WINNIPEG – Fifteen games into the 2023-24 season, Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon is already on pace for career highs in goals and points.
Dillon, who just turned 33 on Monday is simply enjoying life.
“You always worry about getting older, but I talked to (Stars forward) Joe Pavelski after our game against Dallas, he’s 39. You know he said if you’re still playing this league, in the best league in the world and you’re getting older, you’re doing something right,” said Dillon.
“It’s fun to be able to see a lot of the young guys that I get to build relationships with, friendships with and get to know them more. It’s crazy, everybody tells you when you’re first starting in the league ‘you gotta enjoy it, it goes quick’ and they weren’t lying. It’s the best job I’ll ever have.”
The B.C. product clearly has a lot of hockey left in him and with the departure of Blake Wheeler in the off-season, Dillon officially became the oldest player on the Jets.
“It’s funny because I don’t feel that way at all. You still feel so young, you still feel like knock on wood as long as the body is still treating me well and staying healthy, that’s the biggest thing,” said Dillon.
“They ask me what it was like playing against Gretzky back in the day and Mario Lemieux. It’s funny because I’m trying to think of the oldest veteran guy I played against, it might have been (Detroit defenceman Nick) Lidstrom I think. I don’t think of him as that old really.”
The Jets as a team have been through a lot early in this season with Rick Bowness having to take a leave of absence after his wife Judy going through some health issues. The tragic death of Adam Johnson stunning former teammates and friends Neal Pionk, Alex Iaffalo, Dylan Samberg and Dominic Toninato.
That’s where a veteran like Dillon is needed, someone who younger players can watch and see how he handles himself when times get tough during a long season.
“It’s not fortunate because it’s so sad with how these things happen with Bones’ wife but you realize that you do have to carry on with your job, there is a hockey game or a practice. I’m glad to see that organizations across the league are so appreciative and family orientated to make sure that first and foremost health is a big part of it. Just trying to do your best to not let it rattle you,” said Dillon.
“I think that’s why we have 23 guys in here to be able to talk to one another to be able to vent to a little bit. Whether that’s in sad times or happy times, it’s not going to be perfect through a year. Whether that’s your family at home or how the hockey games are going really. That’s why you have your buddies to support you. I have had guys ask me how to keep your mind off certain things and I just do my best to share what I know.”
Dillon was on the bench in Dallas back in 2014 when he was with the Stars and teammate Rich Peverley had a heart attack after he finished a shift in the first period against Columbus. His heart stopped and emergency technicians and Stars trainers had to restart it.
“That was a tough one. They had to cancel the game and similar to a lot of guys in the league, (Peverley) was a great teammate. A big part of our hockey team and it was a life changing thing, he never played another hockey game after that,” recalled Dillon.
“It really puts things into perspective, it is just a game. For all the pressure and for all the playing for a city, for a fan base, for a job, to put food on your table, it is just a game. For Rich and his family, it was the best for him to step away from the game and get healthy and he now is doing really well, and I think for myself I remember being in awe. I think it was my rookie season and looking at a lot of the older guys like ‘What do you do?’ I think the biggest thing was just to be there and be supportive and have an ear for him, to be available if he did want to talk and kind of offer that.”
Dillon’s defence partner, Pionk is going through the emotions of losing Johnson, one of his best friends and the 33-year-old says that Pionk has handled it well.
“One of his best friends, one of his groomsmen, one of his buddies that you’ve been able to see that last 25 years of your life, just gone. He’s definitely been hurting,” said Dillon.
“I don’t think it’s something you just get over in a week or a year, it’s going to take some time. Just learning to live without that person in your life that was so special, he’s played unbelievably. We just wish him all the best and hope we can be there for him.”
Dillon was on the ice in St. Louis to celebrate with Pionk when he scored his first goal of the season the day after Johnson’s funeral and celebration of life and had a big smile on his face when asked about the goal on November 7th.