Tyrel Bauer given special honor by the Jets after stunning fight with Keegan Kolesar
Photo credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images
Tyrel Bauer has been handed the Winnipeg Jets' new Player of the Game prize, and this one comes with a twist for anyone expecting a jacket or a chain. The defenceman now holds a rope.
The team explained the idea on social media:
Inspired by our team bonding trip, our new Player of the Game item is the rope that connects a safety harness to an anchor point
Why a Rope Fits the Jets Right Now
The choice makes sense once you consider what a rope represents. It is the lifeline that keeps a climber secure, and it only works when someone on the other end is dependable. For a Jets group building trust this season, the symbolism is hard to miss.
Strong team culture rewards more than goals and saves. A prop passed from teammate to teammate keeps the focus on the group, and it gives fans something fresh to talk about between games.
Plenty of clubs mark standout efforts with novelty items, but few choose gear that is this functional.
A Fitting Honour for Bauer
Bauer, 24, is a Cochrane, Alta. native selected by Winnipeg in the sixth round (164th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. He re-signed in August on a two-year contract with an $875,000 cap hit, two-way this season and one-way in 2027-28.
The 6-foot-4 right-shot defenceman built his reputation with the Manitoba Moose, collecting 401 penalty minutes across 214 AHL games and earning a name as a physical, dependable teammate.
Away from the rink, he won the AHL's 2025-26 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award as Man of the Year for his community work. A prize built around trust and reliability suits a player with that profile.
Whether the rope sticks around as a lasting tradition remains to be seen, but the concept already works as a talking point. Social media rewards teams that show personality, and a prize with a story behind it is the kind of detail fans tend to share.
Either way, Bauer now owns a piece of Jets lore, and the next player to earn it will have a tough act to follow.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Dylan Larkin's trade list has been completely revamped
Dylan Larkin's trade list has been completely revamped