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
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.