‘A huge honour’ Jets recognize veteran centre Lowry’s leadership, grit and loyalty with captain’s C By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 12:52 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 12, 2023 Last Modified: 5:02 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 12, 2023 Updates

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Character. Compete. Consistency. Community. Class. All of those words can be used to describe the various characteristics of veteran Winnipeg Jets forward Adam Lowry.

And now, one more: Captain. The 30-year-old was unveiled Tuesday as the new face and voice of the hockey club, a development he described as feeling “like a dream.”

“It’s extremely special to get the opportunity to lead an NHL franchise, and a Canadian market for that matter,” Lowry said following an introductory news conference at Canada Life Centre.

“It’s a huge honour to know that management, coaching staff and your teammates have the belief in you that you are the right guy, and you’re going to be the guy to steady the ship when things don’t necessarily go our way, or when we hit some difficult patches throughout the season. I am really looking forward to taking on that challenge.”

Lowry is the third captain in Jets 2.0 history, following Andrew Ladd and, most recently, Blake Wheeler.

“I’ve seen him grow and I’ve seen him play at many different levels — both in junior and at the American League level,” general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said of the St. Louis-born, Calgary-raised centre who was drafted in the third round, 67th-overall, in 2011.

“I saw the level of leadership and what he provided at both of those levels. You could tell at that point in time that he had some special qualities. He’s a guy that’s earned his right to be in the National Hockey League. He’d be the first to tell you he’s not the most skilled, he’s not going to break the bank on the point side of it, but what he brings to a team, what he brings to a locker room, what he brings to a franchise, and what he brings to a city, those are all the things that you want. He leads by example and he drags people along with him when he plays and how he plays.”

“He’s a guy that’s earned his right to be in the National Hockey League…He leads by example and he drags people along with him when he plays and how he plays.”–Kevin Cheveldayoff

The Jets went without a captain last season after new coach Rick Bowness removed the C from Wheeler, who was bought out by the Jets earlier this summer and signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers. That opened a spot for Lowry to join Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey as alternates for the year.

Now, a much bigger promotion.

“In the end, we believe the time is right for Adam Lowry to assume this role and set the standard for the way the Winnipeg Jets will move forward with new leadership and new purpose,” said Cheveldayoff.

Bowness said Tuesday he learned plenty about his troops during last year’s up-and-down season and that it was important to name a new captain prior to the start of this year. He believed Lowry was ultimately was the right choice who will make Winnipeg a tougher team to play against.

“He’s a wonderful communicator. He’s a great guy to coach. Because he’s low maintenance. He just comes to work every day as a pro. Puts his time in,” said Bowness.

“And again, he’s the first guy out there to stick up for his teammates, and he has a lot of respect, not only from obviously our players and our staff and everybody else in the organization, but around the league. And that’s just as important. People know the type of person he is. They know the type of teammate he is. They know the type of competitor he is.”

Several of Lowry’s teammates were in attendance on Tuesday, including Neal Pionk, Morgan Barron, Nate Schmidt, Dylan DeMelo and Mason Appleton. Morrissey (NHL player tour in Las Vegas) and Scheifele (personal event in the United States) were not.

“Josh and Mark are just such vital parts of our leadership team, along with many others that were in this room today,” Lowry said when asked how things now change for him and the team.

“Maybe in a sense, you don’t have to delegate so many responsibilities, but I think at the same time, my job is to be there in the tough times, be that solid consistent voice and presence — along with those other guys — so I don’t know if that changes a whole lot, in a sense. It just allows my voice, maybe to be the most strong in the room.”

Lowry was previously captain of the Swift Current Broncos during his final year of junior in 2012-13. His father, Dave, was captain of the Calgary Flames for parts of two seasons in 2000 and 2001.

“He’s a great sounding board. I know he’s with a different organization (assistant coach of the Seattle Kraken after previously being an assistant, then interim head coach of the Jets), but he certainly has some great advice for me,” said Lowry.

“He’ll be someone I’ll certainly lean on and try to soak up as much of his wisdom as I can in dealing with the positives, the negatives that go along with the added responsibility and things like that. It certainly helps to know that he’s been through it in a Canadian market as well, just the ups and downs that go with it.”

How’s this for a storybook start — Lowry’s first regular-season game as captain will be in Calgary against the Flames on Oct. 11.

“Just growing up and dreaming of playing the NHL, I don’t think this is something that you could have even dreamt about,” said Lowry. “I think it is right up there with playing in my first game and scoring my first goal. It’s a pretty special moment for me and my family.”

“Just growing up and dreaming of playing the NHL, I don’t think this is something that you could have even dreamt about.”–Adam Lowry

Lowry, who is often used as part of a shutdown line matched up against the opponent’s top scorers, is signed for three more seasons at US$3.25 million. He doesn’t have the eye-popping offensive numbers of some other NHL captains, with 222 points (102 goals, 120 assists) in played 665 combined regular-season and playoff games in his career with the Jets.

“I think part of what makes me a successful hockey player is playing hard, is competing, is trying to drag my teammates into the fight and sticking up for them and standing up for them on the ice and in the room,” he said.

“I think just trying to find ways to impact the game, trying to find ways to kind of influence the game in a positive manner is the way I’m going to continue to try and play. Stand up for my teammates and make them play a little bigger.”

Lowry will also help bridge the gap between the present and the future, with a wave of promising young players in the system such as Chaz Lucius, Brad Lambert, Rutger McGroarty and Colby Barlow, among others.

That process officially begins on Sept. 20, when training camp gets underway,

“I think the mentorship is important,” said Lowry. “I think making them feel comfortable, making them feel like they’re a big part of the team early on so that they can contribute right away, I think that’s certainly an aspect of being a leader.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

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