Young bucks getting aggressive at workouts

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/09/2016 (3283 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IF the intensity in Sunday’s first scrimmage of training camp set a baseline for things to come, Monday’s raised the bar to a new level from a physical standpoint.

A bone-crushing hit was applied by forward JC Lipon to the helpless body of defenceman Tyson Wilson behind Eric Comrie’s net midway through the scrimmage between Group 1 and Group 2.

“I knew he was going to see me at the last second. I knew he was close to the boards but it was time to maybe get in a hit,” Lipon said. “It felt pretty good.”

Lipon was involved later in a shoving match with fellow Manitoba Moose forward Nic Petan. The two traded jabs, slashes and cross checks before Lipon skated away from Petan.

“We’re like best buds, but sometimes… that’s the first time I’ve cross-checked since last season so we had fun with it, I guess,” Lipon said.

• • •

Veteran Jets forward Drew Stafford had his hands full this summer, with having to prepare for the upcoming season and tending to his son, Mason, who turns two in January.

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“I was on dad duty pretty much the whole time so I’ve gotta put my hours in during the summer,: said Stafford. “I still have my time (for working out) in the morning… It’s early in the morning and the rest of the day.. he’s a busy, busy boy. He goes all day and he doesn’t sleep.”

• • •

Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was clearly disappointed after only playing one period in Team North America’s third game at the World Cup, slotted behind Matt Murray and John Gibson on the depth chart.

“I went in ready to do my best and ready to play,” said Hellebuyck. “No one knows what to expect. It’s tough being a third goalie when I got slotted there. I didn’t really get much of a chance to show I was more ready than anyone else. I think I did what I could to get ready for camp.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca, mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @scottbilleck, @sawa14

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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