OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
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LADD LEARNS TO LEAD ANDREW LADD’S JOURNEY TO BEING OUR JETS CAPTAIN p.70
COACH NOEL’S GAMEDAY A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HEAD COACH p.50 IT HAD TO BE HOCKEY TOBY ENSTROM’S LIFE OF HOCKEY p.60
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OF THE MAGAZINE OFFICIAL JETS HOCKEY CLUB WINNIPEG
I NE T MAGA Z IN FL IG3HSE A SON: 2012 -1 E 3 ph y V OL UM D or ia n M or
g Ed it o r: W il ki ns on M a n a g in Ed it o r: An dr ew ud yc h A ss o ci a teg n Ed it o r: Jo sh D d G re en w oo A rt & D e si h & Je ss ie sh D ud yc Jo t: u yo La az uk ; to rs : C o n tr ib u ne ss y; Ch ri s K re vi K ri st i H enll y; D av e Sa lt er K al en Q ua p h y: oz ub ; P h o to g ra so n; Jo na th an K es ; H L Im ag er /N La nc e Th om ty et G b y; re at Tr av is G ol h; D an B oy ce & G m er ce ; C om Jo sh D ud yc am b er of Cl ub / Ch Y N , M as se na Ic eC ap s H oc ke y technic S t. Jo hn’s s; Rensselaer Polyocke y Club; Je ff ParsonMick Neal; MODO H Institut e/ympics Manit oba Special Ol y: P ri n te d bri n ti ng Lt d. K ro m ar P p o rt : P ri n t S u p ck P ri n t D av e’s Q ui b y: P ro d u ce d Sp or ts & Tr ue N or th en t Li m it ed En te rt ai nmm Av e. , 3 4 5 G ra haM an it ob a, R 3 C 5 S6 W in ni p eg Sp or ts & ue N or th © 20 13 Tr en t Li m it ed . nm ai rt En te . re se rv ed uc ed All ri gh ts b e re pr od n m ay no tt of th e io at ic bl Th is pu ri tt en co ns en w it ho u t wJe ts H oc ke y Cl ub . W in ni p eg C an ad a P ri n te d in
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BEHIND THE SCENES:
event staff
BY CHRIS KREVIAZUK • On the ice, the Winnipeg Jets
do their best to ensure that their fans have the best in-game experience possible. In nearly every other corner of the MTS Centre, that responsibility falls largely on the shoulders of the several hundred part time staff members who are enlisted to make Jets games run like a well-oiled machine. These staff members are stationed in a number of departments including 50/50, audio visual, box office, front of house (supervisors, ticket takers and ushers), food services, housekeeping, merchandising, operations, and security. When it comes to the efficiency of the Winnipeg Jets part time game day staff, the key is continuity. The bulk of the part time staff work at least every second game, with many working every single game of the season. On top of that, currently 95 of those individuals have been working hockey games at MTS Centre since the building opened in 2004.
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“We are fortunate that we have a low turnover rate,” says True North Payroll and HR Coordinator Jenna Appleyard. “We have a great group of part time staff that are dedicated, and have a good understanding of the end product.” The end product is a great fan experience, and this is achieved through not just quality of part time staff members, but also quantity. During a typical Manitoba Moose game, approximately 125 part time employees were required to deliver a positive game day experience for fans. With the Winnipeg Jets selling out the MTS Centre every night, that number jumps to over 300. One of the most vital and visable part time staff positions belong to the ushers in the arena bowl. “For the most part, our Jets game ushers have been here for a while and have proven themselves,” says True North Vice President of People and Patron Services Robert Thorsten. “They have a good knowledge of the facility which is important, and are friendly and professional. We are fairly selective as to who gets to do that job.”
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
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MY HOMETOWN
zach bogosian MASSENA, NEW YORK
GROWING UP IN MASSENA:
“Massena is quiet. It’s a pretty small town and takes about five minutes to get from one end to the other so it’s pretty small.”
“Hockey is pretty big there. The high school up there has a pretty good sports program. They had football, lacrosse and hockey, they had all the sports.”
“It’s right on the river so we get a lot of boats going through, a lot of big tankers. I have a house on the water so I spend a lot of time on the river.” “I grew up in the village but it’s only about two minutes from the river so we spent a lot of time in the water.” “There are a lot of outdoorsmen, a lot of boating, fishing and hunting. That’s where my passion came in for the outdoors. “
HOCKEY CULTURE IN MASSENA:
HIGH SCHOOL YEARS: “I went to prep school for ninth and tenth grade at Cushing Academy which was right along the Massachusetts border and then I went to play in Peterborough where I spent half a semester at the local high school. I did the rest of my high school on line and finished that way.”
FAVOURITE ACTIVITIES AT HOME? “My favourite hobby is hunting. I’m not a big fisherman; I know a lot more about hunting then fishing. I hunt every season, deer, turkey, waterfowl, everything. I’m not the greatest, but I love being out in the outdoors and taking in the whole experience.” “I also like camping, I do it at least twice a summer. When you live in Massena, it’s pretty much like camping because it’s such a small town so you’re out in the middle of nowhere most of the time. I did a lot of camping when I was younger with my parents when I could get away.”
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IMAGES COURTESY OF : GETTY IMAGES/NHLI; DAN BOYCE & GREATER MASSENA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BY KRISTI HENNESSY In this edition we take a trip to Massena, NY with a population of 12,883 and the home of Zach Bogosian. Settled in 1792, it’s on the Northern US border and is nicknamed “The Gateway to the Fourth Coast”. The north town line of Massena is the international border of Canada, defined partly by the St. Lawrence River.
“I have a house on the water so I spend a lot of time on the river.”
FAVOURITE HANGOUT SPOT?
HOCKEY IDOLS GROWING UP:
“The local restaurant/bar is called ‘Coaches Corner’ and is run by a family friend so I usually run into a lot of people I know there. There’s also a place called TNT’s that’s kind of a hot spot in Massena. There are not many of them but I usually try to hit them all up.”
“Chris Chelios because he’s American and he’s a defenseman and I loved the way he played. I also got the chance to meet Scott Stevens when I was younger when he won the Stanley Cup, so that’s something I’ll always remember. I went to his cup party, and I played with his nephew.”
WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT MASSENA? “85% of my family lives there, whether its aunts, uncles, or cousins, they all live in Massena. I’d say just being away from my parents, my brothers, and my grandparent’s is what I miss most. I go back every summer and spend most of the summer there. The last couple summers I haven’t been there as much, I’ve been in Winnipeg but it’s a good getaway to get home and see my family.” THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
PASSION FOR HIS DOGS: “I have a big soft spot for dogs, I love them. I have a German Shepard named Max and a Chocolate Lab named Tuck. Tuck is out field training for bird hunting, so I haven’t seen him for a while. I’d say I’m closer to my German Shepard; I’ve spent a lot more time with him since Tuck has been away at training. He’s one of the bright spots in my life, when I’m around him we’re attached at the hip. I just love him so much.” 11
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IN THE COMMUNITY
going into overtime
HOCKEY ACADEMY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM BLURS THE LINE BETWEEN THE RINK AND THE CLASSROOM By CHRIS KREVIAZUK • The Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation has found an effective way to keep approximately 200 students physically and mentally occupied in those evening hours after school when boredom, lethargy and the potential to get into trouble are often present. Enter the Hockey Academy After School Program, which targets students from grades four to seven from seven different Winnipeg schools – all in the St. James area. Once a week after the school day ends – either Monday or Friday - students are bussed and supervised by Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy staff from their schools to a nearby arena where they get to play the game of hockey. “Students will get 45 minutes on the ice, and for the most part it’s just small games like tag and scrimmages,” says Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation Executive Director Dwayne Green. “We usually have at least four on-ice instructors, and at least two off-ice people helping with equipment adjustments and anything else needed.” On Mondays, groups of students from four different schools will have their ice time at Vimy Arena or Sargent Park Arena. On Fridays, four other groups from different schools have the MTS Iceplex as their home rink. After the on-ice portion of the evening is complete the students are delivered back to their schools where Hockey Academy staff members help them with their studies. “Our staff will visit the schools of the students and for 35-45 minutes we will supply them with academic support,” says Green. “We have on average four staff members who will help them with their homework if that’s what the school wants us to do on that particular night. On other nights we have our own subjects created by (Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy School Liason) Corey Coker that we teach the kids, in areas including goal setting, nutrition and character building.” The final element of the evening program consists of a quality meal for each of the students after a hard day’s work. “We’ll bring them hot meals like chili and bannock, or chicken and vegetable stir fry that we pick up from Diversity Food Services at U of W,” says Green. The first year of the Hockey Academy After School Program is nearly in the books, and there has been a lot of progression in the students on the ice, and in the classroom.
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“Well over 90% of the kids attend the After School Program every time,” says Green. “And you think about a Friday for a child in middle school - to have them willing to stay until 7pm - that says a lot for the program, and it says a lot for their dedication to the program. A lot of these students have a lot of other options, and they are choosing to stay for our program, so that’s important to us. From this we know it’s having a positive impact.”
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
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IMAGES COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES/NHLI
MY ROAD
chris thorburn
1998-99 ELLIOT LAKE: ELLIOT LAKE ICE, NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION.
“It was about two hours from my hometown, between the cities of Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario. That’s where it all started. I had a great coach and was there with a great buddy from my hometown, Craig Kennedy. That process helped me get used to living away from home and where my hockey career took off.”
1999-02 NORTH BAY ONTARIO: NORTH BAY CENTENNIALS, ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE. Thorburn played three seasons with the Centennials. He tallied 12 goals and 8 assists in 56 games in his rookie season. In his third season he improved to 15 goals and 43 assists for a 58-point season in 67 games.
2002-03: North Bay Centennials moved to Saginaw and became the Spirit. Midway through that season, Thorburn was traded to Plymouth where he finished his junior career with the Plymouth Whalers. He combined for 30 goals and 71 points with the two teams that season. “I learned a lot in my junior career. I always had good coaches throughout that taught me how to be a pro and always had good teammates too. That definitely helped me mature quicker and got me more pro-ready for the AHL and eventually the NHL.”
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INTERVIEW BY KRISTI HENNESSY
NHL DRAFT 2001: SELECTED IN THE 2ND ROUND, 50TH OVERALL BY THE BUFFALO SABRES IN 2001 IN SUNRISE, FLORIDA “I had about 40 family members down there, I was pretty lucky to have a family that really supported me and just helped me throughout my entire career. So they were all there and we made it kind of a vacation. It was a long day but when my name got selected it was definitely worth it and I was just happy I was able to spend that moment with so many great family members. It was something I’ll never forget. It was definitely a day where my dream came true.”
2003-06 ROCHESTER, NY: ROCHESTER AMERICANS, AHL “It was tough, obviously the game was faster and the guys were bigger and stronger but my coach there really evolved my game from junior where I wasn’t a huge point guy but I was a guy looked to for putting up numbers. When I got to pro I started out that way but my coach sat me down and because of my size said, I needed to bring a more physical element. Luckily I did, I think that caught the eye of not only Buffalo but, when they sent me down, Pittsburgh claimed me off of waivers. I owe a lot to him for helping me develop my game into what it is now.”
2005-06 BUFFALO, NY: BUFFALO SABRES, FIRST NHL GAME AND FIRST NHL POINT. “It was in Buffalo against the San Jose Sharks and Joe Thornton had just been traded there from Boston. It was awesome. I grew up watching Thornton play for the Greyhounds in my hometown so it was pretty neat playing against him and obviously being my first NHL game there was a lot of emotions going on. It was something I’ll never forget. The next game I got my first point against Colorado.”
2006-07 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS, NHL “Going from Pittsburgh, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was up there for the first 39 games and then we picked up Gary Roberts and Georges Laraque at the trade deadline, which took me out of the lineup. They kept me around, I was part of the team and was able to learn the process and how the NHL works and I’m appreciative of that. That summer at the draft, I was traded to Atlanta and that’s where my career took off.”
2007-11 ATLANTA, GEORGIA: ATLANTA THRASHERS, NHL. TRADED FROM PITTSBURGH PENGUINS TO ATLANTA THRASHERS FOR ROUND 3 PICK IN THE 2007 DRAFT. “It started off not so much as a big role, but a couple years in I established myself as a penalty killer, had a couple shorthanded goals and put up some points. I learned that I could survive in this league playing this kind of role so it was something I took a lot of pride in.”
2011-PRESENT WINNIPEG, MANITOBA: WINNIPEG JETS, NHL “They are totally different markets. Atlanta wasn’t so much of the traditional hockey market, we had some support but doesn’t compare to Winnipeg as far as they way people live and die hockey, which is something very cool to be a part of.”
“
WE HAD SOME SUPPORT BUT DOESN’T COMPARE TO WINNIPEG AS FAR AS THEY WAY PEOPLE LIVE AND DIE HOCKEY. THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
”
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UP HERE, HOCKEY IS A WAY OF LIFE.
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ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
2 TICKETS TO THE GAME • AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THE PRE-GAME WARM-UP FROM THE WINNIPEG JETS PLAYER BENCH • A WINNIPEG JETS HOME JERSEY • AN APPEAREANCE ON THE MTS CENTRE SCORE CLOCK DURING THE PRE-GAME SKATE Parents can enter on behalf of their kids (ages 5 to 11). For full contest details and to enter, go to: PrairieToyota.ca/TrainerForADay Contest closes April 15, 2013
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HOCKEY CRAFT
FACEOFFS WITH
Jim Slater BY CHRIS KREVIAZUK
FEB. 19 AT BUFFALO, 8:28PM CST: Jim Slater has seen Cody Hodgson in the faceoff circle three times tonight. He’ll see him one more time, down in the Jets zone to Ondrej Pavelec’s left with seven seconds left on a score clock that reads 2-1 in favour of the Jets. The Jets’ savvy veteran centre has a good idea of what to expect from his young Sabres counterpart, and will use this knowledge to win a crucial faceoff that will allow the Jets to hold on for a narrow 2-1 road victory.
“THAT PARTICULAR DRAW WAS A BATTLE OF STRENGTH VERSUS STRENGTH.” “(Hodgson) had beaten me a couple times in the first period on our zone so I knew what he was going to do,” says Slater. “He was on his strong side – his backhand – and so was I. I really trust myself on that side, because it allows me to get a lot of strength. That particular draw was a battle of strength versus strength. I knew that if I got the puck back to my team we should win the game. I saw where his stick was, got my stick underneath his and swiped the puck back.” 20
IMAGES COURTESY: GETTY IMAGES/NHLI
Tips from the Pro
STRATEGY • “I like to get a really wide stance, which provides a good base for
power and balance. If my opponent is bigger or stronger than me, I try to beat them with quickness, or a stick-check, which is when you slap their stick out of the way before trying to pull the puck back to your team. Or if I feel I can beat my opponent clean (if they are not as strong as me, or I’ve been beating them all night) I’ll try to swipe under their stick.”
OBSERVE YOUR OPPONENT
• “What you’re looking at is where they’re lined up, and where their players are lined up,” says Slater. “Figure out where your opponent is trying to send the puck – straight back through their legs, back and to the left, or back and to the right. Also look to see where their stick placement is, and where their hands are on their stick.”
THINGS TO REMEMBER
• “Wingers are important,” says Slater. “You don’t always win the faceoff clean so sometimes you need your wingers to come in and pick up the puck.”
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
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NAME THAT JET!
1. He is part Norwegian ANSWER ON PAGE 79 2. He was drafted in 2003 3. He has been a Cougar and an Admiral 4. He has spent time with Stanley and in the presence of Stars 5. He is the opposite of teammate Bryan
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
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PROSPECT PROFILE
JASON KASDORF BY KRISTI HENNESSY
Position: Goalie Height: 6’04 Weight: 175 Shoots: Left Born: May 18, 1992 Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba Current Team: R.P.I. (ECAC) Drafted: Selected by Winnipeg Jets in round 6, #157 overall in 2011 NHL Draft. Jason Kasdorf is a Winnipeg Jets sixth round draft selection (157th overall), of the 2011 NHL Draft. The freshman goaltender plays for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. Coming off of an impressive breakout season with the RPI Engineers, his performance has hardly gone unnoticed. At the end of the regular season, he exhibited a 13-3-2 record, including three shutouts, posted a 1.51 GAA and had a .940 save percentage. He was selected as the ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week three times including the last week of the season and was voted Goaltender of the Month and Rookie of the Month after a stellar February. “It’s extremely special for me,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to play a whole lot this year and now getting to play and getting these honours has been really special, but a big part of it is my team. They’ve been great in front of me so it’s almost like a team award because they’ve been doing really well.” The 20-year-old Winnipeg-native started playing hockey at five years old and found himself between the pipes three years later, and never looked back. 24
“I grew up in the North Kildonan area playing on the outdoor rinks. I remember it being freezing cold and you’d have to go inside to warm up during the game.
Parents would be standing around in snow banks watching us. That was one of my earliest and best memories.
“When I was eight years old, my older cousin was a goalie, so I asked him if I could try being a goalie once. He said yes so I tried it, and loved it ever since.” Kasdorf joined the Portage Terriers of the MJHL (Manitoba Junior Hockey League) in 2009-10. In 2010-11, he and his teammates enjoyed an exceptional season capturing the MJHL title. They moved on to defeat the Saskatchewan La Ronge in a seven-game Anavet Cup series to earn a berth in the RBC Cup championship tournament.
IMAGES COURTESY OF R.P.I. HC/MICK NEAL; GETTY IMAGES/NHLI
After that season, he made the decision he was going to take the collegiate route after playing one year with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In 201112 he went 10-16-3 with a .913 save percentage in 35 contests. “I felt that college gives you more time to develop, and usually goalies take a little longer to develop,” he said. “If I was playing major junior, this would be my last year and I didn’t know if I’d be ready after this year so I thought having this extra time would be a good thing and getting some school done would be a good thing too. “There were a few different schools that I was looking at but RPI’s head coach is also their goalie coach and has a developed some good goalies so I thought that he could really help my game. Also, THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
the school itself is a really good school academically and I just thought overall, this would be the best place for me.” His decision looks like it was a good one as the 6’4”, 175-pound goaltender is coming off of his best season so far. He attributes a lot of his success to confidence. “Having confidence in your team is huge,” he said. “I really trust my team that they’re going to do their job and they trust me that I’ll do my job, so I can just focus on stopping the puck. We have a good thing going right now.”
“I know that there are areas of my game that I need to develop yet,” said Kasdorf. “I just have to keep working on my game. I’m not looking too far ahead; I’m just focusing on what I’m doing now. “It would be a dream come true, to play in the NHL, I’ve dreamt about it since I was a kid. Now that the Jets are actually back and they drafted me, it would be pretty amazing.
Kasdorf attended the Winnipeg Jets development camp last July. He roomed with Connor Hellebuyck, another Jets goaltender prospect who was drafted in the fifth round (130th overall), of the 2012 NHL Draft. “Camp was tons of fun, I learned a lot,” he said. “It was good to be around the other prospects, just getting to meet them and see how they train. Hellebuyck was my roommate. I really liked him. He’s a good guy and we got along really well, we still text each other once in awhile.” Kasdorf realizes that although the dream of playing in the NHL for his home team might be an arms-length away, he still has a bit of work to do.
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ICECAPS UPDATE
diamonds in the rough
IT’S BEEN A TOUGH SEASON FOR THE ST. JOHN’S ICECAPS BUT NO ONE CAN FAULT THE EFFORTS OF THREE YOUNG WINNIPEG JETS PROSPECTS. BY DAVE SALTER
Centremen Eric O’Dell (6-5-11) and Kael Mouillierat (2-911) have combined for 22 points in the IceCaps’ last eight games and are second and third respectively, in team scoring. During that span, O’Dell scored six goals and now sits first on the club with 18 this season. Mouillierat’s 21 assists are tied for tops on the team. Not be outdone, Netminder Eddie Pasquale – who starred in last season’s playoffs – is arguably the team’s most valuable player. O’Dell, a six-foot, 198-pounder has become the club’s go-to player, particularly in the second half of the season. The 28
22-year-old’s exploits have drawn praise from veteran captain Jason Jaffray. “O’Dell has made huge strides,” Jaffray told the St. John’s Telegram. “The start of the year, first few games, he was a healthy scratch. Who would think he’d be our leading goal-scorer and the guy we look to score big goals at big moments? “Give him credit, he’s that guy right now.” A second-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2008, O’Dell was dealt to the Atlanta Thrashers a year later for Erik Christiansen. As a member of the Sudbury Wolves, O’Dell played in two OHL all-star games and was a member of Canada’s gold-
“WHO WOULD THINK HE’D BE OUR LEADING GOAL-SCORER AND THE GUY WE LOOK TO SCORE BIG GOALS AT BIG MOMENTS?” medal world under-18 team in 2008. The Ottawa native collected 100 goals and 107 assists in 198 games during his three-plus years in the OHL. Mouillierat’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. A December callup from Idaho of the ECHL, the 25-year-old has collected 28 points in 36 games. The former Texas Star and Bridgeport Sound Tiger was recently a candidate for AHL player of the week when he back-to-back games of four assists and a goal and two assists. “He is making 100 per cent the most of his ice time, “Coach Keith McCambridge told the Telegram recently. “He can be a top six guy or a bottom six guy.” Mouillierat posted 14 goals in 19 games with Idaho early this season to catch the attention of St. John’s brass who signed him to a PTO on December 6th. A month-and-a-half later he was offered to a full-time AHL contract for the remainder of the season. Undrafted out of Minnesota State University-Mankato, Mouillierat credits a positive attitude for much of his success. “Confidence is definitely huge. You just have to believe in yourself,” he says. “I always did believe I would get back to this level at some point and hopefully move on to the next level (NHL) one day. Nothing good happens with a negative attitude.” THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
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“A FAN FAVOURITE, CHANTS OF ‘EDDIE, EDDIE’ BECAME COMMONPLACE.”
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Eddie” became commonplace at Mile One Centre last season when Pasquale led the IceCaps to the Eastern Conference finals. Named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in 2011-12, Pasquale posted a 2.41 goals against average in 38 regular-season games. The 22-year-old then carried the load in the playoffs recording a 2.42 goals against average in 15 games. The fourth-round pick of the Thrashers in 2009, Pasquale has already equaled last season’s games played (38) and shutout (four) marks and his save percentage is virtually the same as well despite the team’s struggles defensively.
IMAGES COURTESY OF ST.JOHN’S ICECAPS HC/JEFF PARSONS
Although Mouillierat is known for his offence, he has become a dependable player at both ends of the ice for the IceCaps. “I’ve always taken pride in being an allaround player,” says Mouillierat. “I just try to be responsible. I want to be a guy that Keith can count on at any time in the game…whether that’s blocking shots or taking hits to make plays or just doing whatever it takes to be responsible defensively, that’s what I try to do.” When the offensively-challenged IceCaps have been successful this season Pasquale has usually played a prominent role. A fan favourite, chants of “Eddie,
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“I WOULDN’T BE AFRAID TO USE HIM, THAT’S FOR SURE,” SAID NOEL, AT THE TIME. “HE’S EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HERE. THE DOOR IS OPEN.” Pasquale’s steady play has not gone unnoticed by Jets brass, who recalled him to the big club in mid-February to replace injured Winnipeg back-up Al Montoya. Although he didn’t play during the stint, coach Claude Noel was confident in the youngster’s ability. “I wouldn’t be afraid to use him, that’s for sure,” said Noel, at the time. “He’s earned the right to be here. The door is open.” 32
Former IceCaps teammate Zach Redmond also sang Pasquale’s praises after the recall. “During the playoff run we went on last year, I couldn’t imagine there was a better goalie in the league at that time,” said Redmond. “I’ve said since then that he deserves a shot. He’s way more than capable of being up here. It’s just a matter of time”
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DAYWITH COACH A
CLAUDE NOEL’S GAMEDAY
On Thursday February 28, 2013,
BY KRISTI HENNESSY & JOSH DUDYCH
the Winnipeg Jets squared off against the New Jersey Devils at MTS Centre. That night, for approximately three hours, whether at that game, or watching on TSN Jets, you would’ve seen a Jets team that crashed and banged its way to a hard fought 3-1 victory. What you didn’t see was the hours of gameday preparation leading up to that game by the man at the centre of the action, Jets Head Coach Claude Noel. InFlight Magazine was allowed a glimpse into the beehive of activity in the Jets dressing room on a typical gameday to see how Noel prepares himself and his troops for battle.
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6:30am-7:00am: Coach Noel arrives at the rink to begin his game day preparation with the assistant coaches. “I just make sure that I have everything together. Usually I’m watching some form of tape versus the opponent to see how they’re being coached. I look at the lines to see who the dangerous line is, how the coach handles his bench. How he matches lines or doesn’t match lines, and who he puts out after power plays and penalty kills, so you know what’s coming.”
8:30am: Noel watches the power play and penalty kill tape with Perry Pearn and the other coaches to review what the presentation is going to be to the players. 9:30am: After the players arrive at the MTS Centre, the coaching staff conducts their power play and penalty kill meeting.
10:10am: Noel shares a lighter moment with Left Winger Evander Kane prior to the Pre-Game Morning Skate
10:25am: Suited up and ready to head onto the ice for Pre-Game Morning Skate, Noel stops for one last personal ritual. “Coaches chew gum on the bench but it was really hard on my jaw so the dentist told me to stop. I don’t like chewing ice either. The only reason I chew Halls is because they last, not because I like them and I like to twirl them around. Usually I’ll go through two a period. I’ve done it for so many years.”
“I talk to them about a lot of different things. I might be showing them video clips from the game before, asking them how things are going, how their energy is, and it might just be small talk conversation. There’s no guideline. I think it’s important to talk to the players about just anything, to make contact with them and let them know that you’re alive and you’re a human. “Otherwise, as coaches, we have a tendency to always be buried in video because you can always forever be watching video and be forever working. I think what you have to enable your coaches to do is to speak more with the players and have more of a relationship with the players. “It’s way different, the relationship the players have with the head coach compared to an assistant coach. The assistant coach is more of a white-hat guy; he can have way more casual conversation, which is helpful to the players. From my standpoint, I’d be more of the black-hat guy but you still have to make a personal relationship with them.” 51
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10:30am-11:15 am: Pre-Game Morning Skate “You have to manage what drills you want to run during pre-game skate, and how does it pertain to the game? Also, who’s managing the extra players? As a head coach, you have to oversee everything so you do a lot of managing personnel more than anything. “In reality, game day routine doesn’t really start on game day it starts the day or two before. The day before we start the pre-scout for the team you’re going to play. We have four coaches that do the pre-scout, three assistants and myself. We watch one or two games back of the other team and prepare video to show roughly a three-minute clip of what we need to do, what they do and ways that we can exploit them and take advantage of a game plan that enables us to win.”
11:30am: Noel meets with the on-air broadcast media to comment on and discuss potential talking points for colour commentary during the game that night. 11:10am: Getting off the ice, Noel stops to greet some of the media, on their way to player interviews in the dressing room.
11:15am: Noel receives his media briefing, including an update on Zach Redmond’s injury and recovery status, and other gameday storylines in the media prior to his morning media availability. THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
11:45am: Morning press conference in the Matt Frost Media Centre. “After I do the media stuff, I’ll go back to my desk and clean up a bit and maybe finish watching a bit more video. I’m also always talking to the people above me, weather that’s Chevy or the assistant GM or trainers. You’re always trying to stay on top of things like the injuries and the conditioning, it’s never ending. That’s what comes with the job, you just have to manage it somehow.” 53
12:30pm: Noel leaves the rink to head home for some lunch and a short rest. “I usually go home and have a little rest, about a half hour to 40 minutes. Then I get dressed and come back to the rink. I leave the house at 3:15 pm and arrive at the rink at 3:30-3:40pm.”
3:40pm: Noel arrives back at the MTS Centre to get into the mindset of the game. He fills out his lineup card for the game of who’s in and who’s out, and ties up loose ends before the puck drop. “It’s more serious at that time. Your mood changes, you’re more intense, you’re more focused. You’ve had a little rest and you’re more focused on what’s going to take place in the game. “A lot of the time you’re talking to players just making sure that nothing was missed from the morning skate or if there’s something you’ve seen in the video that might help them. You don’t coach too much before the game; you try to leave them alone, but just ways to help them really.” 5:20pm: Goaltender Coach Wade Flaherty provides the other coaches with a last minute update on some strategic information for the game.
5:00pm: Noel records his pre-game interview with TSN’s Sara Orlesky prior to the evening’s broadcast.
5:30pm: Noel presents a three minute video to the players in the video room and goes over the game-plan. “After the meeting you have time to gather your thoughts and fill out your card if you haven’t already done so, tie up loose ends, close the door and have time to think. Sometimes I’ll watch whatever game is on TV. “The coaches try to grab a bite to eat at 5:45pm or else we’re eating really late. Before you know it, it’s 6:30 and warm up has started, and now you’re getting ready to go.”
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6:30pm: Noel goes out to the bench to watch the players warm up. “You figure out who the starting lineup is going to be and who they’re starting if you’re at home. Then, I think about what are some of the encouraging words you might talk to your team about before we go out.” 6:52pm: Noel delivers his Pre-Game Speech. “The clock in the dressing room is the same as the one on the score board. When there is eight minutes left, that’s when I go into the room to talk to the players, it’s just routine, so they know when I’m in there.” 7:00PM: Game Time. 15,003 fans watch Stacy Nattrass sing the national anthems as their Winnipeg Jets are ready to take on the New Jersey Devils, at MTS Centre. 9:45pm: After a hard-fought victory, the Winnipeg Jets players are available for media in the Dressing Room. “When the game is over, there is very little time to manage. What people don’t realize is how little you talk to your team. The media comes in right away. The players have eight minutes to get out of their stuff and deal with media. If I talk to them for a minute, I’d be lucky.” 10:15pm: Noel receives final briefings from his coaches and trainers for the day. “Sometimes I’ll meet with the staff about what we want to do the next day and move forward. The trainer will come to me before I go home and find out who’s healthy and who’s not. Who’s banged up and if we need to call up anybody.” 10:45pm: Noel’s game day is done. He heads home to regroup for the next day. “By the time you get home you’re tired because you’re been through an emotional roller-coaster all day, that’s the draining part. You have to get up in the morning and do it all over again. You watch the game back and start again.”
Intermissions: “Between periods is quite busy because there is a lot of emotion. We have two stations that you can watch video so one guy can watch special teams and another can watch other things. We have a lot of dialogue in what we need to do better who’s going, and who’s not going. “It gives you about seven minutes to manage what repairs or what type of changes you’re going to make to your team. Do you have to motivate them, consider changing lines or matchups etc., so you talk to your staff a lot. “We then get the between period game sheets and we look at the stats to see if there are any issues like length of shifts, then talk to your team with eight minutes to go and then you leave them alone. We go back out there and do it again. “Somewhere in there, you have to gather your thoughts and gather your emotions because sometimes your emotions are not very good.” Managing the game: Some of the toughest managing for the coach is during game action. Noel must keep his eyes peeled at all times watching everything that goes on, at every moment. “People always wonder why I don’t smile behind the bench, it’s because I’m thinking and focused and watching the game. I’ve got to keep my eyes on the ice and who’s coming off their bench and stuff like that. There’s a lot going on that people don’t realize. My brain is going 100 miles and hour.”
9:45pm -10:00pm: Noel postgame press conference in the Matt Frost Media Centre. THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
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FROZEN IN TIME Olli Jokinen limbers up on the bench during warmup before helping the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday March 14, 2013 at MTS Centre.
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PHOTO: JON KOZUB
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BY CHRIS KREVIAZUK
ACTIONS
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Growing up in the small town of Nordingra, the options for a young, restless, and athletic Swede were limited. Enstrom was essentially given the choice between cross-country skiing and ice hockey. As he recounted, he made that decision quite clear. In fact, each of Enstrom’s four siblings (two younger brothers – Tommy and Thomas, one older sister – Therese, and younger sister Tina) all made the same choice. Therese is the only of the four siblings who is not currently playing competitive hockey in Sweden. The lone Enstrom sibling playing in North America, Toby, claims that he didn’t have a favourite player or team growing up. He simply loved being active and hockey fulfilled that need. His natural ability carried him quickly through the hockey ranks in Nordingra before his career progressed to the point that he had to leave the small town for further competition.
“I moved to Ornskoldsvik when I was 15,” says Enstrom. “I went to a hockey academy school called MODO where you play hockey in the mornings, and go to regular school classes in the afternoon. I played two years with the MODO under-18 team, then a year with the under-20 team, and then I got the chance to play in the Swedish Elite League when I was only 17.” Enstrom quickly made the most of his opportunity to play at the highest level in Sweden. The 17-year-old garnered rookie of the year honours while playing against men up to twice his age. “It was a good year for me,” says Enstrom. “I came in at the right time. The team was struggling at the beginning of the year. We didn’t really have many good signings in the summer and we had some injuries on defence, so my opportunity was right there, and I took it. The was kind of the turning point for me. From then on things have been moving smoothly.”
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Enstrom was drafted late in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. He was chosen in the eighth round, 239th overall. Following that, Enstrom felt pressure to leave Sweden for the pro game in North America but was unsure about leaving the country he’d learned to play. “I liked it back home,” says Enstrom. “We had a great group of guys and the city was pretty similar to Winnipeg - a lot of fans, and they love hockey. We had a good team year after year. Atlanta pushed me to come over every year but I just felt like I liked it at home and I wasn’t really ready to leave in the beginning.” The smooth-skating defenceman would go on to play a total of five seasons for MODO of the Swedish Elite League winning the championship in his final season in 2006-07 while leading all playoff scorers with 11 assists. At that point, he felt it was time take on the challenge of playing in the NHL. Enstrom joined the Thrashers for the start of the 2007-08 season, and the adjustment was quick as he registered an assist in only his second game of the season. Then nine games into his NHL career, he scored his first goal.
“My first goal was against Vesa Toskala (of the Toronto Maple Leafs),” says Enstrom. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I was coming down the right side and got a drop pass from (Ilya) Kovalchuk. I snuck it under (Toskala’s) arm.” The early offence was just a sign of things to come as the talented Swede registered 38 points while playing all 82 games in that first season. He put up 30 and 50 points in his next two years, respectively. Then an important trade in the summer of 2010 brought to the franchise defending Stanley Cup champion Dustin Byfuglien, who has been a fixture to Enstrom’s right ever since. With the Blackhawks, Byfuglien was converted to forward for awhile and made a habit of wreaking havoc in opponent’s goal creases.
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WINNIPEG JETS HOCKEY CLUB
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“I don’t remember playing against him, and I’m glad for that,” says Enstrom, who officially gives up seven inches and 85 lbs. to his current defensive partner. “I would not want to battle him in front of the net. He is a great, great hockey player.” The defensive duo has been the Jets’ top pairing since the beginning of the 201011 season, and each player has enjoyed considerable success since being united. In fact, they were both chosen for the 2011 NHL All-star game.
“We were paired up right away (when Byfuglien arrived from Chicago) and everything clicked right away,” says Enstrom. “The way we think the game is similar. We both like to play a fun and entertaining game.”
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IMAGES COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES/NHLI; MODO HC
Enstrom enjoys having Byfuglien around off the ice too, as the Roseau, Minnesota native is known as something of a prankster in Winnipeg Jets circles. “You need guys like that,” says Enstrom. “Every team does. When things are not moving well, you need guys that can make the group relax a little bit more and have some fun. Buff is one of those guys and I’m very happy to have him on my team on the ice and off.” When reflecting on what has caused him to get to the level that he is at today, Enstrom points to family as the number one reason. He used that bond to recharge before the current NHL season got underway. “I have to mention my mom and dad,” says Enstrom. “My whole family means a lot to me, and has meant a lot to me throughout my whole career. During the lockout I spent a lot of time in Nordingra. My parents just built a house by the ocean, so it was nice spending time with them, and being at home with all my family around me.”
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70
ANDREW LADD STOOD ON THE DOORSTEP OF THE CAROLINA NET IN FRONT OF HURRICANES GOALTENDER CAM WARD, AND BATTED A FORTUITOUS REBOUND INTO THE YAWNING CAGE TO GIVE HIS JETS A 3-2 LEAD. THE JETS WOULD GO ON TO WIN THAT FEBRUARY 21ST GAME AT PNC ARENA – LADD’S 500TH IN THE NHL. Eight and a half years earlier – and in the very same building Ladd stood on the doorstep of a successful NHL career that has seen him lift two Stanley Cups, and since don the ‘C’ for the Winnipeg Jets. On June 26, 2004, Andrew Ladd heard his name called fourth overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes traded up from the eighth spot for the right to take the Calgary Hitmen star in their hometown draft. From an NHL standpoint, that summer day was the first step in Ladd’s progression to becoming one of the premier leaders in the game today.
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After beginning the 2005-06 season with the AHL’s Lowell Lock Monsters, Ladd found himself up with the big club in Carolina by seasons end. He appeared in 29 games with the Hurricanes during the regular season, however it was the 17 playoff games in the spring of 2006 that immediately altered the course of his young NHL career. The veteran-laden Hurricanes went on a run, winning the Stanley Cup and showing the young native of Maple Ridge, B.C. what it took to achieve the ultimate prize in hockey. “That was the perfect team for me to start my NHL career with,” says Ladd. “Each and every one of those guys showed up every day and led by how they worked on the ice, and off the ice. As a young guy coming into the league, that was a great example to see. That’s how you’re going to reach success. To have that example in my first year still sticks with me to this day.” The 2006 Hurricanes won the Cup with talent, veteran leadership and strong goaltending. Just as important as all of those attributes was the fact that they were regarded as one of the physically best-conditioned teams in the NHL.
“AS A YOUNG GUY COMING INTO THE LEAGUE YOUR EYES ARE WIDE OPEN AND YOU’RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP AND IT HAS KIND OF STUCK WITH ME EVER SINCE.” “It was all about showing up and working hard,” says Ladd. “Those were some of the toughest practices I’ve ever had, and the pace that those guys set was unbelievable. As a young guy coming into the league your eyes are wide open and you’re just trying to keep up and it has kind of stuck with me ever since.” Ladd was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007-08. After toiling in the bottom part of the NHL standings for several years prior to Ladd’s arrival, the Blackhawks were filled with young players ready to take the next step in their careers, and Ladd was no exception. Two years later, the fifth-year pro had his second Stanley Cup – more than most players can dream of in an entire career. 72
In the aftermath of that 2010 championship, Ladd was on the move again – this time to the Atlanta Thrashers. Early in his first season with the club, he was named Captain. Leading by example, Ladd put up the best offensive numbers of his career, posting 59 points in the 2010-11 season. However, his greatest display of leadership was saved for off the ice. When the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg in the summer of 2011, it was Ladd who made the first trip to the Manitoba capital to check out the club’s new surroundings, and sign a long-term deal with the team. He then made sure to contact teammates and let them know that this was an environment that they would love to be a part of. “I thought it was important to come in and check out the city and the organization, for myself and to be able to let teammates know what the situation was like,” says Ladd. “It was important to know how the organization would be run, and to be able to pass that along to the guys. To sit and talk face-to-face with Mark Chipman, Craig Heisinger and Kevin Cheveldayoff was huge. Immediately I was comfy with what was going on here, and it was a no-brainer for me to want to be here for a long time.”
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At the age of 27, Ladd had a healthy perspective gained from being part of two winning organizations, which directly contributed to his growing leadership skills. The scope of his perspective would increase even more in January of 2013, when he and his wife Brandy would welcome their first child into the world – Locklan Joseph Ladd. The Jets Captain is already aware of the positive impact that an event of this magnitude can have on a professional athlete whose focus is almost always exclusively on their sport, leaving not much time to recharge and refocus. “I think (when becoming a father) you realize some things aren’t the end of the world,” says Ladd. “For me it’s nice to be able to get away when things aren’t going well and see my son and wife and get away from the game. It takes the edge off, and it is a nice thing to have in life. You need those things to get out of the fish bowl and get your mind at ease sometimes.” Perhaps all of the experience that he’s gained to this point in his career is contributing to his on-ice success this season, but Ladd is staying grounded in the midst of some of the best hockey of his NHL career. “Sometimes things just happen,” says Ladd. “You get bounces, you get opportunities, and pucks go in the net for you. I don’t know if I really define my success by the amount of points I get. It’s nice to see results, but I’ve played some games where I didn’t think I played very well, but I happened to score. There are games when I’ve played well, but I don’t score. I try to focus on playing the right way, and doing the right things, and success will usually come with that.”
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SO, DID YOU GUESS HIM? THE MYSTERY JET PLAYER IS NON OTHER THAN ROSEAU, MN NATIVE AND WINNIPEG JETS DEFENCEMAN #33 DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN!
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