Jets defenceman Ville Heinola has had a heck of a good training camp. So much so that he was expected to be on the 23-man roster despite the fact that his waiver status made him an easy choice to send down. However his play during the games and while practicing has made the only decision that was easy being to keep him in the NHL.
Jets head coach Rick Bowness was asked this morning if Heinola had done enough to secure a spot.
Jets coach Rick Bowness was asked by @ScottBilleck whether Ville Heinola “has won a spot on this roster”?
“He’s done everything he can to make this hockey club….”
Full media availability:https://t.co/BA8s95Y5Wz pic.twitter.com/8Rm0JY8YvI
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) October 5, 2023
The Jets are taking on the Senators this evening in Winnipeg to conclude the exhibition game portion of the pre-season when disaster struck the fleet-footed Finnish defenceman.
If you missed it this is what happened:
Ville Heinola helped down the #Jets tunnel after his collision with Erik Brannstrom. #Sens #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/CNmBLpvb0g
— Pesky Sickos (@PeskySickos) October 6, 2023
The Jets PR account announced he would not return to the game which isn’t a surprise when you saw the way he went to the dressing room.
Tough news for the player and the organization.
Update:
As per Sean Reynolds of Sportsnet this is what head coach Rick Bowness had to say after the game
“It’s not good. It’s not going to be a short term injury.”
That’s really brutal news for the young defenceman.
