Any day a player can put on a National Hockey League team’s jersey is a good day, but when that jersey is emblazoned with the Winnipeg Jets logo, and that player is from Manitoba, it’s even sweeter.
That’s the experience forward Chase Bertholet is having through Rookie Camp and this weekend’s Young Stars Classic.
“Just as a kid you always dream of this,” Bertholet said after Saturday’s practice at the South Okanagan Event Centre. “Just putting on the jersey, it felt unreal.”
The 19-year-old from The Pas, MB earned an invitation to the camp after a strong season in the Western Hockey League.
He had 17 points in 25 games with the Winnipeg ICE before a trade sent him to Spokane, where his output more than doubled with an additional 41 points in 47 games.
“The trade was a little difficult at first. I moved to a new country away from my home province,” said Bertholet. “But as I got settled in, I loved it in Spokane. It’s a great place to play. My play excelled.”
His play also excelled in Friday’s tournament opener against Edmonton. Even though the Jets came up on the short end of a 3-2 final, Bertholet – who was on a line with Henri Nikkanen and Isaac Johnson – caught the eye of head coach Mark Morrison.
“I thought he’s shown a lot of energy,” Morrison said. “We gave him a little extra ice time there because I thought he had a good game.”
Bertholet wants to continue to bring that energy tomorrow against the host Vancouver Canucks (with puck drop set for 4 pm CT, and streamed on WinnipegJets.com).
His line mates will change slightly, though. He’ll still be with Nikkanen – Winnipeg’s fourth round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft – but instead of Johnson on the left side, it will be Daniel Torgersson.
Morrison said that’s a result of familiarity, and getting to know the players on the roster a bit better.
“We’ve had three practices now, which usually when we come to this tournament we get one practice and we’re playing,” said Morrison. “There is some familiarity with Torgersson and Nikkanen. They played together before with the Moose, so we’re putting them back together.”
No matter who his line mates are, Bertholet is going to continue to embrace the opportunity he has in front of him.
“It’s been a privilege to be here and I was super pumped when I got the invite,” Bertholet said. “Back in my hometown, all you hear about is the Jets. Everyone knows the Jets. It makes it that much more special. It’s been great here.”
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