#NHLJets captain Blake Wheeler is sent off the ice by HC Paul Maurice after dropping his gloves and going after Ben Chiarot
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FIGHT! Wheeler And Chiarot Trade Punches At Practice
Photo credit: © James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2018, 16:53 EDTUpdated: Jul 4, 2019, 12:36 EDT
To hear a few different Jets explain it, things were a bit “intense” at Saturday morning practice as Blake Wheeler and Ben Chiarot exchanged a few fists after a special teams drill got a little to heated.
No video of the fracas, but the Winnipeg Sun’s Ken Wiebe as always had the first details…
It was a strange sequence during a special teams drill. Chiarot and Mark Scheifele were exchanging cross-checks in front. Then wheeler got involved.
Afterwards though in the dressing room, Mark Scheifele claimed a little bit of innocence in the matter…
Scheifele said after the practice that he wasn't involved with Chiarot and didn't throw a cross-check. The scrum came together pretty quick. Scheifele was there but said he didn't do anything. #NHLJets
Blake Wheeler and Ben Chiarot just fought with each other here at practice. Appears that Wheeler took a slap shot at Chiarot. Looks like Scheifele cross-checked Chiarot and then Wheeler stepped in and began throwing punches at Chiarot. #NHLJets
Admittedly, a depth defenseman getting into it with one of the star players of the team seems a bit concerning – especially at this time of year and with the team having already suffered through a pile of injuries. But for what it’s worth, the players afterwards didn’t seem bothered by the whole ordeal. Paul Maurice even going as far as saying “you’d like a few more of those during the year if you could.”
If nothing else, the fight and questions about it and how the guys practice led to some interesting comments from the head coach and their theory on just how they run practices.
🎥 Head Coach Paul Maurice on the intensity at Saturday's practice, the win over Anaheim, injury updates and more
To a man it seemed like the players were already over it by the time everyone was in the dressing room.
“Boys will be boys” as they say. As long as everyone stays safe and injury free, things like this are minor blips in what is a long season.
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