Kevin Cheveldayoff's pride in how well the Winnipeg Jets are playing comes from different perspectives — as the team's general manager, as a hockey fan and as a Canadian who knows all about small markets.
Cheveldayoff spoke to the media ahead of Thursday night's home game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Jets (27-9-4) entered the contest trying to stay atop the NHL standings with a victory that would give them a franchise-record eight-game win streak. "I'm a Prairie boy," Cheveldayoff said. "I grew up north of Saskatoon in a little town called Blaine Lake with 550 people.
I played my junior hockey in Brandon [Man.]. I've spent the most time of my life here in Winnipeg. "There's a sense of pride.
When you come from the Prairies, there's always that feeling that you need to punch above your weight." The Jets have certainly been doing that this season, but while the success feels good, Cheveldayoff is also tempering his emotions. "We've accomplished nothing yet," he said. "They've accomplished nothing yet.