Jets' Scheifele says family bullied after heavy hit on Montreal's Evans
Mark Scheifele's voice caught in his throat Friday as he talked about the hate directed toward his loved ones this week in the aftermath of a controversial hockey play.
The Winnipeg Jets star said he's willing to accept punishment for a crushing blow that injured Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans in Game 1 of the North Division final on Wednesday, but called what's happened to his family unacceptable.
"The bullying that they've gotten, online, phone calls. It's pretty gross to see," a visibly emotional Scheifele said on a video call. "My parents are the salt of the earth. For my parents to get hate like that, and my brother and sister, it's awful.
"I can handle it, I'm a grown man. I've accepted that and I can be held accountable for that. But for my family to get that, it hurts me a lot."
The NHL's Department of Player Safety handed Scheifele a four-game suspension for the heavy hit that left Evans sprawled on the ice in the final minute of Montreal's 5-3 win.
Scheifele called the sanction "excessive," but said he won't appeal the decision.
"I don't want to be a distraction any more. This has lingered on long enough," he said before the Jets hosted the Canadiens in Game 2 on Friday.
"The stakes are so high at this point. I just want to be there cheering on my teammates. It's a big game tonight. From this point on, it's all about the Winnipeg Jets. It's not about me, it's not about anything like that. It's about the Winnipeg Jets and the guys in that room who are going to be battling for our team."
Jets coach Paul Maurice said he was expecting Scheifele to be suspended for two games.
"I think four is excessive," he said. "The Department of Player Safety has every right, and they're needed in their role, to set precedent for hits, especially when there's an injury involved. So they have that right. I don't agree with it, but it's set now and that's where the National Hockey League game goes going forward. And we'll learn from it and move on."
Scheifele's hit came as Evans wrapped a shot into the empty Winnipeg net with 57 seconds left on the game clock. The six-foot-three, 207-pound Scheifele levelled Evans at the goal line and the Canadiens forward flew through the air, striking his head on the ice. He lay still for several moments while trainers and medical staff came to his aid, and was eventually taken away on a stretcher.
Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) hits Montreal Canadiens' Jake Evans (71) after he scored an empty net goal during third period NHL Stanley Cup hockey action in Winnipeg, Wednesday, June 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele (55) hits Montreal Canadiens' Jake Evans (71) after he scored an empty net goal during third period NHL Stanley Cup hockey action in Winnipeg, Wednesday, June 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Scheifele was handed a charging major and a game misconduct for the play.
On Friday, he described the hit as the result of trying to stop Evans from scoring.
"My intention on that play is to try to negate a goal. There's no intent, there's no malice there. I don't go in with a frame of mind of injuring a hockey player," Scheifele said. "Obviously the result sucks that he's hurt. But … I just hope he's OK. I hope for a speedy recovery and I'm praying for him."
Evans was not hospitalized but Montreal's interim coach Dominique Ducharme has said he has a concussion.
Ducharme said Friday that Evans is feeling "a little bit better" and the Canadiens were focused on preparing for their next game.
Montreal captain Shea Webber declined to comment on Scheifele's four-game suspension on Friday.
"We're done talking about the hit," he said. "We're missing a player, they're missing a player. On to Game 2 here and getting going tonight."
Losing Scheifele creates a big hole in the Jets' lineup. The 28-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., was Winnipeg's leading scorer in the regular season with 63 points (21 goals, 42 assists) and has five more (two goals, three assists) in five playoff appearances this year.
Maurice said it was "unfortunate" that the team was losing arguably its best forward for four "critical" playoff games.
"We're paying a huge price, he's paying a huge price, so that part hurts," he said. "Knowing Mark he'll be on the ice every day getting better, trying to get better and get ready for his next playoff game."
Winnipeg could get another key piece back for Game 2, however.
Veteran centre Paul Stastny was on the ice for an optional pre-game skate on Friday after missing Wednesday's game with an undisclosed injury. Maurice said whether he'll play is a game-time decision.
A number of different players on Winnipeg's roster have the ability to step up and fill holes, Scheifele said.
"We have tremendous character, we have tremendous everything on this team," he said. "It's a pretty special team and I have full faith in my team that I will be able to play a game again this year."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Jury deliberations begin in Donald Trump's hush money criminal case
Jury deliberations began Wednesday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, placing the outcome of the history-making case in the hands of a dozen New Yorkers who have vowed to be fair and impartial in the face of their unprecedented task.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
'Scandals and secrets': On board the world's most exclusive private residential ship
It’s a floating city exclusively home to the 1 per cent, a playground for multimillionaires and billionaires that circumnavigates the world's oceans.
What weather experts say to expect this summer in Canada
Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. Weather experts are predicting more sunshine and warmer temperatures for the summer.
Canada announces $11B for military aircraft training
Canada has announced an $11.2-billion contract to improve training platforms for the military, including the purchase of 70 training aircraft for the Future Aircrew Training program.
Edmonton Oilers set to make lineup changes for Game 4 of Western Conference final
The Edmonton Oilers are shaking things up. Down 2-1 in the NHL's Western Conference final to the Dallas Stars, head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed there would be lineup changes for tonight's Game 4.