"They Will Stay On for Now" - Mark Scheifele on New Ear Guards

Back on January 9, Winnipeg Jets star centre Mark Scheifele went down with an upper-body injury, after taking a deflected Josh Morrissey slap shot to the ear. 

The 30-year-old left the ice a bloody mess and rushed his way down to the Jets' dressing room for immediate attention. 

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and chairman Mark Chipman were right behind him, racing through the flights of press box stairs to check on the severity of Scheifele's injury.

“All I could think of was what we had gone through in years past,” Cheveldayoff said following Scheifele's injury. “It’s those moments in time… these guys are like family."

For it was only three years ago that fellow centreman Bryan Little saw his career come to a sudden end off a similarly deflected slap shot from almost the exact same spot on the ice.

Scheifele, who was there for that home game, has not been in contact with his former teammate, but certainly still gets flashbacks over six weeks since his injury.

"I would say randomly I would think about it once in a while, you know, just how lucky I was," Scheifele told The Hockey news. "But it terms of when you get in a game, you are just kind of back in game mode and it kind of goes out of your mind."

Not even missing a game, the 11th-year Jet returned to practice two days after the incident. One notable difference in his equipment was additional ear guards within his helmet. Yes, the clear plastic protective pieces that come stock on all helmets that team equipment staff take out prior to providing players their helmets.

"It was a little different early on," Schefiele said of the ear protection. "I don't know if they will stay on forever, but they will stay on for now. It is kind of one of those things where we will just see how it goes."

So far, so good, he says. 

Despite some early struggles, the equipment is likely staying in place through the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

"The first couple days - maybe even the first few weeks - I felt like I was a in a bubble a little bit more than I was used to," he said. "Now, there are still times where it feels different. But I am getting more used to it."

We have now heard from Scheifele's linemates Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi on the changes made and incorporations needed when dealing with new equipment post-injury. For the two wingers it was re-learning how to skate with knee braces.

For Scheifele, it's more so a matter of his hearing, the odd tickle from the scar/stitches or more recently pain sensitivity in-game.

"I still feel it every once in a while," he said of the wound. "There are times where it gets a little bit more sensitive than other times. I definitely do still think there is some inflammation in there, obviously. But for the most part it is really good. The doctors did a really good job and we are very lucky to have the staff that we have to get that kind of care."

Although never actually knowing how many stitches he was given, Scheifele does recall the team doctors needing to take them out and re-do the procedure as his healing continued.

No, it wasn't quite like the highly-publicized incident involving teammate Morgan Barron, a skate blade, and 75 stitches from last spring, but nonetheless, Scheifele's facial injury certainly struck a chord for management and fans alike.

Now, continuing forward with his ear protection, Scheifele doesn't entirely know how long the guards will last, but they are installed and have been used steadily since January 11.

"I think it's just a personal choice," he said. "It's mainly however you feel, and whatever it is that makes you feel comfortable. I think that's the main thing."

Whether or not the plastic shields remain as a staple within his uniform - much like his mouth guard and visor, as well as the neck guards some teammates continue sporting - is up to him.

But he needn't look far for inspiration, as NHL star players Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane are two of the handful of players who have sported ear protection for the duration of their careers.

"I would say that they're probably here for the rest of the season."