Jets get worked hard on first day of camp

Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice promised a tough training camp when he sent his players home after the 2013-14 season. He's living up to his word.

Conditioning skates, battle drills and plenty of laps were the order of the morning when the Jets hit the ice Friday for their first official practice.

Maurice, who took over after Claude Noel was fired in January, was unhappy with the Jets' conditioning and vowed it will improve as Winnipeg tries to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the franchise relocated from Atlanta in the summer of 2011.

Captain Andrew Ladd said there were no surprises.

"I think we're familiar with the way Paul runs a practice and maybe the only thing different was the skate at the end," he said. "I thought everyone handled it well and we feel really good right now and everyone made it out alive so we’re good.

"I think that message was sent by Paul at the end of the year last year and everybody did a great job over the summer to make sure they took care of themselves and gave themselves the best chance of coming here in good shape and performing at their highest level."

The Jets named forward Blake Wheeler, their top scorer last season, as the second alternate captain. He'll wear an "A" along with defenseman Mark Stuart.