice guys.”

To that extent, Bjorck tipped his cap to the Jets organization for helping him get settled, including finding an apartment downtown. He’s in the same complex as fellow rookie Alfons Freij, who will also play this weekend.

“It’s good to have someone to speak Swedish with as well,” said Bjorck.

His father came over with him last week to help get him settled, and both mom and dad plan to return once the season begins to help offset some of the natural culture shock.

“I like all the facilities, the environment, all the people here have been super nice to me. I think this is a good place to grow as a player and as a person as well. I’m excited for the future,” said Bjorck.

“Just trying to play my own game, the way I’m used to. Not trying to change anything and be a person that I’m not.”

He’s spent the past week taking part in daily pre-camp skates with plenty of Jets regulars who are likely soon to be his new teammates. He’s made quite the early impression on them — and vice versa.

“Super talented guys. I mean, you just see the skill level of them,” said Bjorck. “I bet when like training camp starts and NHL season starts, they will turn it up a notch as well.”

As for this weekend, there are plenty of other notable skaters on the prospect team in addition to Bjorck and the previously mentioned He and Freij, including first-round draft picks Brayden Yager and Colby Barlow and recent OHL graduates such as Jacob Julien and Kieron Walton.

Manitoba Moose head coach Mark Morrison will guide them behind the bench.

“All the young guys coming in, their nerves are ramped up a little bit and they’re getting ready to go,” said Morrison. “We saw it (Friday) morning in the dressing room when we were talking to them. They’re all itching to go.”

Morrison had some words of wisdom for Bjorck and the bunch ahead of boarding the bird to fly east on Friday afternoon.

“We’re not trying to put too much system talk into them. We’re just trying to let them go out and have some fun,” he said.

“At the end of the day, just go play. Just go with the flow. Try and play, relax out there, compete hard and try and help your teammates, and then I think it will go well. “

Still, Morrison admitted he can’t help but be impressed with what he’s seen of Bjorck so far.

“He’s having fun. He carries himself well, he speaks well, he’s interested. And the thing I really like, I see him with different players all the time,” he said.

“These players are trying to get themselves ready, for the most part, for the NHL camp. If they can do well at this, it gives them some confidence and gives them a boost. It’s important for them, and it’s important for us to take it serious to give them a fair chance. We want to make sure that, after the two games, they feel good about themselves going into main camp.”

The prospects games will be broadcast on the Jets YouTube page. Saturday’s game against Montreal and Sunday’s game against Toronto both start at noon CT.

winnipegfreepress.com/mikemcintyre