Jets ‘gutted’ after unexpected death of Mark Scheifele’s father
No matter how big the game, there are always bigger things. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters that Mark Scheifele’s father, Brad, passed away overnight.
DALLAS — No matter how big the game, there are always bigger things.
Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters Saturday morning that veteran centre Mark Scheifele’s father, Brad, passed away overnight.
While other Jets players skated ahead of Game 6 tonight against the Dallas Stars, which Winnipeg needs to win to prolong its National Hockey League season, head coach Scott Arniel returned to the team’s hotel to support Scheifele.
“As an organization, we’re doing everything we can to support him, Cheveldayoff said. “We wish, give, his family our most sincere condolences, and obviously ask that everybody respect his and their privacy at this time.
“It was certainly unexpected this morning. I don’t have many of the other details or anything like that, so certainly appreciate everyone’s understanding today that it’s a different day for everybody here. But, you know, we’re a family, and we’re going to do everything we can to support our family.”
Cheveldayoff’s voice caught with emotion as he said: “From our family, just deepest, deepest sympathies and condolences.”
Scheifele, 32, is the longest-serving Jets player, drafted by Winnipeg in 2011 and an NHL rookie in 2013.
His dad participated in several “fathers’ trips” with the Jets, including one last season.
“Just such an infectious laugh,” Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry said after the morning skate. “Spending my whole career here, numerous fathers’ trips, just the energy that he had was unmatched. . . just his joy and excitement for life. I think his positivity, his outlook on life, just a genuinely happy person. A terrible loss, obviously. Our condolences go out to. . . the whole Scheifele family. It’s a terrible loss. It’s tough to put into words how gutted we all feel for Mark and his family.”
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A friend of teammate of Scheifele for 11 seasons, Lowry said he learned of Brad’s passing on the way to the rink Saturday morning, and that Arniel spoke to the team before leaving American Airlines Center to support Mark.
“Having such a tight-knit room, close bond with everyone, it’s just the support,” Lowry said of priorities. “If he wants to open up about it, be there to listen. But, you know, be there to take his mind off things. It’s not an easy thing to navigate, you know, especially with the magnitude of the day in terms of our playoff lives.
“But it’s important that we’re there for him. . . just in whatever capacity he needs. I think he needs to know that everyone in that room is there to support him, you know, to be whatever he needs us to be. It’s one of those things that you don’t wish upon anyone, and just really hope that he’s got the family strength, the great support system around him that helps ease this pain. Because that’s such a big loss. That’s your mentor, that’s the person you looked up to growing up, it’s the person you want to be like.”
Scheifele had an outstanding game for the Jets on Thursday night, scoring one goal and setting up another as Winnipeg won 4-0 to reduce its deficit in the second-round playoff series to 3-2.
He was important enough that Dallas captain Jamie Benn tried to engage Scheifele physically late in the third period, earning a $5,000 fine from the NHL for sucker-punching the Jet while his arms were being held by a linesman.
Scheifele admitted before the Jets flew to Dallas on Friday that “my face hurts.” The pain in his heart today will be profoundly more acute and enduring.
Arniel told reporters ahead of puck drop that Scheifele will suit up for Game 6, adding that the forward told him his father would have wanted him to be out with his teammates.
If needed, Game 7 will be Monday in Winnipeg.
