Mom’s the word

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This article was published 16/12/2024 (296 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They are the unsung heroes who helped keep everything at home running smoothly long before their hockey-obsessed boys grew up to become household names around here.

Now the mothers of the Winnipeg Jets are getting their well-deserved moment in the sun, joining the team on its quick California road trip this week for an up-close, VIP look at life in the big leagues.

“They’ve played such important roles in our careers and our upbringing, it’s just a small way that we get to share what we’ve been so privileged to experience playing in the NHL,” Jets captain Adam Lowry told team media following Monday’s practice in San Jose.

Lowry recalls how it was his mother, Elaine, who always ensured he got to the rink in time or had enough food in his belly as he was growing up.

“Now it’s roles reversed,” he said of being able to pamper them. “To share the experience with them and get to have them see how we travel, them to see how we’re treated, the day-to-day of being on the road, it’s super special.”

This is the second Mom’s trip in Jets history, with the previous one taking place in 2020. You don’t need to remind the players who are still around from that team that they went 0-3-0 through Carolina, Columbus and Chicago.

Winnipeg will be hoping for a better showing this time around as they face the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, then wrap it up on Wednesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.

“It’s been awesome. My mom put a lot into this. So now being able to celebrate, it comes full circle,” Jets forward Cole Perfetti told team media.

“I’m really grateful that my mom is here and able to get this experience, and I’m able to experience it with her. We had a great dinner (Sunday) night, and it’s the little things like seeing how we travel and seeing our hotel, going behind-the-scenes on the day-to-day stuff they don’t typically see. We’re pretty spoiled, so it’s nice to spoil her too and have her on this trip.”

Indeed, the Jets have planned a series of events for the mothers (and some sisters, too) including visiting a winery. Patty Samberg even joined her son, Dylan, on the stationary bike Monday as he works his way back from a broken foot.

Jets coach Scott Arniel joked that he’s come to realize the apple doesn’t fall from the tree in many cases as he’s gotten to know some of the mothers.

“I won’t name anybody but you can see it. There are some similarities there,” he told team media. “It’s a special time for them, not only for the players but also the mothers.”

The 22-9-1 Jets are looking to keep the momentum going following a 2-1-1 homestand which ended Saturday with a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. This has been their first two-day break in a month

“It’s nice to get a full day off (Sunday) and then get a nice practice in (Monday) and get our feet going again. It was well needed,” said Perfetti.

Although the 11-17-5 Sharks have lost four of their past five games, they’ve been playing some better hockey overall in the past month and have plenty of exciting young talent including rookie Macklin Celebrini, who was injured back on Oct. 18 when San Jose came to Winnipeg and lost 8-3. The teen has 20 points (10G, 10A) through his first 21 games.

“I think as a team, when you’re young and there isn’t a lot of expectations, there is a lot of room for growth. They’ve taken a step forward, they play hard,” said Lowry.

“You look at their record since we played them, it’s certainly improved. They’re a team a lot like Montreal. They’re good off the rush, they can create there, they have a lot of smaller skilled forwards that like to make plays. It’s going to be important we play a similar style to Montreal in terms of what we gave up.”

Connor Hellebuyck is expected to make his 26th start of the year, with backup Eric Comrie likely getting the assignment 24 hours later in Anaheim.

As for other potential lineup news, injured forward Nikolaj Ehlers shed his non-contact jersey Monday and was a full participant in practice. He’s been out with a lower-body injury suffered Nov. 29 in Vegas.

Could he return against the Sharks?

“That was the first full practice with us. We’ll move forward here. We’ll talk about it and see where he’s at with (trainer Rob Milette) and we’ll see where it goes,” said Arniel.

Forward David Gustafsson also resumed skating Monday after suffering a concussion last Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.

“He’s still in the concussion protocol but he’s further along,” said Arniel.

“He got on the bike (Sunday), now he gets to get on the ice. We’ll just move him along here. No rush, obviously with concussions it’s a tricky area, so we’ll go day-to-day.”

Following this trip, the Jets will get another two-day break before facing the Minnesota Wild on Saturday at Canada Life Centre. They’ll then head to Toronto for a Monday matinee before a four-day break for the holidays.

“It’s always tough against these guys, we always have a tough time in this building,” Perfetti said of the Sharks. “I think with that two-day break, we needed that, and we’re feeling good going into it coming off a nice win. We’re feeling good.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg