Mark Scheifele's junior grind with the Barrie Colts

Mark Scheifele, the Winnipeg Jets’ steadfast center and alternate captain, built his NHL career on an unyielding work ethic that traces back to his days with the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League.[1] As a teenager, Scheifele turned his billet family’s backyard rink into a personal training ground, practicing so obsessively that teammates had to intervene.[2] This story, highlighted in a 2019 NHL.com feature, underscores the drive that has defined his path from junior hockey to NHL stardom.[1]

From Kitchener, Ontario, Scheifele entered the OHL after being drafted by the Saginaw Spirit but traded to the Barrie Colts, where he honed his skills during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.[3] His time there wasn’t just about games; it was about relentless preparation that foreshadowed his professional success.

Early drive and arrival in Barrie

Scheifele grew up as the youngest of three siblings in Kitchener, showing early competitive fire that sometimes spilled into frustration, like hurling a goal bucket after a backyard soccer loss.[1] This intensity pushed him to improve, channeling energy into hockey where he stood out in junior ranks.

Selected seventh overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Scheifele had already made waves with the Colts.[4] In his first full OHL season (2010-11), he posted 22 goals and 53 assists in 66 games, helping Barrie despite a challenging team record.[5]

The following year, injuries limited him to 47 games, but he still tallied 23 goals and 40 assists, showcasing scoring prowess and playmaking.[5] Playoffs saw him contribute five goals and seven assists in 13 games, proving his mettle under pressure.

Teammates noticed his edge early. As Barrie’s captain Colin Behenna recalled from their shared linemate days, Scheifele’s passion was evident on and off the ice.[1]

His junior stats highlighted versatility:

These numbers laid the foundation for his pro transition.

The backyard rink obsession

Living with a billet family in Barrie, Scheifele found the perfect outlet in their outdoor rink equipped with chillers and a resurfacer.[6] Free time meant endless reps: refining shots, dekes, and game situations until dusk.

His dedication bordered on excessive. Linemate Behenna shared, “We had to tell him to stop, that he was going too much, to get off that ice to rest his body. The fact you have to tell someone to limit that, it’s a testament to how much work he was putting in.”[1]

Behenna added insight into Scheifele’s potential: “When I watched him in Barrie, there was no doubt in my mind he was going to be something pretty special… He works harder than anyone else.”[1]

This routine wasn’t casual shinny; it was deliberate skill-building. Scheifele treated the rink like a pro facility, focusing on minutiae that separated good players from great ones.

Even years later, the anecdote resurfaced in NHL Nuggets, reminding fans of his roots amid his Jets captaincy.[2] For more on the original 2019 story, check NHL.com’s feature.

From Colts to Jets leadership

Drafted in 2011, Scheifele split time between the Jets, AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps, and returns to Barrie before sticking in the NHL.[7] By 2019, during the Jets’ playoff push against St. Louis, his junior habits fueled maturity as the youngest leader on a 2-0 deficit team.[1]

He set records like 11 road goals in a postseason, second only to league highs, en route to the Western Conference Final.[1] Trainer Gary Roberts noted his evolution: “Now Mark looks at himself as a leader… what drives Mark now is to win the Stanley Cup.”[1]

Today, at 33, Scheifele remains a Jets cornerstone, eyeing international play like the 2026 IIHF Worlds.[8] His full junior profile is detailed on EliteProspects.

Career milestones include multiple 40-goal seasons and captaincy duties.

Legacy of hard work

Scheifele’s Barrie story illustrates how junior habits forge pros. Recent Nuggets revive it, linking past grind to present leadership.[2]

As the Jets navigate 2026 challenges, his example inspires: outwork everyone, rest when told.

This relentless pursuit positions Winnipeg for contention, with Scheifele central to any Cup chase. What started on a backyard rink endures in NHL arenas.