Winnipeg Jets’ Mario Ferraro shares Heritage Classic expectations ahead of 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Mario Ferraro will play in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, and he is treating the event as a landmark moment in his career. Ferraro, who writes that it will be his first outdoor NHL game, also described his limited prior experience with outdoor hockey, saying he has not played an outdoor game in years since childhood pond hockey.

Ferraro’s Heritage Classic blog entry also places Sunday’s matchup within a broader family and stadium-experience context. He said he expects to attend with his wife, McKenna, and daughter Solenne, along with his sister and her daughter, describing the day as time to share with family and friends. Ferraro added that his daughter recently turned 1 and that she has been “running my show” at home, setting the tone for a personal, off-ice component to the event.

Looking back, Ferraro said he attended an outdoor NHL game in St. Louis as a junior player in the United States Hockey League. He described going with his billet family to the 2017 Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium, saying the atmosphere was memorable and that it included “quite a cold day” with snow and bundled-up fans.

Ferraro said he has also been to Princess Auto Stadium before, though not for a football game. He wrote that he attended an AC/DC concert at the stadium earlier in the summer and is now looking forward to seeing the venue with the rink built in the middle. He also noted he has not yet attended a Winnipeg Blue Bombers game, but expects it could become another future experience.

On the hockey side, Ferraro framed the Heritage Classic as a significant contest for Winnipeg’s season. He said the Jets had gotten off to a “pretty good” start but had entered a stretch of games in recent weeks in which they were repeatedly involved in one-goal results, struggling to consistently find a win. Ferraro linked the need to keep earning points to maintaining “this hunt” for a playoff spot.

In his blog entry, Ferraro connected Sunday’s Heritage Classic to a schedule that follows it. He said Florida arrives Tuesday, followed by games in Florida against Carolina, describing a tough road stretch as the backdrop to why the Sunday game “definitely” matters for Winnipeg’s momentum heading into those matches.

Ferraro also addressed how the lineup will change after a Friday trade involving the Jets and Devils. He wrote that the trade sent goalie Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils and, in return, brought Winnipeg forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, prospect Alexander Command, and two draft picks. Ferraro said he is excited to meet the new arrivals and described the additions as bringing “great players” and “great talent,” along with added “grit” to the lineup.

Ferraro added that the Jets will want a fast start with the newcomers, and he referenced an early-season period in which Winnipeg found more consistent rhythm. He wrote that he is hoping the team can “get off to a good start” and “keep it rolling,” aiming to reestablish the feel that helped them in the first several games of the year.

As for specific connection points, Ferraro said he has faced Dawson Mercer for several years while Mercer played in the NHL with San Jose. He stated that Mercer has had success at the top level and said he is excited about what that could mean for Winnipeg as Mercer and the other new pieces join the group for the Heritage Classic and beyond. Ferraro concluded his first entry by describing Sunday’s day as “special on so many counts,” including the outdoor-game experience and the opportunity to meet teammates and supporters in a stadium setting.

The Heritage Classic is set for Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, with the broadcast listed as SN, TVAS, TNT, truTV, and HBO MAX. The league announced Ferraro’s participation and featured his blog entry as part of the lead-up coverage to the outdoor game at Princess Auto Stadium. After the Friday trade, Winnipeg’s roster will also have new faces ready to make an immediate impact around the Jets’ outdoor-season milestone.