Whiteout party opens with jersey for Hawerchuk statue

Dale Hawerchuk’s statue got its own Winnipeg Whiteout Saturday afternoon.

The bronze statue depicting the former Winnipeg Jet and Hockey Hall of Famer in True North Square plaza was draped in a white, #10 Jets jersey to celebrate the first game of the Jets playoff run against the St. Louis Blues.

“It only makes sense to give one of the best Jets players their own Whiteout jersey,” said Stuart Mack in front of the statue Saturday afternoon.

Mack was one of more than 5,000 fans packing the streets in front of Canada Life Centre for two playoff watch parties. Tickets for the Whiteout Street Party event sold out within minutes of going on sale Tuesday.

At True North Square plaza, the Party at the Plaza packed even more fans in front of massive screens to watch the game. Liquor and food tents and a DJ entertained guests in the 90 minutes before the 5 p.m. puck drop.

Jets VIPs Mick E. Moose and Benny rolled up to the plaza party in style. The beloved mascots greeted fans from a limousine which was escorted by a car draped in Jets flags and horns.

Superfan Sheila Hathaway says she would be OK with the Jets losing at least one game.

“I think a loss is important, because we play harder,” Hathaway said. “They have to have that drive and hunger and I think it keeps them sharper.”

Hathaway spent 45 minutes Saturday afternoon preparing for the game by painting her face in Jets red, white and blue and finished it off with silver gemstones depicting a Stanley Cup.

The season ticket holder said she dresses up each time the Jets make the playoffs.

“I figure if they got to put extra effort in, I should put extra effort in, right?” she said with a laugh.

The street party brought multiple road closures to downtown Winnipeg. Southbound Donald Street between Ellice Avenue and St. Mary Avenue will be closed from Saturday at 6 a.m. until Tuesday at 7 a.m.

Eastbound and westbound Graham Avenue between Hargrave Street and Smith Street will close on Saturday at 6 a.m. until Sunday at 7 a.m.

They will close again between Monday at 9 a.m. and 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Winnipeg Transit buses will be rerouted off Graham Avenue between Kennedy Street and Smith Street starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday.

Regular service will resume on Sunday, with the reroute starting again at 9 a.m. on Monday and ending on Tuesday.

Brother and sister Brent Nemeth and Larissa Sayles took in the whiteout party on Donald Street before heading inside the arena to take in the game.

Sayles lives in B.C. but grew up in Winnipeg and managed to secure playoff tickets to attend the game with her brother.

“This is my home and this is my team,” Sayles said.

“We’re gonna go right to the end,” Nemeth added.

The Jets are the first team from Canada to finish with the NHL’s best regular-season record since the Vancouver Canucks in 2012, ending their season with the Central Division and Western Conference titles.

The Jets and Blues will play Game 2 on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Canada Life Centre.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca