WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Yes the season is almost here and that means more roster moves for all teams, including the Winnipeg Jets.
The latest moves for the Winnipeg Jets include 33-year-old goalie David Aebischer and home town product Derek Meech who joined the team via free agency after spending all his time in Detroit/Grand Rapids since being drafted.
Aebischer who was on loan to the Jets, was under contract with Lugano of the Swiss Elite League, and was able to find a loophole in his contract that said if he signed with the Jets he would be released from his commitment with Lugano.
Aebischer did just that, he signed with the Winnipeg Jets, but will be assigned to the St John’s Ice Caps, as the Jets already have two fulltime goalies in Chris Mason and Ondrej Pavelec.
Aebischer told the Winnipeg Free Press, “I have heard great things about St John’s but have never been there, I will find out for myself”.
In another roster move, Winnipeg-born defencemen, Derek Meech has secured a roster spot with the Jets. Meech is probably going to be a 6th or 7th defencemen on the depth chart, but his experience as a forward may permit him to move up and take over in the case of injury.
The details of Meech’s contract were not disclosed as per team policy. Meech told the Winnipeg Free Press, “This is something that’s hard to excited about because I don’t want to get to comfortable, I don’t want to take things for granted.”
Meech also decided that with the change in cities a change in his number would be in order. He wore number 14 in Detroit and will now carry 7 for the upcoming season.
Mark Scheifele has also decided to make a change in the number department, Scheifele who had been wearing number 45 in juniors and during the preseason will make the official change to number 55 for the start of the season.
Rumour had it that Scheifele changed to 55 because five plus five is ten the number of his coach in Barrie Dale Hawerchuk who was a Winnipeg Jet. But Scheifele came clean and said that his wearing it to honour his brother, Kyle.
“He’s been such a big supporter of me, and has taught me a lot of things. We were best friends growing up,’” Scheifele said in a statement to the Winnipeg Free Press. Kyle will be in Winnipeg Sunday.
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