Winnipeg Jets Explained

Team Name:Winnipeg Jets
Current:2024–25 Winnipeg Jets season
Can Eng:1
Bg Color:background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#041E42 5px solid; border-bottom:#004A98 5px solid;
Text Color:
  1. 000000
Logo Image:Winnipeg Jets Logo 2011.svg
Conference:Western
Division:Central
Founded:June 25, 1997
History:Atlanta Thrashers
19992011
Winnipeg Jets
2011–present
Arena:Canada Life Centre
City:Winnipeg, Manitoba
Uniform Image:WCC-Uniform-WPG.png
Team Colors:Navy blue, aviator blue, fighter grey, red, white[1] [2] [3] [4]
Media Affiliates:TSN3
680 CJOB
CJKR-FM (Power 97)
Owner:True North Sports & Entertainment
(Mark Chipman, executive chairman & governor) [5]
General Manager:Kevin Cheveldayoff
Head Coach:Scott Arniel
Asst Coach:
Captain:Adam Lowry
Minor League Affiliates:Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals (ECHL)
Stanley Cups:0
Conf Titles:0
Presidents' Trophies:0
Division Titles:0

The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, playing its home games at Canada Life Centre.[6] [7]

The franchise was established as the Atlanta Thrashers on June 25, 1997, and began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season. True North Sports & Entertainment then bought the team in May 2011, and relocated the Jets to Winnipeg prior to the 2011–12 season, making them the first NHL franchise to relocate since the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997.[8] [9] [10] The team was renamed the Jets after Winnipeg's original WHA/NHL team, which relocated after the 1995–96 season due to financial issues to become the Phoenix (later Arizona) Coyotes.

History

Original Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)

See main article: Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996). On December 27, 1971, Winnipeg was granted one of the founding franchises in the World Hockey Association (WHA). By 1979, many of the WHA's teams had folded, but the Jets were absorbed into the NHL along with the Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers and Hartford Whalers as part of the WHA–NHL merger.[11] [12] In 1996, team owner Barry Shenkarow sold the team to American businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke. Burke and Gluckstern originally planned to move the team to Minnesota (which had lost the North Stars to Dallas in 1993), but eventually reached an agreement with Phoenix businessman Jerry Colangelo that would see the team move to Arizona and become the Phoenix Coyotes. The original Winnipeg Jets played their last game on April 28, 1996.

Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2011)

See main article: Atlanta Thrashers. The city of Atlanta was awarded an NHL expansion franchise, named the Atlanta Thrashers, on June 25, 1997. It was the second NHL franchise for Atlanta (their first being the Atlanta Flames, established in 1972, who departed for Calgary in 1980 to become the Calgary Flames). The Thrashers began play in the 1999–2000 season.

In the 12 years in Atlanta, the Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs once, during the 2006–07 season, and never won a playoff game. Partially due to their lack of playoff success, the team had difficulty drawing fans to attend their games in their final seasons.[13]

Winnipeg Jets (2011–present)

Although they moved for financial reasons, the Coyotes have never been profitable in Arizona. Mounting losses eventually compelled the franchise to file for bankruptcy after the 2008–09 season. The team was taken over by the league before the next season began. As early as October 2009, there were rumours that True North Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns both Winnipeg's Canada Life Centre (then known as MTS Centre) and the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Manitoba Moose, had been invited to bid on the city's former franchise.[14] TNSE submitted a series of bids for the Coyotes, which were taken seriously enough that the league drew up a tentative schedule with Winnipeg in place of Phoenix. TNSE were 10 minutes away from getting the Coyotes before he NHL shelved the bid after securing a large subsidy from the Coyotes' municipal government.[15] In contrast to aggressive, public bids by Jim Balsillie (who had unsuccessfully attempted to use bankruptcy laws to skirt NHL rules and move the Coyotes to Hamilton), the low-key approach by TNSE and its chairman, Mark Chipman, was praised by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and other owners, raising their profile when the question of the Thrashers' relocation came up.[16]

On May 20, 2011, the Winnipeg Sun confirmed that an agreement in principle had been reached for True North to purchase the Thrashers,[17] while Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz announced that he was confident that the Thrashers' relocation to Winnipeg would soon be officially announced.[18] On May 31, 2011, at a press conference at the MTS Centre, Bettman confirmed that the Atlanta Thrashers had been sold to True North and would relocate to Winnipeg for the 2011–12 season, pending the approval of the sale and relocation by the NHL's Board of Governors,[19] which came at their June 21, 2011, meeting.[20] The reported purchase price was $170 million, with $60 million going to the NHL as a relocation fee. After the announcement, True North made preparations to move the Moose franchise to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.[21]

Season ticket sales began June 1, 2011, with Manitoba Moose season ticket holders having priority. The team sought to sell 13,000 season tickets in an effort to prove its viability.[22] Within the first three and a half hours, the new franchise sold 1,870 packages to Moose season ticket holders.[23] Season tickets opened to the general public on June 4 and sold out in 17 minutes.[24] Once the "Drive to 13,000" was completed, True North started a season ticket waiting list, which was shut down after 8,000 people signed up in two hours.[25] In July 2011, tickets for October 9 home opener against the Montreal Canadiens were listed for an average price of $1,711 on StubHub, with an average selling price of $713.[26]

True North said the team's name would not be announced until after the successful completion of the season ticket drive at the earliest.[27] The team was not to be named the Thrashers, since True North did not acquire the name in the transaction, and the rights to that name and the Thrashers logo were retained by the ownership group in Atlanta.[28]

There was considerable support in Winnipeg to reuse "Winnipeg Jets", the name of the city's original WHA and NHL franchise, though rumours spread that True North preferred "Manitoba Moose". "Whiteout" and "Falcons" were also considered, but the latter was quickly rejected in deference to Atlanta, which has another professional sports team by that name.[29] [30] [31] True North kept their selection secret until the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 24, when Chipman introduced General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to "make our first pick, on behalf of the Winnipeg Jets."[32]

Before the franchise relocation was officially completed, True North bought out the remaining years of General Manager Rick Dudley's contract on June 4, 2011.[33] Thrashers President Don Waddell, who had been with the franchise since its inception, had earlier announced he would not be moving with the team.[28] Kevin Cheveldayoff, a former GM of the Chicago Wolves and former assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks, was hired to replace Dudley four days later.[34] The team also retained Marcel Comeau, the director of amateur scouting.[35] On June 12, 2011, Cheveldayoff had Thrashers Head Coach Craig Ramsay reinterview for his position, then formally dismissed him as head coach eight days later.[36] [37] Claude Noel, who had been the head coach of the Manitoba Moose, was named head coach four days later; the other finalist for the job had been Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Mike Haviland.[38] Charlie Huddy, Pascal Vincent and Wade Flaherty, formerly of the Dallas Stars and Blackhawks, were named Noel's assistant coaches.

The Jets made their formal regular season debut on October 9, 2011, when a sellout crowd at the MTS Centre saw the visiting Montreal Canadiens defeat the Jets 5–1, with Nik Antropov scoring the first-ever Jets goal.[39] The opening ceremonies featured a concert by Winnipeg-based rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, who performed "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" with the title sung as "we just got back the Jets".[40] Other highlights on the first Jets schedule included a home-and-home set with the Phoenix Coyotes, Winnipeg's previous NHL franchise (including a December 1 game in Winnipeg, the Coyotes' first regular season appearance in Winnipeg since vacating the city), as well as a December 17 home game against the Anaheim Ducks, which was former Jet Teemu Selanne's first playing appearance in Winnipeg since being traded from the Jets in February 1996.[41]

During the summer of 2012, the Jets added Perry Pearn to their coaching staff. Larry Simmons was appointed assistant general manager, the same position he had held with the Thrashers.[42] [43] As the Jets inherited the Thrashers' position in the Southeast Division since the 2011–12 season, the NHL and National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) were prompted to consider realignment of teams. Beginning in 2013–14, the Jets moved to the Western Conference and play in the new-look, seven-team Central Division.[44] [45]

The Jets fired Noel and Pearn in January 2014, with the former being replaced by veteran coach Paul Maurice.[46] On April 9, 2015, the Jets clinched their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance since relocating to Winnipeg following a 1–0 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche. They clinched the spot after the Calgary Flames defeated the Los Angeles Kings later in the night.[47] Finishing the season in the second wild-card spot, they played the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks in the first round. In the first playoff series that involved a team from Winnipeg since the 1996 playoffs, the Ducks swept the Jets in four games.

The season following their first playoff run was a disappointment, as the Jets finished 25th overall, well out of the playoffs. Management was forced to deal with expiring contracts of two star players, electing to sign Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year extension while trading team captain Andrew Ladd to the Chicago Blackhawks at the NHL trade deadline. Despite finishing with the sixth-worst record in the league, the Jets managed to win the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft through the draft lottery, which they used to select Finnish prospect Patrik Laine.[48] [49] Later that summer, the team appointed Blake Wheeler as their new captain.

Playoff years (2017–present)

In the 2017–18 season, the Jets clinched their second playoff spot since relocating from Atlanta, with the help of starting goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck. On March 25, 2018, the Jets beat the Nashville Predators 5–4 in a shootout, and clinched a spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.[50] On April 11, 2018, the Jets won the first playoff game in the history of the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise when they defeated the Minnesota Wild 3–2.[51] On April 20, 2018, the Jets won their first playoff series in franchise history (and the first series victory in 31 years for the city) with a 5–0 victory over the Minnesota Wild in game five of the First Round series, winning the series 4–1.[52] On May 10, 2018, the Jets made further franchise history by advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time, defeating the Nashville Predators four games to three; Nashville were the defending holders of the Campbell Bowl Trophy from the previous season and holders of the Presidents' Trophy for most points in the league during the 2017–18 NHL season.[53] This would also mark the first time that either iteration of the Winnipeg Jets had advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. Facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals, the Jets defeated the Golden Knights in the first game of the series 4–2.[54] However, the Jets went on to lose the Western Conference finals, with the Golden Knights defeating the Jets in the following four games in the series.[55] In 2019, the Jets clinched the playoffs, but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in six games in the First Round.

The Jets struggled in the 2019–20 season due to the departure of many high-profile defencemen such as Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Dustin Byfuglien, but were still in contention for a wild-card spot when the league shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jets were awarded a playoff spot as part of the expanded format, but injuries to star forwards Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine in the first game of their series against the Calgary Flames in the Qualifying Round handicapped the team and they were eliminated three games to one in the best-of-five series. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was also awarded the Vezina Trophy for being the league's best goaltender. The Jets won their fourth consecutive playoff berth in the 2020–21 season and swept the Edmonton Oilers in the First Round but were themselves swept in the Second Round by the Montreal Canadiens.

In the 2021–22 season, the Jets finished a disappointing sixth in the Central Division, missing the playoffs. At the start of the 2022–23 season, forward Blake Wheeler was stripped of the team captaincy.[56] The Jets then clinched the 2023 playoffs at the end of the regular season, but were defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the first round. Before the start of the 2023–24 season, forward Adam Lowry was appointed team captain.[57] The Jets then clinched the second seed in the Central Division, but lost to the Colorado Avalanche in five games in the first round.

Team information

Jerseys

No new logo and colours for the Jets accompanied the team's nickname announcement at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (draft pick Mark Scheifele was presented with a generic black and silver NHL jersey and cap),[58] but True North confirmed that they were in the process of conceiving a logo and colour scheme for the Jets, with True North's chairman, Mark Chipman, stating that the previous Jets' blue and red colours would be incorporated.[59] The Jets unveiled their new logos and colours on July 22, 2011, three days before the team had scheduled to release them (this after team merchandise containers were broken into and a crude picture of a Jets' T-shirt made the rounds on the internet).[60] [61] [62]

While blue and silver are the main colour palette, the insignias are a dramatic departure from the previous Jets' logos and pay homage to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), particularly Winnipeg's 17 Wing; the primary logo is patterned after the roundels used by the RCAF and includes a silhouette of a McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet.[62] (Red is a secondary part of the colour scheme due to a maple leaf, the incorporation of which came with the permission of the Toronto Maple Leafs.)[62] Game uniforms for the new Jets were unveiled in September at 17 Wing;[63] [64] [65] the team did not introduce a third jersey for its inaugural season due to a limited timetable.[62]

The Jets kept their existing uniforms when Adidas took over production of NHL uniforms in 2017. Prior to the 2018–19 season, the Jets introduced their first alternate uniform, featuring aviator blue as the base colour, along with a new "Jets" wordmark, block letters and numbers, and striping inspired from the 1990–96 uniforms of the original Jets.[66] [67]

Even though the current Jets are not historically connected with the original franchise now known as the Arizona Coyotes, the team continued to pay tribute to its original incarnation on a few occasions. From 2016 to 2019, the Jets wore throwback white uniforms based on the 1973–78 design worn by the original Jets. The uniforms made its debut in the 2016 Heritage Classic and have been used during Jets Hall of Fame induction nights since.[68] A blue version of the throwback uniforms was later unveiled, this time for the 2019 Heritage Classic.[69] For the 2020–21 season, the Jets wore "Reverse Retro" alternate uniforms, recreating the original Jets' 1979–90 uniforms but recoloured to match the current Jets' scheme.[70] In addition, the current Jets' 10th-anniversary logo in 2021 also served as a memorial logo to Dale Hawerchuk, whose no. 10 (in the original Jets' number and colour style) was added in lieu of the team's current logo following his death on August 18, 2020.[71] Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Jets' blue "Heritage" uniforms were promoted to alternate status, replacing the previous aviator blue alternates.[72] In the 2022–23 season, the Jets wore "Reverse Retro" uniforms based on the white uniforms worn by the original Jets from 1990 to 1996, again recoloured to the current Jets' scheme.[73]

In the 2023–24 season, the Jets wore special "Heritage" uniforms for three games in collaboration with the RCAF for its centennial anniversary. Nicknamed the "Forty-Eight" in tribute to the Ottawa RCAF Flyers team that won the gold medal for Team Canada in the 1948 Winter Olympics, the uniform featured a powder blue (nicknamed "RCAF blue") base, red and navy blue stripes, and navy blue numbers.[74]

The logo was designed by Reebok, the NHL and designer Linda Lynch.[75] Reebok's lead uniform and team identity designers, Dominique Fillion and Linda Lynch, have been associated with the identity design.[76]

Mascot

True North announced they had "recalled" their former Moose mascot, Mick E. Moose, from the AHL. Mick E. had spent the past 15 seasons with the Manitoba Moose of the International and American hockey leagues, entertaining fans at Moose games and community events. Slight modifications to the costume were made, including a new vintage leather aviator helmet.[77] [78] Since the start of the 2015–16 season, Mick E. Moose has served as mascot for both the Jets and the Manitoba Moose. A fan favourite, he also averages over 100 community appearances per season in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba. In the 2016 Heritage Classic, the current Jets resurrected their mascot from its original incarnation, Benny, and has since served as the team's secondary mascot.

Traditions

National anthem

Beginning in 2011, during the singing of "O Canada", fans commonly shout the words "True North!" (in the line "The True North strong and free") to recognize True North Sports & Entertainment.[79] Jennifer Hanson was the Jets' regular national anthem singer for the final seven seasons of the original franchise, and performed again during the 2016 Heritage Classic Alumni Game.[80] Stacey Nattrass (who has been uniquely known as Your Winnipeg Jets' Own) has performed the anthems at the majority of home games since 2011.[81]

Winnipeg Whiteout

The Winnipeg Whiteout is a hockey tradition that dates back to 1987 when fans of the original Jets franchise were asked to wear white clothing at the home playoff games. It was created as a response to the "C of Red" created by fans of the Calgary Flames, whom the Jets were facing in the first round of the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs.[82] [83] The Jets eliminated the Flames in six games, and fans wore white for every home playoff game thereafter.

Fans of the former Jets AHL affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps, also continued this tradition, as did fans of the continuing franchise in Glendale, the Arizona Coyotes. It is referred to as the "Ice Cap's Whiteout"[84] and "Coyotes Whiteout,"[85] respectively by IceCaps and Coyotes fans. The Whiteout was also used during the Canada vs Russia Gold medal game, at the 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, hosted by the city of Winnipeg.[86] During the 2009 Calder Cup playoffs between the Manitoba Moose and the Hershey Bears, fans were asked to wear white for Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals.[87]

The Winnipeg Jets resurrected this tradition when they qualified for the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs.[88]

Season-by-season record

For the full season-by-season history, see List of Winnipeg Jets seasons

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
71 37 28 6 80 216 203 5th, Central Lost in qualifying round, 1–3 (Flames)
56 30 23 3 63 170 154 3rd, North Lost in second round, 0–4 (Canadiens)
82 39 32 11 89 252 257 6th, Central Did not qualify
82 46 33 3 95 247 225 4th, Central Lost in first round, 1–4 (Golden Knights)
82 52 24 6 110 259 199 2nd, Central Lost in first round, 1–4 (Avalanche)

Players and personnel

Team captains

Note: This list does not include captains from the Atlanta Thrashers.

Head coaches

See main article: List of Winnipeg Jets head coaches. Note: This list does not include head coaches from the Atlanta Thrashers.

NameTenureRegular seasonPlayoffs
GWLOTLPctGWLPct
Claude Noel20112014177807918
Paul Maurice201420216013152246221912
Dave Lowry2021–20225426226
Rick Bowness20222024164985791028
Scott Arniel2024–present

Team and league honours

See also: List of Winnipeg Jets award winners.

Retired numbers

The previous Winnipeg Jets organization retired the jersey numbers of two players, while their successors, the Arizona Coyotes, have honoured the numbers of players who played for the former Jets. No numbers have been officially retired by the current franchise to date, although several members of the original franchise are honoured by the current Winnipeg Jets organization as part of its Hall of Fame (see below).

The number 99 is retired league-wide in honour of Wayne Gretzky; this was done by the NHL at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game.[89]

Retired/honoured by the original Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes

Honoured by the Atlanta Thrashers/current Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame

The organization created the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame in 2016 to honour the impact and accomplishments of the original Winnipeg Jets, and the history of professional hockey in the city.[93] The inaugural inductees were the "HOT Line" consisting of Anders Hedberg, Bobby Hull and Ulf Nilsson, who were inducted on October 19, 2016.[94] Dale Hawerchuk was honoured on November 14, 2017.[95] Lars-Erik Sjoberg and Ab McDonald were posthumously inducted on February 26, 2019. Both were captains of the team at key points of the original team's history, with the latter being the first-ever captain for the team and the former being the first captain for the team upon joining the NHL.[96] Randy Carlyle and Thomas Steen were inducted on February 11, 2020, both serving as some of the longest tenured players in original Jets' history.[97] Teemu Selanne and Teppo Numminen were inducted on November 17, 2022.[98]

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point, goal, and assist scorers in franchise history.[99] Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Points! Player !! Pos !! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! P/G
RW 897 262 550 812 .91
Mark ScheifeleC 797 297 420 717 .90
LW 594 328 287 615 1.04
C 843 217 304 521 .62
Kyle ConnorLW 531 243 242 485 .91
Nikolaj EhlersLW 605 201 256 457 .75
LW 537 145 271 416 .77
D 609 122 294 416 .68
Josh MorrisseyD 582 66 245 311 .53
D 719 54 254 308 .43
Goals! Player !! Pos !! G
LW 328
Mark ScheifeleC 297
RW 262
Kyle ConnorLW 243
C 217
Nikolaj EhlersLW 201
C 145
RW 140
LW 139
D 122
Assists! Player !! Pos !! A
RW 550
Mark ScheifeleC 420
C 304
D 294
LW 287
LW 271
Nikolaj EhlersLW 256
D 254
Josh MorrisseyD 245
Kyle ConnorLW 242

Single-season leaders

Broadcasters

Bell Media served as the initial media rightsholder for the Jets, under a 10-year deal covering both radio and television.[100]

TSN is the regional television broadcaster of the Jets for games not broadcast by Sportsnet or Amazon Prime Video; games are televised on TSN3 in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories (shared with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers outside of Manitoba), and parts of Northwestern Ontario (shared with the Toronto Maple Leafs). Initially, Jets games were carried on a dedicated feed of TSN in the team's market, "TSN Jets", which was sold as a subscription-based pay television service separate from the national TSN network. In 2014, with the realignment of TSN into regional feeds, Jets telecasts moved to TSN3 and the separate TSN Jets channel was discontinued.[101] The team renewed its television rights with TSN3 on October 5, 2020.[102]

Dan Robertson and Kevin Sawyer serve as the respective play-by-play announcer and colour commentator for Jets broadcasts on TSN3, with John Lu reporting at rinkside.[103] Previously, Dennis Beyak served as the primary play-by-play voice for the Jets until his retirement at the end of the 2021–22 NHL season. Beyak's previous partners include Kevin Sawyer, Ray Ferraro, and Shane Hnidy. Hnidy was the team's lead colour commentator from the 2011–12 to 2016–17 seasons and has since moved to AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain to cover the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017.[104]

Corus Entertainment has held the Jets radio rights since the 2020–21 season, as part of a seven-year agreement signed in 2020. CJOB and CJKR-FM Power 97 serve as co-flagships, simulcasting all games on AM and FM radio. Paul Edmonds and Mitch Thomas serve as on-air play-by-play team. CJOB served as the radio home of their original incarnation from 1972 to 1982, and again from 1992 to 1996.[105] (CJKR-FM solely airs Jets games in the event of scheduling conflicts with Winnipeg Blue Bombers football on CJOB.) CFRW, TSN Radio 1290, served as the flagship radio station of the team from 2011 to 2020, with Edmonds on play-by-play alongside Brian Munz. They were occasionally joined by Beyak, who took over radio play-by-play when TSN was not involved in the television broadcast. Munz also occasionally substituted for Beyak on TSN.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jersey Schedule. NHL Enterprises, L.P.. WinnipegJets.com. May 6, 2024.
  2. Winnipeg Jets PR. Winnipeg Jets, NHL® and adidas Unveil Third Jersey for the 2018-2019 NHL. NHL Enterprises, L.P.. WinnipegJets.com. September 14, 2018. May 6, 2024.
  3. Winnipeg Jets PR. Jets reveal Reverse Retro Alternate Jersey. NHL Enterprises, L.P.. WinnipegJets.com. November 16, 2020. May 6, 2024.
  4. News: Clinton. Mitchell. Behind the making of the South Asian Heritage Night logo. NHL Enterprises, L.P.. WinnipegJets.com. January 27, 2023. May 6, 2024. Some of Sheth's work can be seen inside the navy ring of the Jets logo, as motifs inspired by Henna patterning and Bandhani designs surround the traditional Jet and red maple leaf that fans are used to seeing..
  5. Web site: TNSE Front Office. WinnipegJets.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P.. January 1, 2024.
  6. Welcome to Canada Life Centre, home of the Winnipeg Jets. NHL Enterprises, L.P.. WinnipegJets.com. June 15, 2021. May 21, 2024.
  7. News: Winnipeg Jets' home arena to be renamed Canada Life Centre. CBC . June 15, 2021 . February 25, 2022.
  8. Web site: Condor. Bob. Winnipeg group has deal to buy, move Thrashers. National Hockey League. May 31, 2011. May 13, 2018.
  9. News: Winnipeg bound: NHL owners give green light for Atlanta Thrashers to move . Ira Podell . . June 21, 2011 . June 27, 2011.
  10. Mark. Bechtel. Everybody Loves Winnipeg: Sixteen years after it abandoned North America's coldest city—and its smallest market—for sunnier, sexier climes, the NHL has returned better than ever, giving loyal fans of the reincarnated Jets, and every Canadian, something to cheer about. January 30, 2012. Sports Illustrated. May 25, 2018.
  11. Web site: Pro hockey once had two leagues, and that couldn't last. March 22, 2019. CBC. October 30, 2021.
  12. Web site: Looking back at Winnipeg's professional hockey history. May 20, 2011. October 30, 2021. CTV.
  13. Web site: O'Brien . James . Add the Atlanta Thrashers to the list of teams facing attendance issues . NBC Sports . November 6, 2010 . May 31, 2011.
  14. Web site: Ken Wiebe, SUN Media . Thrashers to Winnipeg? . canoe.ca . October 4, 2009 . https://archive.today/20120715124815/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Atlanta/2009/10/04/11298236-sun.html . usurped . July 15, 2012 . December 13, 2010 .
  15. Web site: Kirbyson . Geoff . 2011-06-17 . Jun 2011: Winnipeg came within 10 minutes of getting the Coyotes . 2024-06-21 . Winnipeg Free Press . en-US.
  16. News: True North also had talks about buying Predators, Coyotes. National Post . June 2, 2011 . May 25, 2018.
  17. News: Penton . Kirk . Moose deny St. John's move . https://archive.today/20120714163300/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/AHL/2011/05/24/18183561.html . usurped . July 14, 2012 . Winnipeg Sun . May 20, 2011 . May 31, 2011.
  18. News: Wiebe . Ken . NHL announcement in next few days 'realistic': Katz . Toronto Sun . May 24, 2011 . May 31, 2011.
  19. Web site: True North buys Thrashers, set to move team to Winnipeg . The Sports Network . January 30, 2012.
  20. News: NHL Board of Governors approves sale of Thrashers to True North Sports & Entertainment. WinnipegJets.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P.. June 21, 2011. May 13, 2018.
  21. Web site: Pro hockey returning to St. John's. CBC News. October 6, 2011. May 25, 2018.
  22. Web site: New Winnipeg franchise sells 13K season tickets . June 4, 2011 .
  23. News: Fans commit to buying 1,870 season tickets on first day of drive . . June 1, 2011.
  24. News: Tait. Ed. NHL season tickets sell out in just 17 minutes. Winnipeg Free Press. June 4, 2011.
  25. News: Season ticket wait list capped at 8,000 following 17-minute sellout |Ed Tait . . June 4, 2011.
  26. Web site: Tickets Sold in the Winnipeg Jets Secondary Ticket Market | Illegal Curve Hockey . Illegalcurve.com . July 29, 2011 . January 30, 2012.
  27. News: Transition Game-True North has hands full, but not overwhelmed. June 4, 2011. Tate, Ed. Winnipeg Free Press. June 4, 2011.
  28. News: Waddell's job, Thrashers name will end with sale. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Tucker T. June 4, 2011. June 1, 2011.
  29. News: Halstead, Jason. May 25, 2011. Thousands sign petition demanding team be called Jets. Toronto Sun. June 22, 2011.
  30. Web site: Could it be the Winnipeg Whiteout?. June 4, 2011.
  31. Web site: Ledra. Cristina. Pickens. Pat. NHL team nicknames explained. National Hockey League. November 22, 2016. May 13, 2018.
  32. Web site: Jun 2011: Fans get their wish . June 25, 2011 .
  33. News: Thrashers GM Dudley let go by True North. CBC Sports. CBC Sports. May 25, 2018. June 4, 2011.
  34. News: CHEVELDAYOFF TAKES WINNIPEG GENERAL MANAGER'S JOB. TSN. June 8, 2011. June 8, 2011. June 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110623064311/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=368174. dead.
  35. Web site: Jets take several Thrashers staffers with them. Mirtle. James. July 14, 2011. The Globe and Mail. September 30, 2018.
  36. News: WINNIPEG GM INTENDS ON INTERVIEWING FOR COACHING JOB. TSN. June 13, 2011.
  37. Wiebe, Ken (June 20, 2011). Then there were two: Noel and Haviland still standing. Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  38. News: Noel named as Winnipeg Head Coach. Noel named as Winnipeg Head Coach. June 24, 2011. June 24, 2011.
  39. Web site: Canadiens vs. Jets - Game Recap - October 9, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170804012835/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400046849 . dead . August 4, 2017 .
  40. News: N.H.L.: Giddy Winnipeg Reclaims Its Long-Lost Prairie Companion. Klein. Jeff Z.. October 8, 2011. The New York Times. April 13, 2017. 0362-4331.
  41. Web site: Jun 2011: NHL regular season schedule released . June 23, 2011 .
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