Winnipeg skater busts through in Bigs

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This article was published 01/11/2021 (1674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SETH Jarvis waited eight games from the start of the season to make his NHL debut.

The delay made Sunday’s breakthrough even more satisfying for the 19-year-old Winnipegger, his parents, older brother and junior billet-parents, who were in the stands at PNC Arena as the Jarvis drew an assist on the winning goal and nearly scored himself as the Carolina Hurricanes posted a 2-1 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes Sunday afternoon.

The Hurricanes have won eight consecutive games to lead the league.

Jarvis, who has a year of major-junior eligibility remaining with the WHL’s Portland Winter Hawks, was inserted into the lineup when veteran forward Nino Niederreiter went down with a lower-body injury.

“The first thing that went through my mind was don’t fall on the puck or don’t toe-pick,” Jarvis told reporters, recalling the traditional solo warm-up lap for players making their NHL debut. “So after I got past that, I was just super excited. I think the fans were awesome. They were loud, everything I expected. So I had a great time and tons of fun.”

Seth’s dad Ray Jarvis, a high school vice-principal, and mom Tracey Shields-Jarvis, a primary school teacher, very nearly missed their son’s debut.

After getting word late Friday night that Seth would be playing in less than 48 hours, they rushed to make travel connections to Raleigh, N.C., only to be delayed on the ground in Toronto.

A Hurricanes employee met them at the Raleigh-Durham airport and got them to the rink just before puck drop. Son Kayden had arrived earlier in the day.

“They came to the airport to make sure that we were well taken care of and we got there in time, went through where we needed to get through and got our bums in our seats so that we could enjoy the moment,” said Ray Jarvis.

Seth had an anxious moment of his own.

“The first shift I was like, ‘Holy crap, I’m in the NHL,’” he said. “But then after that I caught my emotions and it was just another hockey game.”

Jarvis almost scored pouncing on a rebound and snapping a shot with Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka out of position only to have puck deflected out of harm’s way by Arizona’s Dmitrij Jaskin.

He finished the game with 10:01 of ice time, including 3:32 on Carolina’s second power-play unit.

“I don’t think it was nerve-racking (to watch),” said Ray Jarvis. “We were just so proud and so excited. My oldest son, he’s such a great brother. He had said when (Seth) did his little lap during warm-ups he had tears in his eyes and I know when he got the assist we were cheering and we both had tears in our eyes…

“It was just one of those moments where you’re just so thankful that he’s gotten this opportunity and he’s taken advantage of his shot.”

With Niederreiter out longer term, Jarvis should continue to get a chance to dazzle his employers.

Once he plays 10 NHL games, the clock begins to tick on his entry-level contract and he moves one year closer to free agency. The Hurricanes could decide to return him to the WHL before that happens or even allow him to play for Canada at the world junior hockey championship next month.

Hurricanes head coach Rob Brind’Amour was impressed with Jarvis’ cool demeanor.

“First game with no nerves at all. I think that’s what makes him special,” BrindAmour told the Raleigh News and Observer. “He’s out there at the end, on the power play and in big, huge moments making plays. It was a great game for him especially for a first one.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14