Vigfusson vying to impress at development camp

You’ll forgive Adam Vigfusson for having a bit of a “kid in a candy store” mentality these days.

The 20-year-old Gimli product is truly living his best life, fresh off winning a Manitoba Junior Hockey League title, a Centennial Cup championship, Most Valuable Player honours at the national tournament and earning a scholarship to St. Cloud State University that begins this fall.

This week, you’ll find him at Hockey For All Centre, skating alongside the likes of Viggo Bjorck, Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow and the other top prospects in the Winnipeg Jets organization. Vigfusson could hardly believe it when the Jets recently extended an invitation to their annual rookie development camp.

“I got the call asking if I wanted to come and it was like, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s something I never thought would happen.’ Just super excited to be here,” Vigfusson told the Free Press following Tuesday’s skate.

Make no mistake: This isn’t a charity case.

Vigfusson has earned the right to be here as one of a handful of undrafted players the Jets wanted to get a closer look at. Perhaps it leads to something down the road. If nothing else, it’s a golden opportunity for a young player to soak up the experience.

“Obviously there’s a lot of high-end talent here. Just kind of seeing how I can compete against them and learn from them. I think that’s huge on eventually becoming a pro hockey player maybe one day,” said Vigfusson.

As important as the four days of on-ice work are — the group skated for the first time Tuesday and will continue through Friday, culminating with a scrimmage — the off-ice sessions have value, too. Lessons on fitness, nutrition and other aspects of the professional game are all part of the curriculum, along with plenty of opportunities for the players to bond.

“There’s tons of resources here. That’s one of the perks about being here,” said Vigfusson. “It’s incredible, just all the facilities and the support that you have.”

Vigfusson served as captain of the Niverville Nighthawks this past season, so he was certainly dialled in when veteran Jets captain Adam Lowry addressed the group Monday afternoon following medicals.

“One hundred per cent. He came in and gave us some very valuable information about his career, coming up and playing and kind of the adversity he faced early in this career. What it takes to wear the C,” said Vigfusson.

“It’s only been a couple days but I’ve already learned so much.”

Vigfusson only knew a couple of players when he arrived — Oakbank’s Owen Martin, Winnipeg’s third round pick in 2025 who just wrapped up his third season with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, and fellow free-agent invite Jett Lajoie, a Winnipegger who played for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL last season.

There was another familiar face in Niverville head coach Dwight Hirst, who received a similar invitation from the Jets to participate both on the ice and behind the bench.

Vigfusson has quickly made plenty of new friends, including his roommate for the week, Jacob Cloutier — an Ottawa native drafted by Winnipeg in the seventh round last year who just completed his second season with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.

He said taking the ice Tuesday alongside the Jets prospects was a true eye-opening experience and represented the best collection of hockey talent he has ever been surrounded by.

“I was kind of blown away by the skill,” said Vigfusson, who had 80 points (36 goals, 44 assists) in 53 combined MJHL regular-season and playoff games prior to heading to Prince Edward Island for the nationals, where he had another 12 points (7G, 5A) in six games, which were all victories.

The experience only reinforced what Vigfusson has long believed: There is more than one path to developing as a player. Whether you’re a high draft pick, a late-round selection or, in his case, overlooked entirely, it’s simply another step in the journey.

He has already made a trip to St. Cloud to get acquainted with his soon-to-be home, meeting staff and getting on the ice. Vigfusson plans to pursue a degree in biomedical science while keeping the door open to a potential professional hockey career.

“Everyone has a different route. You kind of have to pave it for yourself,” said Vigfusson.

“But you know, just try to learn from them, see how they do things. That’s what I can and try to just keep getting better throughout camp. I’m just super grateful to be out there with them.”

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