Alex Iafallo: "I Was in the Mountains When I Got the Call"

It's not often that a camping trip with a few buddies in Yosemite ends up being a career-changer. But for new Winnipeg Jets forward Alex Iafallo, his summer experience in the mountains certainly became one for the memory books.

Why? 

Well, he was traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the Jets midway through his summer getaway.

"It was definitely wild," Iafallo chuckled when speaking with Winnipeg media on a Zoom call on Tuesday afternoon. 

"Actually, I was in the mountains, in the Eastern Sierras, when I got the call. It was kind of crazy, but I had heard over a few days that it was coming, so I was kind of prepared for talking to family and stuff."

Was it a romantic getaway with a loved one or maybe a long overdue family adventure? 

Nope, just a boys trip to the Eastern Sierras. 

"I was with my two buddies," Iafallo clarified. "We were camping a little past Yosemite, actually. I told them about it and we just kind of talked about things. I was excited at the end of the conversation. 

"It was breakfast time so we cooked up some eggs and just kind of hung out for a bit, sitting in the chairs, relaxing, just taking it all in, I guess."

Although Manitoba is filled with numerous hiking trails and greenery of its own, it certainly doesn't compare to the wonders of Yosemite.

“That's great; I’m pumped," he said when informed of Manitoba's wide array of outdoor opportunities. "I'm pumped to get there and check it all out."

It takes just a quick scroll through his Instagram page to discover the 29-year-old is, in fact, of the outdoorsy type. He can also shred the fretboard on the electric guitar.

"I like to do a lot of outdoor activities, really," he told The Hockey News. "I played in Duluth, Minnesota, and we'd always hunt or fish or bike around when you'd have a couple hours off of hockey. Just being active, really. I like to do a lot of activities."

All of that is great and well, but it's the on-ice contributions that will be important to the Jets in 2023-24 and onward.

"Playing against Winnipeg, going in there, the fans are amazing," he said. "It’s just a great atmosphere, so to be a part of that. Your goal is to win the Cup and win as many games as you can, so that’s what I’m going to try to do. And adjust as I can, right away."

Known as much for his defensive play as his offence, the New York product will look to bring that same consistency to a Winnipeg roster that has been lacking in its own zone for a number of seasons.

“I'm focused more on defensively pushing things forward, so then it’s easier to work offensively and stuff like that," he said of his success in the postseason. "Going into playoffs, it’s a fun time of year and you want to win, you want to keep winning. So that was my focus the whole time. It was playing a good, consistent, 200-foot game each time and good things will happen."

A student of the game, Iafallo was quick to thank his mentors for the success he has found playing at the top level in the world.

"Just growing up, playing hockey, I had a lot of great coaches along the way and leaders," he said. "It starts with my parents, just telling me to work hard and everything works out. I just try to be a good example to everyone I guess, on and off the ice, and just try to work as hard as I can in every area of the game. That’s what I’m going to try to bring as a Jet."

With an 'A' on his sweater the past two seasons, Iafallo has been about as consistent a player for the Kings as one could imagine. 

He scored 13-17 goals in each of the past five years, while finishing between 30-43 points as well. He has never had more than 22 penalty minutes in a season. 

That consistency will be something he will look to maintain in his new home above the 49th Parallel. 

"I just take care of the mental part of the game, always be aware of what’s going on, how the game is changing," he said. "You have to take care of your body, you’re doing training and all that stuff, but maybe I’ve realized it’s more mental, off the ice, watching video or whatever it may be. Just paying attention to that kind of stuff."

Last year, the 6-foot, 200-pound winger had 14 goals and 36 points in 59 games for Los Angeles.