Winnipeg Jets Top Prospects #14 JC Lipon

The Winnipeg Jets have a great scouting staff and they are able to see value where other scouts would let a player go undrafted the Winnipeg Jets have the unique ability to see the potential and value in a player and are willing to put the time into a players development for future use where other teams demand that their prospects make the NHL right away.

JC Lipon is one of those players for the Winnipeg Jets organization. Lipon was a walk on player for the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, Lipon was not invited to a training camp or issued an invite by the scouting staff, Lipon went to an open tryout and made the team with his hockey skills.

Lipon turned his first season in the WHL a season of opportunity playing in 53 games for the Blazers 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points and 38 penalty minutes and -7 rating which is a great season for an undrafted rookie in the powerhouse of the WHL. The great season got Lipon an invite to play on the Western Canada U17 team which he also made and played in five games and got five assists.

Lipon returned to the Blazers line up the following season and displayed his toughness and grit by serving 111 penalty minutes for the Blazers that year. Lipon’s 10/11 season showed growth in his game he played in 65 games with 3 goals 18 assists and 21 points. Despite a strong second season Lipon did not represent Canada the following year and trained for the upcoming WHL season.

The beginning of the 11/12 season their was a huge difference in Lipon the off season training program that Lipon had worked on all summer and his maturity in the game ended up making big changes on the scoreboard Lipon again tallied 111 penalty minutes however Lipon played in 69 games tallied 19 goals 46 assists for 65 points and a huge +23 rating. However Lipon was again left off the Team Canada roster, but he had captured the attention of several scouts.

Lipon returned to Kamloops for the 2012/13 season and as a fan favorite, Lipons play had made him a household name in Kamloops and Lipon was determined to make his game grow again and it did. Lipon did spent a lot of time in the penalty box with 115 penalty minutes. Lipon had built up a reputation of being a strong smart player that is willing to drop the gloves with anybody to defend his teammates.

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Lipon completed the 12/13 regular season playing 61 regular season games with 36 goals and 53 assists and 89 points, before joining the Kamloops Blazers for a playoff run of 15 games were Lipon tallied 6 goals 17 assists and 23 points and 20 penalty minutes. Lipon also represented Team Canada on the under 20 team playing in 5 games but leaving the tournament with no points.

JC Lipon was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the summer of 2013 in the 3rd round 91st overall, but was not returned to the Kamloops Blazers instead Lipon had an impressive training camp with Winnipeg and was asked to join the St Johns Ice Caps.

[pull quote] “JC is a very strong player that will stand up for his teammates if he needs too, but also has scoring ability” [/pull quote]

Lipon had an impressive first season in St Johns and was able to play in 72 games with 9 goal 32 assists and 41 points in his rookie season. Lipon was able to tally 41 points in the American Hockey League while also tallying 135 penalty minutes. Lipon also played 14 playoff games for the Ice Caps while the team made a run to the Calder Cup Finals before losing to the Texas Stars, Lipon ended with 1 point and 4 penalty minutes in his limited role.

Lipon returned to the St Johns Ice Caps for his second pro season after another strong Winnipeg Jets camp. Lipon for the first team since his time in Kamloops seen his production drop despite the number of games he played in go up. Lipon played in 75 games for the Ice Caps 5 goals and 21 assists for 26 points but tallied 163 penalty minutes.

The 2015/16 season seen the biggest change in the young stars career the entire St Johns Ice Caps team was moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba to join the Winnipeg Jets in the capital city, which seen the Jets and Moose share an arena, training facility and gym time with the Jets which was key helping Lipon grow as a player for the returning Manitoba Moose.

Lipon benefitted from the move to Winnipeg and seen his number of games fall to 45 games played but had 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points. Lipon also played a much more disciplined game with only 87 penalty minutes. Lipon had garnered a call up to the Winnipeg Jets as the Jets have missed the playoffs this season. Lipon has played in 9 games so far and has 1 assist and 5 penalty minutes.

Lipon will spent the remainder of the season in the National Hockey League to gain experience as the Jets are not making the playoffs this year, once the regular season ended in the NHL, expect to see Lipon return to the Moose roster for their playoff run. Lipon will make a push for the Jets fourth line next season, but depending on this years draft, free agency and possible expansion draft Lipon will probably start in the Moose lineup.

Speaking with Scouting Staff JC Lipson has some scouts excited and they had this to say about Lipon. “JC is a very strong player that will stand up for his teammates if he needs to, but also had scoring components in his game, he may make a career of being a call up guy”. Another scout offered this about Lipon “JC has the ability to make the bottom six in the NHL and have a great career, he is smart and able to adapt to the situation on the ice which will make him a well rounded NHLer”