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Austrian Raffl giving NHL a shot with Jets

One by one they peel off their hockey armour and then stand in front of the television cameras and assembled media throng.

Some look like they shave every other week. Others look like they should be high school freshmen. All have the bright eyes of youth chasing their NHL dream.

Thomas Raffl (left) and Chris Thorburn during group 01 practice at Day 1 of on-ice training camp Friday at the MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg.
JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Thomas Raffl (left) and Chris Thorburn during group 01 practice at Day 1 of on-ice training camp Friday at the MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg. Photo Store

Then up steps left-winger Thomas Raffl, the 29-year-old Austrian sporting a Duck Dynasty starter beard, a couple of sleeves of tattoos and the carved-in-stone physique of a decathlete.