Motown homecoming a big deal for Jets’ Michigan contingent

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This article was published 12/12/2019 (2097 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DETROIT — There are kids in Winnipeg darting around neighbourhood rinks and playing street hockey in Kyle Connor jerseys, a humbling thought for the dynamic Jets forward.

But Connor gets it; it wasn’t that long ago he’d pull on the red-and-white threads of his idol, Pavel Datsyuk, a star centre of the Detroit Red Wings for 14 seasons.

Connor was raised in Shelby Township, about 50 kilometres north of Detroit, and tried his best to mimic the slick moves of the diminutive Russian.

“Datsyuk, for sure. He was my favourite player growing up. I don’t think you were a fan of him just because you were from Detroit. He’s so skilled, and some of the things he could could do with the puck was just incredible. So, he was definitely someone I idolized,” Connor said Thursday, a few hours before the Jets faced off against the Wings in Detroit, the second half of a home-and-home that began with a 5-1 Jets victory Tuesday at Bell MTS Place.

“Growing up playing pond hockey, that’s for sure somebody that you tried to emulate your game after and be as creative as he is. That’s something I tried to model my game after.”

Connor never got a chance to play against Datsyuk in the NHL. Just as the Jets’ two-time 30-goal scorer was finishing up a year at the University of Michigan and about to turn pro, Datsyuk was wrapping up a remarkable career in Detroit, highlighted by a pair of Stanley Cups, before returning to Russia. He’s now in his fourth season in the KHL.

But the two met at the 2016 world championship in Moscow, after the Russians knocked off the U.S. in the bronze-medal game.

“It was pretty surreal, talking to him after the game,” said Connor.

Connor, who recently turned 23, is one of three Jets with Michigan roots. Dozens of family members and friends of Connor, Andrew Copp and Connor Hellebuyck were in the crowd at Little Caesars Arena Thursday night.

“They’re divided once we play the Wings. I’d like to think they’re all cheering for me but we’ve still got a lot of Wings fans,” joked Connor.

“We only play here once a year, so it’s pretty special. Seeing friends and family, a bunch of people in town, so it’s always cool for them, too, seeing them after the game. So I definitely cherish this one.”

Connor moved to Youngstown, Ohio, when he was in Grade 9 and tore up the USHL with the Phantoms to catch the attention of the Jets. Winnipeg selected him in the first round (17th overall) in the 2015 NHL draft, just before he joined the University of Michigan Wolverines.

A couple of Connor’s best buddies from his minor hockey days, Dylan Larkin and Brendan Perlini, are with the struggling Red Wings. The trio formed a deadly line for the Belle Tire bantam team that won a national championship in 2010-11.

“That was a good team. That was a fun line to be a part of, a lot of great memories,” said Connor.

Copp, from nearby Ann Arbour, was on the hook for about 35 tickets for his supporters Thursday. He also grew up a huge Red Wings fan.

“Yeah, definitely, and it was during their heyday, too. Cup runs in ’02 and ’08, we came to games. Not too often, just because of how busy we were, playing and stuff like that, but a couple of times of year we were at the Joe (Louis Arena),” said Copp, 24, who played three years at U of Michigan (2012-15). “I love the Joe. I wish the Joe was still around.

“(Steve) Yzerman and Datsyuk, those are probably the two guys. I don’t know if emulate is the right word for me, but just how successful they were and everything like that, their drive… those are the two guys I watched the most.”

Hellebuyck, 26, from Commerce, backed up Laurent Brossoit when the Jets played in Detroit last season but got the assignment from head coach Paul Maurice this time around.

Even the Winnipeg bench boss has strong ties to the Detroit area. He played and coached junior hockey in nearby Windsor, Ont., (1984-90) and spent another five years coaching the Detroit Junior Red Wings.

“There’s a lot of connections here between the young guys we have and the people that I’ve crossed paths with… it’s special. So, lots of family (and) a little extra boost, I’m sure, for the players. You get the really expensive run on your credit card for tickets, and you gotta win that game if you’re spending that much money,” said Maurice.

“The players that come out have been playing meaningful hockey, hard games, from the time they were eight years old. It’s a serious program, they take their hockey serious in Hockeytown. It’s a great environment for these young guys to grow up in.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell