Good morning!
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSWinnipeg Jets’ Patrik Laine (29) during practice at the MTS Iceplex Monday morning.
Hockey night in Winnipeg: When a black disc slaps centre ice at 7 p.m. today, it signals the awakening of a fellowship of fans delighted to cheer the end of an interminably long off-season without NHL hockey. They’ll pack the downtown rink tonight, squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder, or they’ll gather with buddies around a flat-screen in a bar or in someone’s rec room, beginning another seven-month ride of elation and disappointment, of endless conversations rating players and second-guessing coaches and referees, another season of heroes and villains. As fans garb up tonight, their jerseys may be replicas, but their appreciation of the game is genuine. Hockey will enliven the barren winter ahead with drama and passion. READ MORE
Your forecast: Don’t want to jinx it by predicting it, but the upcoming weekend is expected to be free of snow and rain, offering opportunity for outdoor activities. Today is expected to be mainly cloudy with a high of 8 C, bottoming out overnight at a low of plus 1.
In case you missed it
JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILESThomas Steen
Thomas Steen’s criminal charges: Provincial justice officials have quietly dropped all criminal charges against former NHL star and Winnipeg city councillor Thomas Steen. Unusually, when the charges of assault and uttering threats were dropped, the case didn’t appear on the court schedule and was done administratively outside a courtroom. Mike McIntyre has the exclusive report. READ MORE
Street cred: The Bear Clan had unusual sidekicks when they patrolled the North End last night. Four city police officers walked with them, the first time police have accompanied the volunteer patrol that has evolved into a kind of community outreach service helping make North End streets safer. Bill Redekop joined the walkabout and has the report. READ MORE
Up next
ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILESNatural Resources Minister Jim Carr
Protest possible: Jim Carr hosts a town-hall meeting at 7 p.m. today at Fort Garry Community Centre, 880 Oakenwald Ave. Don’t be surprised if the open meeting is not all hugs and halos. As Minister of Natural Resources, Carr could face spirited feedback from environmentalists who oppose the Liberal government strategy, including the decision to approve a controversial liquefied natural gas project in B.C., a move being touted as Canada’s largest-ever development in this sector.
New hockey exhibit: The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, located in the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre at 145 Pacific Avenue, opens today an exhibit celebrating Winnipeg’s professional hockey history. It includes the Winnipeg Braves in the late 50s, the WHA Jets in the 70s, the NHL Jets 1.0, Manitoba Moose in the IHL and AHL, the return of Jets in 2011, and the Moose in 2015.
Around the water cooler
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSKanye West performs on a stage suspended above the audience at the MTS Centre Wednesday night during the Saint Pablo Tour. It was his first visit to Winnipeg since 2008.
Kanye West: Hip-hop kingpin Kanye West packed the MTS Centre last night for a concert that was unusual, to say the least. As reviewer Jen Zoratti describes it: “No traditional stage, no banter, no light show. It was risky, to be sure, but no one can accuse Kanye West of not having a vision. As far as concerts go, it was challenging, frustrating, audacious, and quite unlike any other. In other words, it was so Kanye.” READ MORE
In case of overdose: Manitoba plans to greatly expand the availability of an antidote to fentanyl overdoses. More than 3,500 kits containing the antidote naloxone will be distributed annually to fight an opioid problem that a Free Press investigation last year revealed is more severe than many thought. Larry Kusch reports. READ MORE
Trending now
#MunchieBands: Hungry for music or just… hungry? Tune in and chow down on such groups as The Grateful Bread, Bachman Cherry TurnOverdrive, Hootie And The Blow Fish Stix or Dairy Queen.
On this date
On Oct. 13, 1925: The Manitoba Free Press reported that nearly 400 parliamentarians and other leaders from 41 countries met in Toronto, before delegates headed to Ottawa for sessions of the Inter-parliamentary Union. Reports indicated Soviet Russia was turning toward the western model of family life after experimenting with ways to remove the burden of domestic duties from individuals to the state. In Winnipeg, Brigadier-General Henry Northland Ruttan, C.M.G., was mourned, having died at the age of 77. READ MORE
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