NHL Heritage Classic in Winnipeg: Mario Ferraro shares Jets practice reflections in his blog ahead of Sunday game

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Mario Ferraro is continuing his own blog coverage of the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, publishing his second entry ahead of Sunday’s matchup. Ferraro’s post focuses on the Jets’ on-ice routine at the venue and what the event experience has looked like from his perspective as the team prepares for a game he described as an ordinary NHL contest with “two points on the line.” The Heritage Classic is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage listed as TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV and HBO MAX, according to the NHL’s official Heritage Classic blog feed.

Ferraro said the Jets’ practice environment included adjustments to the ice after rain overnight, adding that he “didn’t really notice much of a difference” during the session. He also pointed to a specific factor for players to get used to at Princess Auto Stadium: he said the brightness from the natural light reflected off the Jets’ white jerseys during the day’s activities.

Beyond the rink conditions and lighting, Ferraro’s entry addressed team-building with new arrivals. He said Dawson Mercer and Nico Daws, both acquired in the blockbuster trade for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck on Friday, had arrived the night before and joined the Jets for practice. Ferraro described the timing as helpful, saying it “felt like they’ve been a part of this group from the beginning,” and he noted that the two players will “dive right into a game tomorrow” as their first Heritage Classic begins as members of Winnipeg.

The blog also included Ferraro’s account of how coaches and team leadership have framed the moment. He wrote that head coach Scott Arniel referenced the importance of the game during a team gala speech the previous night, and Ferraro said he has not yet fully processed the larger occasion because, in his view, regular games and Heritage Classic games are equally about performance under competitive pressure. He said he expects there will be time to “soak it all in” if the Jets earn the win.

Ferraro’s entry then shifted to the off-ice community and family elements that accompany Heritage Classic events. After practice, he described a family skate that included his sister Celina, Celina’s daughter, and Ferraro’s own daughter. Ferraro said his daughter Solenne, who had just turned one, “didn’t love it too much” at first because she was still becoming comfortable on the rink, though he said she ultimately had fun. He also said he enjoyed seeing the smiles and photos during the experience, writing that it is “what it’s all about.”

In a specific surprise detail, Ferraro wrote that his brother-in-law Mitchell Scott proposed during the family skate after everyone got off the ice following the horn. Ferraro said he already knew about the proposal idea when it was shared with him before the event, and he described being on the ice as the moment happened. He added that Celina did not know it was coming and described a comedic moment involving Celina trying to leave when the horn sounded, while Mitchell was pulling her back in as the proposal took place.

Ferraro also used his blog to highlight his involvement with Hockey Fights Cancer. He said he met a family “fighting the battle against cancer” during the day’s Heritage Classic activities and described the encounter as one of the best parts of hockey for him. Ferraro identified himself as a Hockey Fights Cancer ambassador and said he has been involved for a long time, adding that his own connection to the cause comes from being affected by cancer. He wrote that his billet mom, Erin, died of cancer in 2017 while he was playing with Des Moines in the USHL, and he connected that experience to the impact he believes it had on his life and career.

In his entry, Ferraro said he has kept in touch with that family and described continuing support work through the NHL and Hockey Fights Cancer efforts. He also said the family he met in Winnipeg is dealing with cancer while receiving treatment and that they were able to attend the Heritage Classic during a difficult period. Ferraro wrote that the family has two young kids, and he said he hopes that building a relationship with them will continue beyond Sunday, including the possibility of attending a game at Canada Life Centre.

Taken together, Ferraro’s second blog entry provides a day-by-day look at how the Jets are approaching the Heritage Classic from both a hockey and an event-experience standpoint. With the game set for Sunday night at Princess Auto Stadium, his post places special emphasis on practical preparation for playing in an outdoor NHL setting and on integrating Mercer and Daws quickly after the trade that brought new faces to Winnipeg’s lineup.