28°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Jets, and their fans, will be back
Winnipeg Jets' Nik Antropov (80) and Evander Kane (9) celebrate Antropov's goal on Tampa Bay Lightning's goaltender Dwayne Roloson (30) during second period NHL action in Winnipeg on Saturday, April 7, 2012. (JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Related Items
-
Articles
The last time an NHL season ended in Winnipeg it was a hockey funeral but this was just like shuttering up the cottage for the year. Everyone, team and fans alike, will be back next season.
There’s no need for a team saving rally at Portage and Main. Children can keep their piggy banks for things like bikes and Jets jerseys. Winnipeg isn’t in some panic to save its team. In fact, this summer Jets fans can sit back catch their breath and get ready for next season which holds the promise of 41 more crazy nights in our downtown rink.
The folks in Phoenix may need a vigil and fans in Quebec City will likely have to hang on every word Gary Bettman utters on the subject of relocation.
Here in Winnipeg we have our own problems. Like who will the team take first in the draft and which free agents should be pursued. Soon a schedule for next season, should the league and players’ union ever get around to working out a deal, will be released and Winnipeggers will gather to divvy up the stubs. Who gets the Toronto game and who gets the Detroit game. Good problems to have are they not?
Saturday night this winter of our content blew out of town like a lion. Roaring for all the nation and anywhere hockey matters to hear. Mark Chipman let it slip over the weekend the Jets wouldn’t be eligible for league subsidies as one of the NHL’s top-15 revenue teams.
Too small, too poor, we heard it all. How about too passionate and too committed? Those labels seem far more applicable now.
"It’s insane, honestly. Being younger, I never would have thought the Jets would come back. But this year has probably been one of my best years ever. Having the Jets back the community has come around and its been so insane," said Reed Olsen, a 19-year-old Winnipegger jamming the concourse during the first period of Saturday’s intermission. "Everyone is so excited. Even though this is the last game, it’s just the beginning."
This season is over and there will be no playoff games but any weeping should be short-lived. While for a long time there was only hope and rumour now there is certainly and a foundation.
"It’s awesome and the energy is amazing. I feel a little sad that the season is over but so happy that they’re coming back next fall. It’s the first year and you can only expect so much. I love the Jets and what they’ve done for the city," said Dolly Kaushal, 28.
Saturday night with just around three minutes left in the game the fans stood and started that chant. "Go Jets Go." They didn’t want it to end. Trailing 3-2 to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning, it wasn’t another loss they were worried about but having the lights go out on their season and moment in the spotlight.
So they willed more. They forced overtime. And they got it.
Really it sums up the renaissance of the NHL in Winnipeg. The people willed more hockey. And they got. And they’ll have it again next year.
Will on, Winnipeg. Will on.
Twitter: @garylawless
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Columnists
- Back to Top
- Return to Columnists
More Columnists
(1 of 5 articles for today)
My arm tattoo has me thinking
1:00 AM 0I have a swell new tattoo on my right arm.
Prepare to be extremely jealous, because it artfully depicts a pink ...
About Gary Lawless
Gary Lawless is the Free Press sports columnist and co-host of the Hustler and Lawless show on TSN 1290 Winnipeg and www.winnipegfreepress.com
Lawless began covering sports as a rookie reporter at The Chronicle-Journal in Thunder Bay after graduating from journalism school at Durham College in Ontario.
After a Grey Cup winning stint with the Toronto Argonauts in the communications department, Lawless returned to Thunder Bay as sports editor.
In 1999 he joined the Free Press and after working on the night sports desk moved back into the field where he covered pro hockey, baseball and football beats prior to being named columnist.
Poll
Most Popular Columnists
- Next time, see if she'll let you wear your jersey
- Bogosian too important an asset to let slip away
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- My arm tattoo has me thinking
- Christmas treat good any time of year
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Mau Maus win 50-year-long battle
- Blue offence must make teams pay for blitzing Buck
- Mack, Burke give each other room to do their jobs
- Bigger Byfuglien in no shape for a trade
- Fiasco fixers
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- Nice new digs, but Buchko has work to do
- What a knockout!
- Nepinak's leadership gathering steam
- 'Nice' guy taking sex partners for granted
- Discovering your wife's kinky behaviour isn't an invitation to join the party
- Next time, see if she'll let you wear your jersey
- Offensive linemen move faster than buses
- UFC 161 a smash success
- When the Ford jokes stop
- Ground control to Major Chris
- Burmistrov wants out of Winnipeg
- Bigger Byfuglien in no shape for a trade
- Immobilizer program too cosy, some charge
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Fiasco fixers
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- Downtown's parking facilities tell story of city's development
- Nice new digs, but Buchko has work to do
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Whether sweet or savoury, delicious is spelled 'nalysnyky'
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- Bogosian too important an asset to let slip away
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Mau Maus win 50-year-long battle
- Take a walk in the park to fight prostate cancer
- Psychics pull off a little magic
- Fiasco fixers
- Nepinak's leadership gathering steam
- Downtown's parking facilities tell story of city's development
- Offensive linemen move faster than buses
- Helping others despite the cost
- Downtown's parking facilities tell story of city's development
- When the Ford jokes stop
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- St. Norbert sees condo boom
- Immobilizer program too cosy, some charge
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Changes to CPP rules worth looking into
- Lessons learned in 4-H last a lifetime
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Ground control to Major Chris
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.