In my previous article “Who Will Drop the Gloves For the Winnipeg Jets” I looked at last seasons’ and career fighting numbers for Jets players to see who we can expect to be dropping the gloves for the team this season.

With 33 fights in 184 games, Tanner Glass leads the team in percentage of games played, with a fight. His ten fights last season would have lead this years team.

On the Illegal Curve Hockey Show, we have had many debates about the place fighting has in the game. In the episode linked above, Ezra and Richard get into a nice argument with Winnipeg Free Press Columnist Gary Lawless about fighting.

While there may be a division of opinion among fans, Tanner Glass thinks that dropping the gloves is still a part of the game.

“I think its definitely a part of the game, I think most guys would say that. It’s not necessarily used as much to police the game as it used to be. I’d like to see it used more (to police the game). The instigator rule really changed the way fighting is used (by the players). It still plays into effect when (the opposition) run a good player, or a dirty play happens; (the opposition) know, if you have a guy on your team who’s willing to stand up for his teammates (they will have to pay the price for their actions).”

As a player who is known for his energy and grit on the ice, Glass believes that the days of the 4th liner who spends more time in the box than on the ice, are over.

“I think the days of the big heavyweight enforcer are a little bit dated now; the average player won’t fight that guy anyways, he won’t be able to jump him. But if a guy of average size who can still play, is like “hey we gotta go”, guys will have a lot harder time turning that one down.”

While the off season has been dominated by the talk of concussions, mainly Superstar Sidney Crosby’s; the Regina, SK native doesn’t think that it will deter anyone from fighting

“I don’t think so; guys do get concussions from fighting, but I think its more that hit where you don’t see that guy coming, or you don’t know where you’re going to get hit, that’s more dangerous. When two guys are going and they know what they’re doing, I don’t think its very dangerous at all.”

While Winnipeg isn’t in the Stanley Cup Final quite yet, the fans are sure acting like it. The fan response reminded Glass of the playoff run in Vancouver last spring (& early summer).

“That’s one of the things I thought of right away. The energy levels sustained here through the start of the season from what I had at the end of last season. It’s a little different, expectations were pretty high in Vancouver last year, and everyone was like “this is our year to win it.” Being different is not necessarily bad, it’s been really good here, people are excited, a lot of little kids and happy faces around the rink at all times. The energy is different, but it’s a great energy.”

Tanner Glass was one of Winnipeg’s first free agent acquisitions. He signed here because of his familiarity with the organization, and proximity to home. Glass appears eager to play for a franchise with such excitement around it, we look forward to seeing what he can bring to the Jets this season.

Listen to the audio of his press conference here

Hainsey’s group got onto the ice for practice at 9am. Personally, 9am on a Sunday, the night after a Pearl Jam concert is a bit early for me. The 30 year old didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

“I like the early timeslot at this point, we’ve been getting up early, skating for a while. Its good to get in early, get it going, get it done. We got our practice done right away, had our scrimmage for 45 minutes, work out and you’re done by noon. Some of the younger guys may not agree with that timeline, but for me its great getting your work in and you’ve got the rest of the day.”

After hearing his response, he does have a bit of a point. I would rather have the practice early on a Sunday to leave the afternoon open for a day full of NFL games. (And Bombers if you prefer).

Read more with Ron Hainsey after the jump

Being the beginning of training camp, and early on a Sunday morning, I asked Hainsey about the intensity level of that type of scrimmage:

“Out of 10 its probably a 5, everybody’s trying to get a handle on things, it’s a little faster, we’re split up so we have some younger players, some older players, at times it’s a little scrambling. Its about getting your legs under you, getting some shifts, getting used to whatever the rotation is, and getting used to the pace of the game out there. Today its one speed, it will be faster tomorrow, and all the way through camp it gets faster and faster, as the season goes on same thing.”

During the practice, it was easy to hear the Bolton, CT native from our seats. He told us that being vocal in your own end is just part of the game.

“I’ve always talked a lot going back to college. My first few years, there was probably somebody yelling at me, more than me yelling. It’s a lot easier to play in your own zone when you’re talking, letting guys know if they have time, holding on to the puck if they can.”

“Especially early on, with younger players it’s just a lot easier if they know if they’ve got a little time, know where to go with the puck. It’s all part of playing, especially in your own zone”

Yesterday’s practice at the MTS Iceplex was not your ordinary practice. It was a packed house with fans cheering loudly and chanting “Go Jets Go”. Yesterday, several of the players said they had “goosebumps”, it was no different for Hainsey who admits there is some pressure to impress the fans.

“Obviously, you couldn’t help but get a little excited, borderline nervous at the start yesterday, I could only imagine for younger players. It’s a new group of fans, a group you want to impress with your play, you want to make a good impression obviously, even if it’s just practice. Today it was a bit back to normal everyday practice, where you’re not going to have a ton of people watching. But it was an exciting day.”

Before Atlanta, he played in Columbus from 2005-08 under Ken Hitchcock. Hainsey spoke about the influence that Hitchcock had on his career.

“We forged a pretty good relationship there, when he first got there, I hadn’t played a ton of games. I had probably played less than 100 games. It was a work in progress our relationship, but by the time I left I felt like he had a lot of trust in me in all situations. It was a lot of learning with him, a lot of work, a lot of video, a lot of one on one time, as far as developing all aspects of the game. He’s a coach, where when you have his trust, he’ll put you out there a lot, in a lot of different situations.  He was without question, as far as development of my pro career, a very large part of where I’ve got to now.”

As far as Winnipeg as a tourist attraction, Hainsey has his mind set on hockey.

“We’ve been skating mostly; we’ve been here for a week. I think  Stewie (Mark Stuart) has been here a little longer. It’s more getting settled. It’s been great, all of the people we’ve met so far have been great”

Listen to the interview here

Stay tuned to IllegalCurve.com for more news from training camp

On today’s practice at the MTS Centre as opposed to yesterday’s packed house at the MTS Iceplex:

“It was kind of a sigh of relief to come out today, a little less pressure, less nerves from all the guys, it was a nice change of pace coming here (MTS Centre as opposed to the MTS Iceplex)everyone relaxing a bit and getting their focus”

On the pressure of playing in Winnipeg

“I think there’s always pressure, a lot of the guys on our team are young kids, 18, 19, 20 years old, and these guys are going to be asked to step up a lot this year. Everyone questions whether we can score goals; I think the guys in the dressing room know we can. We’ve got the talent, it’s just a matter of all the young guys maturing, stepping up, and being leaders.”

On the changes between Atlanta and Winnipeg

“You go from a team like Atlanta, where if (you or the team) aren’t playing well, or are in a slump, it goes unnoticed and flies under the radar. It’s nice to have that, but at the same time you’re always wondering what it would be like to play in a hockey market like Winnipeg. There is more pressure no doubt, everyone’s going to be watching us this year closely, but for guys like me I like playing under pressure, I think I play better under bigger crowds. I was excited when I heard that we were coming to Canada.”

On finally beginning training camp

“It was good, it’s finally familiar once you get out on the ice, everything gets back to normal and you start focusing on the season. It’s been a long summer, it s been a busy summer for everyone I’m sure, moving their families, and coming to a whole different city and different country. Once you get on the ice, everything’s back to normal and your focus is the same.”

“When we stepped on the ice yesterday, (we) realized this is the real deal, if you didn’t know what kind of reception we were going to get, or what the fans were going to be like in Winnipeg we found out right away yesterday when we stepped out on the ice.”

On what his role will be with the team this season

“You never know when you have a whole new coaching staff. Last year I did a bit of everything, powerplay, penalty kill, my minutes were up a bit last year. You never know with new coaching staff, new management where you are going to fit in, what you are going to play and who you are going to play with. Everyone coming in to camp wants to have a good camp and show the coaches they can play more and have a bigger role with the team.”

On the impact the move to Winnipeg has had on training camp

“I think there is a different intensity out there, it definitely seems like it, not only guys fighting for jobs, but they’re fighting for icetime. It seems like there’s going to be a lot of good battles this year for opening spots. That, and the fact that it’s a whole new organization, a whole new city, is making for a pretty intense camp.”

On where he will on Tuesday, (in Winnipeg or Columbus for the split squad game).

“No idea, they haven’t told us yet.”

On wanting to play in an exhibition game on Tuesday

“Ya it would be nice, I want to play right away, it would be nice to play in Winnipeg, but it’s not up to me.”

On switching his number from 10 to 18, the number he previously wore in junior.

“It’s kind of a weird thing, I didn’t know what I was going to do, I didn’t know what the team was going to be called in the first place. Once I found out they were naming it the Jets, it was pretty easy, it didn’t take me long to make a decision. They told me they were going to honour numbers, instead of retire them, I felt like it was the right thing to do, and I just felt like changing, it wasn’t a hard decision.”

Listen to the press conference here

First to speak to the media was recently signed Zach Bogosian. When he spoke to the media yesterday, he said that the first item that he purchased was a new XBOX. The 21 year old talked about the excitement of the fans at camp, the information session they had on concussions as well as his thoughts on how he felt on the ice.

Listen to the audio from Zach Bogosian here

After the jump, we ask Ondrej Pavelec about his new mask and Chris Thorburn about his role on the team for this season

After all of the hoopla a few weeks ago about Chris Masons Iron Maiden mask, I thought it was only fair to ask Ondrej Pavelec about his mask. Listen to Ondrej’s response here.

After writing this article about the Winnipeg Jets fighters, I spoke with Chris Thorburn about his thoughts on dropping the gloves this season:

“We’ll see what happens, I’m the kind of guy that likes to stick up for my teammates and do whatever I need to do to stay in the lineup and change the course of a game. If that means fighting, so be it. I don’t want at myself as just a fighter, I want to be able to contribute offensively, and use my skills and my size to my advantage. Whatever it takes to make the team better and help us win, I’m willing to do that”

On his decline in fights the past three sesaons:

“I’ve got more opportunities as the years went on. I’ve played bigger roles on my team, rather than being that 4^th line five minutes guy. Instead of going out there and sparking energy by a fight or a hit, I’m out there killing penalties and doing some other stuff that helps the team win as well. I’m not too sure what my role is here, but hopefully it will continue as far as getting some penalty kill time, we’ll see what happens as far as the fighting goes.”

The atmosphere at the Iceplex was unlike any other for the practice.  The fans gave a loud ovation when the players came on to the ice, as well as cheers for nice goals and nifty moves. At the end of the practice a “Go Jets Go” chant broke out, which gave a few players  “goosebumps”.

It’s all about winning jobs now. (Click here to read my article Five Battles to Watch for at Winnipeg Jets Training Camp.)

Not included in a group
13 – Kyle Wellwood
42 – Aaron Gagnon

Here are the highlights:

-Training camp begins Friday, September 16, with medicals and physicals

-The training camp sessions Saturday, September 17th and Saturday, September 24th at the MTS Iceplex are open to the public.

-The remaining training camp dates are at the MTS Centre and are closed to the public.

More particulars and information on training camp times after the jump

-Saturday, September 17th, @ MTS Iceplex on ice Schedule
Group A: 9:00am-10:30am
Group B: 10:45am – 12:15pm
Group C: 12:30pm-2:00pm

-Saturday, September 24th, @ MTS Iceplex on ice Schedule
Group A: On-Ice 10:00am-12:00pm
Group B: Pre-game Skate 11:30am-12:30pm
Game @ Nashville 7:00pm

-From Friday the 17th, until Wednesday the 21st, there are 3 groups for daily practices, Group A, Group B and Group C.

-Starting Thursday, September 22, there are only two groups of practices

-There are two scrimmages, Group B vs. Group C on Sunday the 18th, and Group A vs. Group B on Monday the 19th,

-Group A will be the split squad that will play in Columbus, while Group B will remain here.

-The rosters for the groups have yet to be released, they will be available Friday after the completion of Rookie Camp.

More information is available at WinnipegJets.com