Winnipeg Jets Notebook

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This article was published 03/12/2014 (4051 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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A Little closer to playing

BRYAN Little’s taken some bumps in his career, but none quite like the bruising point-blank shot he took off a knee last week against the Boston Bruins.

The good news is Little was back on the ice Tuesday, and made it through the whole Jets practice. “It’s gotten better each day,” Little said. “I’m kind of lucky to have four days between games, or else I don’t know if I would have been able to play right away. But it felt good on the ice today, so that’s a good sign.”

Though Little said he didn’t see why he wouldn’t be able to go on against the Oilers, Jets head coach Paul Maurice said they’d wait to make a formal decision until this morning. “With these kind of things, it’s how they come back tomorrow,” Maurice said of Little and of defenceman Toby Enstrom. “We’ll take a look at ’em tomorrow morning, make a decision… just wait 24 hours now, and we’ll see.”

 

Chiarot rides in

BEN Chiarot may get another crack at the show this week, as the Jets recalled the IceCaps’ 2013-14 defenceman of the year Tuesday afternoon.

The move brings some insurance to the Jets defence, as they moved battered blue-liner Toby Enstrom to the injured list, retroactive to Nov. 23. That was the last time Enstrom played in a game, though he believes he sustained his injury in a tilt against Detroit Nov. 20.

Enstrom did practise with the Jets Tuesday, though coaches and trainers were planning to wait to see if he’d be ready to go against Edmonton today. “I’ve been out for awhile, and I’m going to try to make it heal really good so I’ll be back and in good shape to play the rest of the year,” he said. “Today felt good, and I got through, so we’ll see how it feels tomorrow.”

Chiarot, 23, played in just one NHL game last season with the Jets, a Nov. 2 match against the Chicago Blackhawks. This year he has nine points and 21 penalty minutes in 24 games with the IceCaps.

 

Chase is in the hunt

ANOTHER Jets prospect will get a chance to shine in junior hockey’s biggest spotlight. Tuesday, USA Hockey announced Portland Winterhawks forward Chase De Leo was among 30 players to make their preliminary roster for the 2015 world junior championship. While the final roster won’t be decided until Dec. 24, just before the WJC kicks off, De Leo surely has a strong shot of making the team: he’s potted 15 goals and 18 assists in 27 games.

That makes five Jets prospects who have been formally invited to WJC preliminary rosters, after Hockey Canada invited De Leo’s teammate Nic Petan, goaltender Eric Comrie and defenceman Josh Morrissey to their selection camp, which will kick off Dec. 11. Pavel Kraskovsky has been named to the Russian Junior roster.

Having a pile of prospects battling to make the tournament will make for an electric atmosphere in the Jets’ player lounge, head coach Paul Maurice said. “The cheering that goes on for the home country, and then your own guys,” Maurice said. “It’s great to see as many young players at such a high level of competition… it’s a great opportunity for us to watch them.”