Proud Jets fans take playoff loss in stride

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/04/2015 (3798 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One Jets fan stomped plastic decoy ducks in the atrium, but most met Wednesday’s fourth straight loss with a zen-like shrug.

As thousands of fans poured out of the MTS centre moments after the Jets 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, most praised the team for a solid season and a good game.

“This is the first step in 100,” said Ron Jonsson. “Nothing’s ending. It’s just getting started.”

Jonsson was at the game with his teenaged sons Justin and Braden. The trio agreed the team played hard against one of the elite teams in the division. The Jonssonns said the Jets did a lot right this season, and slow, steady improvement is key.

“Happy,” said Justin, 19, when asked how he’ll feel Thursday when the hype is over. “You look at the future coming up for this team.”

Fans said the energy inside the MTS centre waned a little at times, and some ticket-holders began leaving with several minutes to go in the game. But, a “Go Jets Go” chant erupted on the escalators.

Earlier in the night, Dolly Parton wigs, white feather boas, Storm Trooper costumes, white waffle long-johns, endless Jets jerseys and the odd turkey farmer suit streamed into the MTS Centre for what fans expected to be an even louder, more stressful playoff game than Monday’s.

Stonewall teacher Lindsey Sturgeon was among the lucky few to win last-minute tickets by lottery. She quickly called her friend to detour downtown from their normal game-watching spot at the Viscount Gort hotel and donned her white, full-body turkey suit.

That’s a plastic cover-all worn by turkey farmers, including the father of a co-worker who scored some so students could have a small, in-school version of tonight’s white-out, part two.

“I may sleep in it,” joked Sturgeon as she waited, tickets in hand, in the atrium.

Ask fans here about tonight’s game and they resort to the overused cliche “do or die.” Several said they were more anxious tonight than Monday. Several also said, if the Jets lose in four straight tonight, fans should take comfort in the fact their team was usually in the lead and the score was close.

As the University of Manitoba pep band played Mardi Gras favourites outside, toddler Erica Naugle was the star inside.

Erica was sporting a pint-sized Storm Trooper costume and Jets centre Mark Scheifele’s actual helmet (he has a small head).

“The storm is right here,” said Erica’s grandmother, Corie Siddle.

The family went to Monday’s game and Siddle said she couldn’t imagine tonight’s would be any more stressful.

“It was like nothing I ever experienced. It was loud. It was fantastic, the energy,” she said.

Erica has been to roughly 15 games and was a bit awed by Monday’s. But, she fell asleep in overtime.

The family sold their tickets to the game because Siddle’s husband wasn’t home to go. But they came down in their Jets gear to take in the pre-game atmosphere.