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Mark Scheifele becomes Winnipeg's all-time leading goal scorer as he trusts 'in God's plan'

By Jon Ackerman Feb 25, 2025
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

All pro sports teams have high expectations for the players they select in their respective drafts, especially the first-round picks. So when the Winnipeg Jets took Mark Scheifele at No. 7 overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, they envisioned him becoming a franchise linchpin.

Considering he was also the organization’s first selection after relocating to Winnipeg from Atlanta, the Jets really hoped he’d blossom into a franchise legend. (After the Jets played in Winnipeg starting in 1972, they became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996, making way for the Atlanta Thrashers, established in 1999, to become the Winnipeg Jets in 2011.)

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That hope became reality years ago, but Scheifele’s greatness reached a new level Monday night, as he became the Winnipeg/Atlanta franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer with his 329th career score. It came on a rebound in overtime against the San Jose Sharks, giving Winnipeg (41-14-3) its 10th consecutive victory and NHL-leading 85th point.

It continues a strong season for Scheifele with 32 goals on the year, which ranks third in the NHL. That mark leads the Jets, and could lead to Scheifele’s best season of his 14-year career. He needs 10 more goals to match his career best from 2022-23, and six more to equal his second-best season in 2018-19, which was also the first of his two All-Star seasons (2019-20 was the other).

After Monday’s game, Scheifele acknowledged the achievement and talked about leaning on his faith in God throughout his career.

“A kid from Kitchener, [Ontario,] playing with the Kitchener Dutchmen way back when I was 16, I never would have believed you,” he said when asked if he could have imagined this accomplishment when he began his NHL career. “But all you’ve got to do is trust in God’s plan and that’s what I’ve done. Obviously I’m very, very grateful for my family, and the Winnipeg Jets organization. They were the ones who trusted in me and I just want to keep on playing well for them.”

Because of his play on the ice and the fact that he’s been able to stay with one organization his entire career, Scheifele has developed into a leader off the ice as well. He works with team chaplain Lorne Korol to organize chapel services for players to meet and talk about God, as well as what is happening in their lives.

“Nobody’s perfect and there’s times where I wish I did things differently, but I know I always have God there through the ups and the downs,” Scheifele told Sports Spectrum last year. “Praise Him when things are good and praise Him when things are bad. I feel so lucky that I was raised in a home where faith was important and it’s kind of like hockey. Hockey is always a game that you can always grow at. You can always hone your skills and learn more and grow as a player. And faith, it’s the same thing.”

He said he grew up in a Christian home and regularly attended church as a kid. Like many people, his faith journey included some ups and downs as he matured and pursued a professional hockey career, but his main goal is to live in a way that points people to God.

“I try to show my faith by the way that I live my life and the actions that I do as opposed to beating someone over the head with the Bible,” he said. “So, I think that’s something I always think about, is just try to live your best spiritual life each and every day and have people see a difference in me and that difference be God.”

The Jets have reached the playoffs the past two seasons, but were eliminated in the first round both times. The deepest postseason run the team has ever been on came in 2018, when it advanced to the conference finals for the first time. Scheifele and the Jets hope to surpass all that this season.

They return to the ice Wednesday in Ottawa to face the Senators at 7 p.m. ET.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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