Jets’ boss proves to be Pardy-pooper
WINNIPEG — After losing their first two meetings this season, the Winnipeg Jets know they have to do a better job managing the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks.
But the team isn’t looking for any help from fans who might want to mock the opposition by wearing helmets to Thursday’s game.
It’s a reference to a Nov. 6 incident involving Jets defenceman Adam Pardy in Chicago.
After Pardy was checked through the glass late in the 4-1 loss to the Blackhawks, one fan stole his helmet while another poured beer on the Jets defenceman.
A Winnipeg radio station was promoting a Helmet Pardy to encourage fans to wear helmets to Thursday’s game.
But Jets chairman Mark Chipman poured cold water on that idea Wednesday, saying no helmetwearing fans will get in.
“Adam reacted very professionally, the Blackhawks, not surprisingly, did the same thing, the NHL did the same thing, so I can’t imagine that our organization is going to take a different path,” he said in explaining his decision.
“It would seem really almost absurd for us to participate in something that sort of brought us down to the base act that caused all this.”
Another factor in his decision was the way the helmet-stealing fan has apologized for his behaviour as well.
“He has contacted our organization, he has contacted Adam Pardy. He has made a very very sincere apology. He’s made an unsolicited and unnecessary but very much appreciated donation to our foundation, which he acknowledges doesn’t excuse in any way what he did.”
Chipman said he was sure some people wouldn’t share his views but he got a lot of support on Twitter, where the hashtag #HelmetPardy trended in the top five.
“I don’t disagree with Chipman’s reasoning about #HelmetPardy - He’s a first class guy, but having #HelmetPardy ... trending is pretty cool,” tweeted Chase Charney.
Radio station stunts aside, the Jets (10-10-3) have their work to do when Chicago (14-4-4) arrives, if they want a different result than their two lopsided losses so far this season. They first lost 5-1 on Nov. 2.
“We didn’t have our two best games against them,” said captain Andrew Ladd. “Puck management against a team that has that much skill is huge and I don’t think we did that well in the two games we played them, so I think everyone is looking forward to having another shot at them.”