John Tavares, Craig Berube offer condolences to Jets’ Mark Scheifele following loss of father

The game of hockey gets the most out of people’s emotions, for better or for worse, but every so often, we’re hit with the stark reminder that hockey is just that – a game. The Winnipeg Jets were reminded of this on Saturday morning, when it was revealed by the team that the father of Jets alternate captain Mark Scheifele, Brad, passed away unexpectedly.

The Jets held a conference to reveal the news, asking reporters to respect the privacy of his family and noted that head coach Scott Arniel would be talking to Scheifele regarding his status for the game on Saturday night. As his father probably would have wanted him to, he suited up for Game 6 against the Jets, and poetically, scored a goal. It didn’t end the way the Jets wanted it to, falling in overtime to lose the series against the Dallas Stars, but that goal is sure to serve as an emotional and heartfelt moment in Scheifele’s career.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares offered his condolences the Scheifele family on Sunday morning.

“Yeah I think first and foremost, everyone in our locker room and in the hockey world is mourning and feeling for him,” alternate captain John Tavares said. “Incredibly difficult news, it’s really sad, so feeling for him and thinking of his family, wish them the best. Pretty incredible effort I thought he put forth last night, in the way he competed for his team, obviously a big goal there.”

Head coach Craig Berube, who got very familiar with Scheifele and the Jets when he was coaching the St. Louis Blues, also offered his condolences to the Jets forward and commended him for suiting up for the game that night.

“My heart goes out to him and his family,” Berube told media. “Just the courage he showed to play that game, he played well, and it’s a terrible situation, and you feel for him, but I understand why he played. That’s a tough day for everybody. Tough day.”

Losing a parent is one of the hardest things anybody can go through, but there’s no question that he left everybody in his circle feeling proud regardless of what the outcome of that game was.