Music: {allcanada} SCHEIFELE ON LOCKOUT BACKUP PLAN

Thursday, August 30, 2012

{allcanada} SCHEIFELE ON LOCKOUT BACKUP PLAN

The Winnipeg Free Press relays that Mark Scheifele is in Barrie now and will step on the ice for the first time with the Ontario Hockey League's Colts on Thursday. Ideally, he'd be in Winnipeg for Jets' camp in late September. But if there is a lockout, he'll have to put his NHL pursuit on hold and return to junior hockey.

"It's definitely a real different feeling for me right now," said Scheifele in a telephone interview from Barrie. " I know there was a lockout a few years ago, but I wasn't a part of that like I am now. It sucks that we have to wait right now, but it's part of the game and part of the whole collective bargaining agreement discussions so you have to live with it.

"I trust the guys that are handling it. They obviously know what they are talking about and want the best for all the players. But you don't know what to expect right now. That's tough. It's the waiting game. But you've got to work your hardest, too, and you can't think that there's not going to be training camps or a season. You have to be ready if there is and if not, have your backup plan ready."

No offence to the Colts, but in Scheifele's dreams he's twirling around the MTS Centre wearing a No. 55 jersey and playing against the Maple Leafs, Canadiens and Bruins. Going back to junior is an option of course, but he's just itching for another shot with the big boys at Jets' camp.

"Staying in Barrie would be another developmental year for me, to try and be the best player out there every night and to try and improve my game at every practice," said Scheifele. "I'd also try to be in the gym a little bit more to try and get bigger and stronger. That's the backup plan in case something happens. It's important because I know I still have a league to play in and to work on becoming a better player. I'm sure most of the guys have plans in place.

"But I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: my goal is to be in Winnipeg."