Morrissey banking on better camp

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This article was published 23/09/2015 (3695 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Josh Morrissey’s training camp a year ago went wrong and ended in disappointment.

The Winnipeg Jets’ 2013 first-round draft pick was still trying to figure out optimum weight and conditioning matters and was sent back to his WHL team prior to the start of the NHL season.

Fast forward to Tuesday’s start to the 2015 pre-season games and Morrissey appears to be on a better path to success.

Now 20, he’ll be a pro this year no matter what and he’s sounding more prepared than ever.

“I’m trying not to think about it too much,” said the fleet defenceman, asked about last year’s experience. “I’m just trying to play, to get it started. I think last year I probably put too much pressure on myself coming into these games, got a little bit afraid to make a mistake then and stopped moving my feet. Then you never play well.”

In so many ways, including having had a normal summer for a change, Morrissey is recalibrated for a better showing this fall and was in the lineup against the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night.

“As far as the game goes, you want to try to show what we’ve been working on in the scrimmages and practices and some of the systems the Jets are running,” he said after the morning skate. “Overall I’m just excited to get out there, trying not to put too much pressure on myself and just have a good first shift.”

 

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First impressions were on the mind of Jets centre Alex Burmistrov Tuesday.

Well, first impressions this time around.

The 23-year-old forward is back from a two-year hiatus in the KHL and made his first pre-season appearance with the Jets against the Wild Tuesday night.

After the morning skate, he was relaxed and not overly concerned with how he’d be received by fans at the MTS Centre.

“You know, sometimes I think about that,” he said. “So far they’ve been good to me so I hope they’re not going to boo me. They’ve been nice.

“I just feel good about it. Nobody’s told me anything bad.”

 

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A man of few words, Joel Armia has been flying somewhat under the radar so far in training camp.

The Finnish-born 22-year-old, a big part of the future element for the Jets in last February’s trade with the Buffalo Sabres, also skated in his first pre-season game for his new team Tuesday night.

“I feel really good,” Armia said about the first few days of camp. “I think it’s been a good camp so far but there’s lot of days ahead.”

Armia, who has played two pro years, mostly in the AHL, said he wasn’t nervous at all about his first game in a Jets’ uniform.

“Actually no, I haven’t thought much about it,” he said. “I’m a little surprised myself. But I feel like I’m confident and I’m relaxed and that’s a good thing. Not nervous at all.”

 

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Singing the national anthem Tuesday night at the MTS Centre was local legend Randy Bachman.

The former Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive guitarist and songwriter will also being taking care of the O Canada business Friday night.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca