Pavelec not bothered by competition

By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 5:31 PM CDT Friday, Oct. 7, 2016

Ondrej Pavelec is locked in a three-way battle for two roster spots in Winnipeg.

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Ondrej Pavelec is locked in a three-way battle for two roster spots in Winnipeg.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/10/2016 (3318 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ondrej Pavelec is locked in a three-way battle for two roster spots in Winnipeg.

The veteran Jets puckstopper is in the final year of a five-year, US$19.5-million contract and says competing for a job is just a way of life. He has no complaints.

“I don’t see any difference from the years before,” Pavelec said following Friday’s practice at the MTS Iceplex. “It’s always a hard decision.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES "If I had a problem with (competing for the job) I couldn't be a hockey player," says Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. "I would play tennis, probably."

“If I had a problem with it I couldn’t be a hockey player. I would play tennis, probably. I mean, it’s always competition. It been a competition all my life and it’s going to be. So I can live with it.”

Peluso trims down: Rugged winger Anthony Peluso is fighting for a Jets jersey again, but not without adjusting his approach to the game. He believed he needed to improve his speed and altered his off-season training to reflect that.

“It’s the way the game is going,” said Peluso. “It’s not even top-end speed, it’s the quickness of getting from A to B on short-distance spurts. I wasn’t trying to lose weight, but in training over the summer, the stuff I was working on, it was a byproduct of that.”

Peluso arrived at training camp a year ago carrying 235 pounds on his 6-3 frame. He was a true NHL heavyweight, aiming to be as big and strong as possible.

He tips the scales at 222 now, a number he hasn’t seen since his draft year in 2007.

“I feel faster for sure,” said Peluso, 27. “I feel quicker on the ice in practice. Now it’s about getting your mind at that speed as well, making those decisions faster.”

The Strait goods: The Jets signed free agent Brian Strait in the off-season to supplement their blue-line depth. Strait, 28, has played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders and gaining a foothold in Winnipeg has been a grind.

“I’m not totally comfortable yet, but it takes a while,” he said. “Last time I was on a new team in New York, it probably took about half a season to really feel comfortable.”

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Winnipeg Jets' Brian Strait (47) during training camp at the MTS IcePlex Sunday afternoon.

Strait hopes to be in the lineup tonight in St. Paul and be noticed for the right reasons.

“We need (pre-season games) just as much (as rookies), to get back in game shape… They know a little bit about me but not a lot, so I’ve gotta show them what I bring to the table.”

Heritage Classic tickets: The Jets are releasing additional tickets for the NHL’s Heritage Classic weekend Oct. 22-23 at Investors Group Field. Packages include both the Heritage Classic game and Alumni Classic game.

The development comes after the field layout was confirmed and ticket requirements for the league, broadcasters and advertising partners were finalized. Tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. at NHL.com/heritagetickets.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14