The game of hockey, like all sports, is filled with heroes. Most of the time, it is the superstars who have a reputation for coming up clutch. However, we are here to talk about the heroic performances that seem to come from nowhere. An unlikely hero can step up and chip in with a massive Stanley Cup Playoff series-clinching goal, or maybe it is a season-long performance, the likes of which will never be seen again. These unlikely heroes become a part of hockey history. Today, we bring you our Last Word On Hockey Summer Series , as we look at the Winnipeg Jets Unlikely Heroes .
Credit Image: © Brent Clark/Cal Sport Media
Some wonder what makes an unlikely hero. It can be a player who comes up with a massive improvement out of nowhere. An unlikely hero can also be a player who steps up and has a season to remember. Moreover, an unlikely hero can be a player who's a youngster who gives a breakthrough performance. It can also be a star player who gives one last flash of greatness.
For this one, we just wanted to set our parameters, since this franchise has had changes over the years. For it, we will take the approach of including the NHL franchises that existed in the capital of Manitoba. So, we will use the 1980 to 1996 edition of the franchise, before moving to Arizona, and then from 2012 to current, when they were reincarnated from the former Atlanta Thrashers franchise. In fact, if you stay tuned, we might even talk about one of those moves.
One of the Winnipeg Jets unlikely heroes is none other than current forward Cole Perfetti . Perfetti was a tenth-overall selection from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft . His development path has been a bit deliberated, and that partly leads to why he has the status of such an unlikely figure. Under the current head coach's predecessor, Ric k Bowness , Perfetti was not given great opportunity, as it was thought he needed to improve his game on the defensive side of the puck. Under the Jets current head coach Scott Arniel, who has taken a more progressive approach, has allowed Perfetti more leash and given him high-leverage ice time when offence is needed.
Case in point, the 2024-25 was a big season for Perfetti, as it was the first year he played a full 82 games and that he cracked 15 minutes of average ice time (15:11). He also had his career high of 50 points that year. Still, between the likes of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Nikolaj Ehlers, among other competition, it just seemed like Perfetti wasn't necessarily a top choice to be out there when the game was most on the line.
However, when it comes to the moment that gives Perfetti the honours as one of the top Winnipeg Jets unlikely heroes, it came when the game was most on the line. It happened in Game 7, against the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Jets found themselves trailing 3-1, late. The atmosphere in Winnipeg was already getting crazy.
It all started when Vladislav Namestnikov got the puck low on the right wing boards from the offensive zone possession and he took the puck to the net. As he played it toward the net, it hit the stick of Blues defenceman Ryan Suter. With just 1:55 to go, Namestnikov had made it a one-goal game. It was already a wild whiteout in Winnipeg. Then, the energy would continue to heighten, in the final 30 seconds of the game, the Jets frantically setup in the Blues zone.
It came from a bit of persistence by Ehlers who was back on the left point, along the boards. He had tried a shot that was blocked, and then the puck went into the corner, and the Jets had to fight to regain possession. Then, he had a shot that he fanned on that ended up tying up in front of the net, but it found its way back to Ehlers. This time, rather than shooting, he fired it across ice to an open Kyle Connor with hardly anytime on the clock. Connor must've realized this, and just instinctively fired it back towards goal. There, was none other than Perfetti, open, pretty well right in front of the net, to get good wood on it to direct it high into the goal behind Jordan Binnington at officially 19:57 of the third frame of Game 7.
It was even Perfetti's second of Game 7, as he had scored around halfway through the second on the power play, to make the game 2-1 at the time. Thus, keeping his Jets in it at that point, another clutch goal.
And in overtime, captain Adam Lowry would play hero, with his third goal of the opening round at 16:10 of the second period of overtime to give the Jets the series-advancing tally.
Unfortunately for the Jets, they would not get past the Dallas Stars in round two. Six hard fought games, and the Stars prevailed, thanked to a 2-1 overtime Game 6 as the series clincher. However, it does nothing to dismiss the moment Perfetti had in Game 6 of round one, and just the overall terrific season for the still, up-and-coming Perfetti. We fully anticipate a big season, and not to throw around the word breakout, so we won't or maybe we just did.
The next up for our Winnipeg Jets unlikely heroes is none other than the Finnish Flash himself, number 13 (at the time), Teemu Selanne . Heading into the 1992-93 campaign as a 22-year-old rookie, there was an element of the unknown for expectations regarding the speedy winger.
There wasn't necessarily anything out of the ordinary with the young player. He had put his time in with the Finnish army and learned the ropes playing professionally. When Winnipeg finally got him, they knew he was talented but could never have expected his record-breaking freshman NHL campaign.
Selanne had been drafted 10th overall by the Jets, way back in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft . Everyone knew the potential was there, but it just seemed like an eternity to wait for a player, but for Jet fans, the wait would be more than worthwhile.
As we say, there were indicators of his potential. In his last season in Europe before coming to Manitoba, he had a pretty magical season with Jokerit Helsinki of Liiga, the top men's league in Finland. In 44 games, he potted an incredible 39 goals and 62 points. His playoff run was perhaps more impressive with 10 goals and 17 points, leading Jokerit to the Finnish-league title that year. If he wasn't ready for the show, then when?
Sure enough, he was ready for the NHL game. In his first 12 games in the league, he was only held pointless for one of them. He already had 11 goals and nine assists. Maybe the extra conditioning in Finland made the timing just right.
The moment itself came in game 64 of 84 for Selanne and the Jets that season. It ended up being a 7-4 loss at the hands of the Quebec Nordiques. However, three of Winnipeg's four goals came from number 13 himself, Teemu Selanne. The third one, was a won puck race, as Selanne was able to direct the puck around Quebec goalie Stephane Fiset. That prompted the famous goal celebration, as Selanne throw his glove up in the year, and appeared to shoot it down with his stick, just like playing the old Nintendo Duck Hunt.
The legendary sniper Mike Bossy's record of 53 goals by a rookie was no more, as Selanne had topped it.
Selanne went on to score 76 times that season , a record that still hasn't been challenged. Alex Ovechkin's 52-goal 2005-06 season would be the closest anyone has come since. A truly remarkable season for the rookie Selanne, and that is what makes him so unlikely.
The top of the honourable mentions for Winnipeg Jets unlikely heroes is the true champions of this current rendition of the franchise. The company called True North Sports and Entertainment, led by Mark Chipman , a Winnipeg businessman, who stepped up to become the leader of the group that would eventually bring the NHL back to Winnipeg.
For fans of the city of Winnipeg, having NHL back in the city has been a huge light on the city, and welcomed entertainment during the long winters of the cold prairies. Chipman and his team were instrumental in the process, and fans have them to thank to this day for making such an important move to bring NHL hockey back to Winnipeg after a 15-year absence.
Furthermore, the Winnipeg Jets have had many unlikely heroes throughout their history, even back to the WHA days. Guys that helped them capture the Avco Cup Championship, like Ulf Nilsson, The Golden Jet Bobby Hull , or Bob Guindon.
Originally, perhaps the best player, at least in the NHL editions of the Jets, Dale Hawerchuk was always an unlikely hero. He can't help it he was so good and put up so many points. It always seemed like he was underrated. But to be one of the most consistent point producers, during an era highlighted by its high offence, Hawerchuk will always be remembered as a legend of the great game.
We hoped you've enjoyed our summer series. It has been a lot of fun. Join us next with our series of team previews to get you ready for 2026-27. But last, we will leave you will some others from our series on unlikely heroes that we have showcased.
Main Photo Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
