\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"Geoff](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4102926_web1_CP176063669.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
Geoff Stellfox \/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS<\/p>\n
The Winnipeg Jets enjoyed a day at the ball park on Sunday at Wrigley Field as they watched their teammate and former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews throw the first pitch. The Jets face the Blackhawks on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what, he was joking that he\u2019s more of a hitter than a pitcher,\u201d Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo said after a well-attended optional skate on Monday. \u201cI\u2019d like to see him get in there (the batter\u2019s box) and swing a little bit. He looks like he\u2019s done it before, that\u2019s for sure. But he said he was pretty nervous up there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Toews has done a lot of impressive things in Chicago during his storied career, leading the Blackhawks renaissance that included three Stanley Cups during a five-year span.<\/p>\n
Some of those career highlights were shown as Toews made his way onto the mound.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a cool atmosphere, cool to see Toews throw the first pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst time at Wrigley, yeah. Haven\u2019t been to a baseball game in a long time, too, so it was a cool atmosphere, cool to see Toews throw the first pitch,\u201d said Jets centre Mark Scheifele. \u201cI don\u2019t think you realize how far away the home plate was from the mound, but I think he did a pretty good job.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a rare two-day break between games on this four-game road trip, the Jets were able to enjoy an afternoon of relaxation at the iconic ball park known as the Friendly Confines.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a great day overall,\u201d said DeMelo. \u201cWe haven\u2019t had any time to do things together as a team. It\u2019s been game, travel, game, off-day, whatever it is, it\u2019s just been that type of year with the amount of games and the volume we\u2019ve had. I think this was our first two-day break in three weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was nice to have a nice sunny day and watch the Cubs play. Everything about the whole day, just hanging out and going for dinner with the guys, that\u2019s the fun stuff about this league. You get to hang out with your teammates, get to know them, share some laughs, and share some memories.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the fun stuff about this league. You get to hang out with your teammates, get to know them, share some laughs, and share some memories.\u201d<\/p>\n
What were DeMelo\u2019s overall impressions of his first trip to Wrigley Field?<\/p>\n
\u201cWrigley was really cool. Just walking to the stadium was really awesome. You kind of feel the history and the vibe in there,\u201d said DeMelo. \u201cThat\u2019s the thing about baseball, every stadium and every ball park are different. I\u2019ve been to a handful and they\u2019re all unique in their own way. But this one, with the history and the old school seats and stuff like that. It was on my bucket list and I\u2019m glad I was there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Toews wasn\u2019t the only member of the Jets to receive a warm ovation, as cameras showed U.S. Olympians and gold medal winners Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor on the scoreboard as well.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The Cubs) got the two home runs right after it, so we\u2019re going to take a little bit of credit for that,\u201d said Hellebuyck, another first-time visitor to Wrigley.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t play any (organized) baseball. In the park with friends and stuff. I just got into fantasy baseball this year, but I\u2019m just trying to learn everything. When they made the rule changes for baseball, I thought it was a lot more enjoyable to watch. I wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019m a new fan, but I\u2019m pretty into it now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Geoff Stellfox \/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews threw out the first pitch before the Chicago Cubs game on Sunday at Wrigley Field. The former Blackhawk captain faces his former club on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Most of the healthy Jets were on the ice on Monday for the optional workout, while three players on the road to recovery joined them in non-contact jerseys, including forwards Nino Niederreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov and defenceman Colin Miller.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, there was some encouraging news back in Winnipeg as forward Morgan Barron \u2014 who has been in concussion protocol since taking a hard right hand in a fight with Colorado Avalanche defenceman Josh Manson on Thursday \u2014 was on the ice at Hockey For All Centre on Monday.<\/p>\n Although a timeline for his return will depend on how the next few days go, there\u2019s a chance Barron could meet the Jets at some point before the road trip is over.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t Moose battling<\/p>\n The Jets\u2019 primary affiliate also finds itself in the thick of a playoff chase in the American Hockey League, with the Manitoba Moose closing a four-game road trip on Tuesday against the Toronto Marlies. The club sits in fourth place in the Central Division standings.<\/p>\n The Moose are currently two points behind the Texas Stars, while holding a game in hand, but the club hosts the Milwaukee Admirals next week who are in hot pursuit and just one point back.<\/p>\n Manitoba returns return home for a six-game homestand that includes a weekend set with the Grand Rapids Griffins starting Friday. That will be followed by two-game sets against both the Admirals and Stars.<\/p>\n Moose captain Mason Shaw leads the Moose in points with 37 in 61 games, while Samuel Fagemo leads the team in goals with 17.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/kenwiebe<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Ken Wiebe Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n