Team Canada forward Mark Scheifele ceelbrates his goal past Russia goalie Andrei Makarov, not shown, during first period IIHF World Junior Championships hockey action in Ufa, Russia on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. Scheifele has grown in size, confidence and experience.Now the 19-year-old centre says he's ready to play in the NHL — if the Winnipeg Jets agree.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
January 14, 2013 - 12:19 PM
WINNIPEG - Mark Scheifele has grown in size, confidence and experience.
Now the 19-year-old centre says he's ready to play in the NHL — if the Winnipeg Jets agree.
Scheifele is in camp as the Jets prepare for their first game of an abbreviated season Saturday.
Coach Claude Noel says no one is going to pressure Scheifele to do anything he isn't ready for, but he sees improvements.
Last season the Jets gave Scheifele a shot, but decided he wasn't ready for the NHL and sent him back to junior.
Since then he's also competed on the national junior team, but Noel says it's too early to say where he might fit on the Jets if he sticks this season.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013