Hours after learning of his father’s passing, Winnipeg star forward Mark Scheifele played in Game 6 on Saturday night, a 2-1 overtime loss to the host Dallas Stars that ended the Jets’ season in the Western Conference semifinals.
Scheifele was in the penalty box when Dallas’ Thomas Harley scored the game-winning goal 1:33 into overtime, having been called for tripping with 15 seconds left in regulation.
“It’s just a heartbreak at the end of it, the way it ended,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said. “It’s a tough one, but I’m proud of our guys, how they rallied around (Scheifele) all day. We were lifting him up all day to get him out there on the ice to do what he did.”
Scheifele’s father unexpectedly passed away on Friday night, leaving the availability of the 32-year-old veteran leader in doubt in a must-win game for Winnipeg.
“Just courageous what he did tonight, and I’m sure his dad would have been really proud of him and what he did, and I’m sure his dad would have wanted him there,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said of Scheifele after Game 6. “Tough night for him and anybody in the hockey world that has been in a situation like that.”
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was emotional in delivering the news to reporters prior to the team’s morning skate that Brad Scheifele passed away.
Per Cheveldayoff, Winnipeg head coach Scott Arniel returned to the team’s hotel to speak with Mark Scheifele.
“As an organization we’re doing everything we can to support him and give his family our most sincere condolences. And obviously (we) ask that everybody respect his and their privacy at this time,” Cheveldayoff said.
Scheifele finished with 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 11 playoff games.
He recorded career-high totals in assists (48) and points (87) and had an NHL-best 11 game-winning goals while playing in all 82 games this season.
–Field Level Media
