Scheifele ‘the perfect guy to do it’

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This article was published 14/03/2025 (204 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At some point soon, perhaps as early as this time next year, Mark Scheifele will stand alone when it comes to scoring goals as a member of the Winnipeg Jets.

The first draft pick of the 2.0 era entered play Friday night with 332, which is No. 1 when it comes to franchise history but No. 2 when it comes to the true record recognized around here.

“I’m chasing Dale,” Scheifele said after he recently jumped ahead of Atlanta Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk.

That would be his former mentor and junior coach, the late, great Dale Hawerchuk who lit the lamp 379 times as a member of the 1.0 Jets before he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 1990.

Now just 47 goals away, Scheifele has one very prominent fan rooting for him.

“It couldn’t happen to a better guy,” Eric Hawerchuk told the Free Press on Friday.

“He is the perfect Jet. Obviously the first pick of the new era, coached by my dad. They had a great relationship together, and Mark always speaks really highly of (Dale), which is very cool. My Dad would be pretty proud of him, to see the career he’s had here and what he’s done for the city.”

Eric, who was born in Winnipeg and now lives with his wife and child in Arizona where he is a professional golfer, was back in town this week to get an up-close look at Scheifele and the Jets.

“It’s very exciting that he’s going to do it,” he said. “He works so hard for it. I had a great visit with him (on Thursday) and it’s very cool to see.”

Former Jets coach Paul Maurice once predicted they’d build a statue of Scheifele outside Canada Life Centre at some point — and that was before the star centre signed his seven-year contract extension that will likely make him a Jet for life.

It’s notable that the only statue ever commissioned by True North is of “Ducky,” which his son always pays a visit to before attending the downtown rink as he did Friday night for a marquee matchup against the Dallas Stars.

Perhaps the monument to Hawerchuk, who died of stomach cancer in August 2020, might one day have some familiar company?

Looking at the present, Eric would love to see a Stanley Cup parade in a place that has meant so much to his family. This year’s team, which had a sizzling record of 45-17-4 prior to Friday’s game, has certainly raised expectations and hope.

“I don’t think anybody wants to play Winnipeg right now,” he said. “They’re loaded on defence, you got Helle (Connor Hellebuyck) back there, the first line is so good, the power play is fantastic.”

“It’s kind of like, what isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said. “You’re playing with fire there if you go too crazy.”–Eric Hawerchuk

While some might have wanted Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to take a bigger swing at the trade deadline, Eric said the additions of Brandon Tanev and Luke Schenn hit the right notes.

“It’s kind of like, what isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said. “You’re playing with fire there if you go too crazy.”

Dale’s legacy lives on in many ways, including through the #HawerchukStrong campaign. The charity organization, of which Eric is a prominent part, has partnered this year with Camp Firefly for a Jets “game-day experience” which sends children who are dealing with grief the chance to see the local club in a unique way.

Eric said there is also talk about starting a charity golf tournament this coming summer, with plans still to be finalized.

Around the glass

Speaking of Kovalchuk, the 41-year-old officially announced his retirement Friday.

He played his 926th and final NHL game in 2020 before heading back home to Russia to finish up in the KHL. The first-overall pick from 2001, who had 876 career points, skated in 20 games with Moscow Spartak last year but wasn’t with an organization this year.

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There’s no question things can get a little intense in the heat of the battle, such was the case on Tuesday night when the Jets hosted the New York Rangers.

J.T. Miller appeared to give Nikolaj Ehlers a bit of a jab with his stick — referees called it interference — and that had Ehlers incensed. He delivered a forceful slash to Miller’s midsection which had the veteran forward in some pain. Ehlers was given a minor penalty and definitely got his two minutes’ worth.

Turns out the incident led to some regrets, with Ehlers admitting Friday he reached out to Miller to apologize.

“I wasn’t too proud of myself for that one,” he confessed.

“It wasn’t meant to be that violent, if you want to put it that way. So yes, absolutely you want to stick up for yourself, you want to stick up for a teammate, that’s how it goes in the playoffs. But you can do it in different ways than what I did, and that’s something I want to work on.”

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Attend a Columbus Blue Jackets game and you better be prepared.

The club shoots off a cannon every time it scores which can catch fans and even players and coaches by surprise. Columbus has, quite literally, been making plenty of noise this year as it fights for an Eastern Conference playoff spot and sits seventh overall in goals with 3.28 per game.

Before facing the Blue Jackets on Thursday, Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said “I don’t want to hear that damn cannon all night.”

Turns out that wasn’t a problem — the visitors were the only ones who had a blast as they skated away with a 4-0 victory. No doubt Cassidy and company enjoyed the sound of silence.

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What the heck has gotten into Fabian Wagner?

The 20-year-old Swedish forward, who was selected by the Jets in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, has gone from ice cold to scorching hot when it comes to offence.

Consider this: Since hearing his name called by Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, Wagner appeared in 84 combined games in the Swedish men’s league and scored a grand total of one goal. He opted to leave his club team and head overseas to join the Manitoba Moose earlier this year, where he failed to score a goal in his first 31 games.

However, Wagner has now scored in four consecutive American Hockey League outings, with five goals in that span. Suddenly, he can’t be stopped. It just goes to show how confidence can be such a big weapon for an athlete, and right now Wagner is clearly feeling it.

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Best wishes to Carter Bear, the 18-year-old from West St. Paul who is considered one of the top prospects in the upcoming NHL draft.

He suffered a scary injury last week — reported to be a lacerated Achilles that required surgery — while playing for the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League. His team posted a message on social media Wednesday thanking medical staff from the Portland Winterhawks and Veterans Memorial Coliseum for their “quick response and support.”

Bear had 82 points (40G, 42A) in 56 games which leads his team and had him tied for 13th in league scoring. The 6’0, 177-pound forward was recently ranked as the No. 11 prospect among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, with most projections having him being selected at some point in the first round.

Hopefully this setback is just a temporary one for Bear and he can return stronger than ever.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld