NHL owners aren't in the news a lot, and when they are, it's usually not for something positive. Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman is different, though.
When the funeral of Adam Johnson took place in November, there were three or four members of the Winnipeg Jets who wanted to attend, including Johnson's best friend Neal Pionk. Travelling with the team and branching off would have left them very little time to get to the next city and be ready for the game. Chipman chartered them a private plane, allowing them plenty of time between all the events.
Fast forward to this weekend, and rookie phenom Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks came to Winnipeg to take on the Jets. Before the game happened, Bedard met with reporters and was clearly annoyed that some of them persisted in asking about the Corey Perry situation. According to Darren Pang, Chipman got on Chicago's bus after the game and personally apologized to Bedard for what happened.
This is not something you hear about often from owners in any major sport. Chipman serves as an excellent example of what it means to keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, despite having piles of money.
