Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Jets captain Adam Lowry has been getting closer and closer to a return to the lineup after having offseason hip surgery in late May with an expected 5-6 months of recovery. He was back on the ice in late August and we learned in September that he was targeting a late October/early November return.
Last Friday we learned the next steps required for him to get to the next stage in his return but his head coach indicated “It’s great to see him but until that jersey changes I’m not thinking too much about him.”. The next day Lowry shed the non-contact jersey to join his teammates in a regular uniform for the first time.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
This past Sunday, ahead of the game against the Mammoth, it was the first time we heard from Arniel since the jersey swap for his captain. The bench boss was asked about the lack of practice time since that was one of the biggest factors he said Lowry required.
“We’ve got a bit of a plan here. We’re talking about some things. Like you just mentioned, we’re not going to have a bunch of practice where he can get in with us. We’ve got some ideas; we just got to float it by him and management. We’re just going to talk some things out here and see where we’re at. He’s getting close, but now he needs the contact — he needs 5-on-5 type of stuff where he’s working in heavy traffic areas, he’s working in tight areas. But he’s certainly a heck of a lot closer.”
Listening back on Sunday night, that seemed to me to suggest that the team was considering the possibility of sending Lowry down to the AHL to play for the Manitoba Moose on a conditioning assignment. The issue was Manitoba wasn’t set to practice until Saturday and then they’d play Sunday and Monday.
Today after practice I asked the bench boss about Lowry who was wearing a light blue sweater which would indicate he was an extra.
“He’s getting real close. He’s getting real close.”
The follow-up asked if they were considering a conditioning assignment?
“No. ‘Cause we had a good practice today. We’ll get a good practice on Monday. Not sure what we’re up to Sunday. So we’re getting closer.”
So no return to the Moose for the captain but it does sound like he is very close to making his 2025-26 regular season debut.
The date and opponent is now set.
From a small rink in Saskatchewan to the big stage in Winnipeg, Yager’s rise is…
Keeping you up-to-date with all the latest pro hockey news in Manitoba.
Recap of the game.
The veteran journalist shares his insight.