Personalities shine through as Development Camp begins

WINNIPEG - The first on-ice session is in the books at Winnipeg Jets Development Camp at the hockey for all centre and from what we saw during the media availabilities, it looks like the Jets have some character coming down the pipeline.

Rutger McGroarty is well known for his upbeat personality and that was on full display Wednesday afternoon. The 2022 first round pick said last week he was looking forward to getting to Winnipeg and meet his fellow Jets prospects. Safe to say it's going well.

"(Colby) Barlow's, he's a beauty. He gives me some laughs. (Brad Lambert), (Chaz Lucius), (Tyrell) Bauer, everybody honestly, (Parker) Ford," said McGroarty.

"I'm probably forgetting some guys but they're all really nice guys and they're all really funny. I'm really looking forward to being with them every day."

One of the primary reasons the Jets have development camp is for their prospects to build relationships with each other, the coaching staff, player development staff and get to see the city which will hopefully be their second home for a long time.

"Honestly, it's just like walking around, going to dinners, having fun. This is a lot of our first times in the city so that's awesome with a team," said McGroarty.

"We're all just walking around, wandering around getting to know the city, cracking jokes. We have a bunch of characters; the team building is definitely not a problem."

The Jets Director of Player Development, Jimmy Roy, had a big smile on his face as this is the first Development Camp for the organization since 2019. While he and Mike Keane have been around the prospects a lot since then, others have not.

"It's been awhile since we've done it. I think for coaches and management and for everybody to see some of the players we have drafted. Either on ice or in person and work on building those relationships with these kids," said Roy.

"They (the prospects) get to see our environment to see what we are about. I think it's pretty special since we haven't done it in so long, so it's really enjoyable."

Roy gave a memorable speech to the players yesterday welcoming them to the city, the team and the focus of it was to build relationships. Part of the speech was shown on social media and Roy mentioned it wasn't rehearsed, it was just from the heart.

"I look at this group of players and because we haven't had a development camp in so long, for these players to be able to come in and talk to each other about where they player or people they know, common friends and stuff like that," said Roy.

"That's what builds relationships and it's an important part of hockey and what happens in the locker room and trust and respect. I just think relationships are important for the players."

FIRST PRO CONTRACT FOR DIVINCENTIIS

After today's skate, Jets seventh round pick Domenic DiVincentiis met with the media to discuss his brand new three-year, entry-level contract. The North Bay Battalion netminder had an outstanding season, winning the OHL Goaltender of the Year award and was named to the OHL First All-Star and CHL Second All-Star Teams.

"It's something I've dreamed of as a kid and it wouldn't have been done without my family and without the support staff that I had down in junior with the North Bay Battalion," said DiVincentiis.

"As well with the faith the Winnipeg Jets gave me so like I said it's something I really honour and don't take for granted."

Over the past two drafts, the Jets look to have strengthened their goaltending for the future with DiVincentiis and Seattle Thunderbirds Thomas Milic. Milic won the WHL Goaltender of the Year this season adding that to his resume with the gold medal from the World Juniors and WHL Championship.

"I've never met him (Milic) prior to this week here but he's a great kid and great goaltender," said DiVincentiis.

"It's definitely exciting that we're both part of the same organization here and the hard work starts now."

DiVincentiis played hockey with the newest first round pick, Colby Barlow growing up and faced him in the OHL these past two seasons.

INJURY UPDATE ON LUCIUS

2021 first round pick Chaz Lucius is also taking part of this week's events but will do it wearing a gold non-contact jersey as he is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Lucius says he's two-to-three weeks away from contact. Lucius was tearing up the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winter Hawks before his season ended. The 20-year-old forward does not feel like he has run into some bad luck when it comes to injuries even though he has dealt with a lot of them over the past three years.

"I think it's a part of life, I mean everybody has their ups and downs. Unfortunately for me it's been three years in a row of that," said Lucius.

"Which isn't fun at all, but I mean, I'm not going to dwell on it. It is what it is. Like I said, that's life and the only thing you can do is just keep moving forward."