Mark Scheifele Bio
Mark Scheifele (born March 15, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays centre and serves as an alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected by the Jets seventh overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he became the franchise’s first-ever draft pick after the club relocated from Atlanta. He holds the Winnipeg Jets franchise record for both goals and points.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing roughly 207 pounds, Scheifele has developed into one of the league’s most consistent offensive centres. Beyond his on-ice accomplishments, he is recognized in Winnipeg for his charitable work and community leadership.
Early Life and Background
Mark Scheifele was born on March 15, 1993, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, to parents Brad and Mary Lou. As the youngest of three siblings, he was raised in a Christian household and attended Grandview Baptist Kitchener every Sunday with his family. His older brother Kyle, who wore the number 55 in hockey, became an early influence on the young Scheifele.
Scheifele grew up playing minor hockey in Kitchener, suiting up for the Kitchener Jr. Rangers rep program in the Alliance Pavilion League. He originally played as a defenceman before being converted to a forward position. While attending Grand River Collegiate Institute, he competed in volleyball, basketball, badminton, and track and field, only beginning to focus exclusively on hockey when he was sixteen years old.
Path to Professional Hockey
After his minor midget season in 2008–09, Scheifele was drafted by the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Saginaw Spirit in the seventh round of the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. He failed to make the Spirit’s roster and spent a year of seasoning with his hometown Kitchener Dutchmen Jr. B club in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, where his play drew NCAA scholarship offers. Although he originally committed to Cornell, he opted to pursue the OHL pathway.
Following the 2009–10 season, his playing rights were traded to the Barrie Colts. In his rookie OHL campaign, Scheifele earned the Central Division Academic Award for October and ranked second on the Colts in scoring, earning an invitation to the 2010 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Entering the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he was ranked nineteenth among OHL prospects and sixteenth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting before being chosen seventh overall by the Winnipeg Jets.
Mark Scheifele Career
Early Career (2011–2013)
Scheifele attended the Winnipeg Jets training camp ahead of the 2011–12 season and elected to wear jersey number 55 after his favourite number 19 was taken. He signed an entry-level contract on October 3, 2011, made his NHL debut on October 6, and scored his first career NHL goal on October 19 against James Reimer of the Toronto Maple Leafs. After seven games he was returned to the OHL to continue his development with the Barrie Colts.
During the 2012–13 season, Scheifele posted 79 points in 45 regular-season games for the Colts and added 39 points in 19 playoff games, including four goals in Game 4 against the London Knights. A bodycheck by Josh Anderson in the next game forced him out of Game 7, ending his OHL season just short of the Memorial Cup.
Establishing Himself in the NHL (2013–2016)
In his first full NHL campaign of 2013–14, Scheifele played all 60 games before the Olympic break and cemented his role as a top-six centre before a knee injury on March 4 cut his season short. He recovered fully and played all 82 games in 2014–15, recording 49 points while adjusting to a new body composition after DNA-guided training added eleven pounds of muscle.
The 2015–16 season marked Scheifele’s arrival as an offensive force. He surpassed the 20-goal mark for the first time, scored his first NHL hat-trick against the Montreal Canadiens on March 5, 2016, and finished with a then-career-high 61 points in 71 games. Following the season, he signed an eight-year, $49 million contract to remain in Winnipeg.
Alternate Captain and Playoff Performer (2016–2019)
Named an alternate captain for 2016–17 alongside Dustin Byfuglien and captain Blake Wheeler, Scheifele led the Jets in scoring and finished seventh in the league with 82 points in 79 games. The next season he tallied 60 points in only 60 games despite a 22-game injury absence, and during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs he set an NHL record for most road goals in a single postseason with 11, surpassing marks held by Joe Mullen and Sidney Crosby.
In 2018–19, Scheifele set new career highs in goals, assists, and points, was named NHL First Star of the Week in December, and earned his first NHL All-Star Game selection alongside Blake Wheeler. He recorded his 400th NHL point in December 2019, and by the time the 2019–20 season paused for COVID-19, he had accumulated 29 goals and 44 assists for 73 points through 71 games. An Achilles tendon injury suffered in the playoff seeding round-robin against the Calgary Flames kept him out of the rest of the postseason.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2020–Present)
Scheifele returned for the 2020–21 North Division campaign and recorded his 500th career NHL point on May 6, 2021, helping the Jets snap a seven-game skid and clinch a playoff berth. He added five points in a first-round sweep of the Edmonton Oilers before a four-game suspension for charging Jake Evans in Round Two kept him out of the remainder of the series against the Montreal Canadiens.
The 2021–22 season brought offensive struggles, multiple hat-tricks, and the firing of head coach Paul Maurice. Despite those challenges, Scheifele set the franchise record for most overtime goals, surpassing Ilya Kovalchuk. He rebounded strongly in 2022–23, recording two hat-tricks in December and helping the Jets clinch a playoff spot. Prior to 2023–24, he signed a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension identical to that of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Driving Style and Strengths
Before his draft year, Scheifele described himself as a hard-working, two-way, playmaking centre, though he has since been viewed by some as a one-way offensive player. Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock called him one of the best centres in the league, and his offensive strengths are complemented by elite face-off work, a heavy shot, and the ability to drive a top line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Scheifele’s defining milestones include surpassing Ilya Kovalchuk’s franchise overtime goals record, setting the NHL mark for road goals in a single playoff year, and on October 18, 2025, scoring his 813th career NHL point to become the all-time points leader for the Winnipeg Jets franchise. He has also represented Canada at two World Junior Championships, two IIHF World Championships, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Mark Scheifele Career Wins
Mark Scheifele has built a prolific offensive résumé, amassing multiple 20-goal seasons, seven NHL hat-tricks, and franchise records in goals and points. He has earned NHL All-Star selections and international medals, cementing his status as the face of the Jets’ offence.
NHL Highlights
Scheifele’s NHL journey began with his first goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2011, and his first hat-trick came against the Montreal Canadiens on March 5, 2016. He went on to record hat-tricks against the Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, and twice in 2022–23 against the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks, bringing his career total to seven.
His most recent milestone came on October 18, 2025, when he scored his 813th career NHL point to become the Jets’ all-time points leader. He also holds the franchise record for most overtime goals, surpassing Ilya Kovalchuk in 2021.
International Achievements
Internationally, Scheifele won a bronze medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships and a gold medal with Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championship in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. He also represented Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, skating on a line with Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid.
Mark Scheifele Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Scheifele was raised in Kitchener by his father Brad, a former high school football player, and his mother Mary Lou. He is the youngest of three siblings, with older brother Kyle having worn the number 55 that Mark later adopted in his honour.
Faith and Community
A practising Christian, Scheifele gathers regularly with teammates Adam Lowry, Josh Morrissey, and formerly Tucker Poolman for prayer and conversation. He serves as a Sport Ambassador for KidSport Winnipeg and runs an annual hockey camp on the charity’s behalf. During the 2020 COVID-19 pause, he donated $100,000 to Winnipeg Harvest Inc. to support members of the community. He is also the owner of two pet goats named Tiger Woods and Tom Brady.
2025 Season Performance
Mark Scheifele entered the 2025–26 NHL season as the Winnipeg Jets’ alternate captain and franchise points leader following his record-breaking goal on October 18, 2025. He continues to anchor the team’s top-six forward group and serve as a veteran presence in the dressing room.
The season carried personal significance after the unexpected passing of his father Brad the night before Game 6 of the 2025 second-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars, prompting an outpouring of $55 donations in his memory to KidSport Canada and the True North Youth Foundation.
On the ice, Scheifele’s combination of elite face-off ability, heavy shot, and playmaking vision continues to drive the Jets’ offence. With his contract extension running through 2030, he remains central to Winnipeg’s long-term competitive plans.