Trio has super time in Minneapolis on Super Sunday

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This article was published 05/02/2018 (2775 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three members of the Winnipeg Jets had a truly super Sunday.

Mark Scheifele, Andrew Copp and Jacob Trouba took advantage of an off-day and made the quick trip to Minneapolis to watch the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII.

“Unbelievable,” Scheifele said Monday following practice. “Obviously lucky that it was in Minnesota, we had a day off. I surprised my brother and my best friend with their Christmas gifts — they got to come to the Super Bowl. And then Copper and Troubs came, too. It’s definitely something to cross off the bucket list and something that I’ll never forget.”

They took an early morning flight, soaked up the atmosphere before and during the game, and then caught a late-night flight home.

Copp, a former high school quarterback in Michigan, said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” and marvelled at getting to watch New England quarterback Tom Brady in action — even if it was in a losing effort.

“It was a crazy game. There wasn’t much more Tom could have done — maybe catch the ball — but he was unbelievable,” Copp said. “I turned to (Trouba) a few times and it was just like, ‘Wow, he’s playing one of the best games of his career, probably.’ And then (Philadelphia quarterback Nick) Foles made some great throws, too, so it was definitely an entertaining back-and-forth game.”

Copp and Scheifele didn’t hide their rooting interests, sporting Brady jerseys. Trouba wore a Brady jersey from his Michigan days.

“We didn’t sit down the entire game. Our legs were burning after the first quarter. After every play, they get a five-yard run and we’re fist-pumping and high-fiving everyone around us,” Scheifele said. “The whole atmosphere, the building in Minnesota was beautiful, the fans were nuts, the whole atmosphere around the Super Bowl was unbelievable.”

Copp also weighed in on the most controversial issue of the game, saying he enjoyed Justin Timberlake’s halftime show and the video tribute to Prince.

“I really like Justin Timberlake. I think he’s really good, but they were facing the other way. But it was still cool. I think that’s one you’d rather watch on TV, though,” he said. “We were just kind of going for the fan experience, kind of turned into a fan for a day and enjoyed that side of it for sure.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @mikemcintyrewpg