‘Chasing him down was always on my mind’

Mark Scheifele’s goal was always to chase down his mentor and former Barrie Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk, no matter what the official record book said.

So when the NHL and the Winnipeg Jets announced on Thursday morning that they were consolidating the franchise history to include the 1.0 and 2.0 eras (including the Atlanta Thrashers chapter of the club), Scheifele was among those to give the move two thumbs up.

“Yeah, it clarifies it for you guys more, not as much (for) me,” said Scheifele. “It’s really cool to bring in the old Jets records, and especially Dale. Chasing him down was always on my mind. So, it’s cool to do it actually in the record books.”

Scheifele remains the franchise leader in games played (961) and he’s likely to eclipse Hawerchuk in goals (Scheifele has 372 to Hawerchuk’s 379) and points (Scheifele has 907 to Hawerchuk’s 929) this season. He now has Thomas Steen’s 553 assists in his sights after amassing 535 heading into 2026-27.

Scheifele — who was the first Jets player drafted in the 2.0 era back in 2011 — is on schedule to suit up for his 1,000th NHL game in December, so it’s shaping up to be a season to remember for the centre.

This latest development only adds to the significance of the pursuit.

“I think it’s just extra motivation to chase down a guy who I looked up to so much and learned so much from,” said Scheifele, who eclipsed 100 points for the first time in his career last season, leading his team with 103 while appearing in all 82 games.

Meanwhile, alternate captain Josh Morrissey opened his session with reporters by joking that he’d immediately lost about six franchise marks for a defenceman.

“No, it’s the way it should be,” said Morrissey, who is already the franchise’s sixth-overall in games played (739). “The Jets 1.0, even though organizations change and franchises move around, I personally think 1.0 and 2.0 Winnipeg Jets should be one.

“I think it’s the right thing (to do) and it’s nice to have the numbers together.”

Morrissey has already passed defensive partner Dustin Byfuglien for most career points by a defenceman (and he still leads that category), but some of the single-season marks are now held by Phil Housley, who recorded 79 assists and 97 points during the 1992-93 season — when Teemu Selanne set the rookie record for goals (76).

Head coach Scott Arniel has a unique perspective as someone who played for the 1.0 edition and holds a significant role in the 2.0 era.

“You know what, it’s great for the organization. Obviously, the history of the Winnipeg Jets in this city, it means different things to different fan bases,” said Arniel.

“This goes back to the late 1970s when it first got started. With the NHL coming back again (in 2011), there are different eras of fans. They have their star players from back in the day, whether that was Hawerchuk or Dave Ellett, those types of guys, moving into the Selanne era and moving into what’s been happening recently when 2.0 came back.

“We get to celebrate all of those years and all of those eras of the team. It’s really cool for everybody to be a part of it,” he added.

The Jets had quietly been working to try and get the full history of the franchise recognized, and that lengthy and sometimes complicated process has finally come to fruition.

It means the Jets franchise records will merge the 1.0 era (1979 to 1996) and 2.0 (2011 to present) while also recognizing the time spent as the Atlanta Thrashers (1999 to 2011)

The history of the inactive Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996 to 2024) will remain a separate entity.

“Today’s announcement is meaningful for our organization, our alumni and generations of Winnipeg Jets fans,” the club’s executive chairman Mark Chipman said in a statement. “The Jets teams from 1979 to 1996 helped build an identity and tradition that we proudly carry forward today. For our fans, these players and these moments have always been part of the same Winnipeg Jets story, and we’re pleased that our official records will now reflect that.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledged the possibility of this happening during a routine visit to Winnipeg last December.

“It’s not as simple as just doing it… it is something we’re looking into,” Bettman said at the time. “It’s not so much a process as it’s what the end result would look like and can we make it make sense?”

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was happy to see a resolution that made sense for all parties involved.

“Statistics and records are more than numbers — they capture the milestones, achievements and memories that define the history of our game and the communities that support it,” Daly said in a statement. “We respect the Jets’ commitment to honouring their franchise’s journey and are pleased that the full history of NHL hockey in Winnipeg now can be celebrated as one continuous story.”

That next chapter in that story begins with the start of the 16th campaign of the 2.0 era next Thursday, as the Jets welcome the Boston Bruins to Canada Life Centre for what will be the season and home opener of the expanded 84-game regular season schedule.

winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe