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…
#NHLJets captain Blake Wheeler is sent off the ice by HC Paul Maurice after dropping his gloves and going after Ben Chiarot
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebeSunSports) March 24, 2018
It was a strange sequence during a special teams drill. Chiarot and Mark Scheifele were exchanging cross-checks in front. Then wheeler got involved.
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebeSunSports) March 24, 2018
A scrap breaks out at Jets practice. No kidding. Blake Wheeler in the middle of it, looked like he was going after Ben Chairot. Scheifele in there too. Wheeler heads to room, welt near left eye.
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) March 24, 2018
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 https://t.co/EMX5AAhPgg
— Scott Billeck (@ScottBilleck) March 24, 2018
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 pic.twitter.com/MMauulDFV9
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 24, 2018
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.
Good to clear the air once and a while. Hope they kiss and make up, haha