Random Jets News

Here are a couple of stories before the Jets take to the ice in their final pre-season game against the Nashville Predators.

Club Makes Four Tough Cuts; Noel Shows Trotz Who's Boss
Jets’ Future Belongs to Kane
Jets Ticket Fraudster Busted
Jets Trying Not to Repeat Atlanta's Mistakes in Inaugural Season

WHL in Winnipeg?

Is there the Western Hockey League in Winnipeg's future? Does the success of the WHL in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver bode well for a team in the city? Having a Memorial Cup win in Winnipeg would be pretty cool and a long time coming. There hasn't been a Memorial Cup championship in Winnipeg since 1959 when the Winnipeg Braves took home the coveted and elusive trophy.

The CBC's Cassie Campbell-Pascall says maybe...

Could WHL Be Next in Winnipeg?

The Western Hockey League has enjoyed some success in NHL markets, so it begs the question: Is Winnipeg a WHL option in the future?
WHL commissioner Ron Robison thinks so, but the league hasn't had any formal discussions with anyone at this stage.

"Several parties have expressed interest in bringing a WHL team to Winnipeg over the past 10 years," he said. "I have also not spoken to Mark Chipman to determine their interest. Given that we do not envision expansion in the future, we will not be in a position to consider Winnipeg unless a relocation of an existing franchise would occur.
"Now that Winnipeg is an NHL market we believe we could co-exist with the Jets given our success in Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton."

Jets Beat Hurricanes

In their second last pre-season game before shoring up the final roster for the start of the 2011-12 season, the Winnipeg Jets came from behind in the third period with three unanswered goals, including an empty-netter by Evander Kane (his second of the night) for a 3-1 victory.

How Close Was Winnipeg in Getting the Coyotes?

A good article from Arizona's Desert Dirt website (with a link to the Globe and Mail ) via SB Nation.

Jets Cut Down Roster, Send 20 to St.John's

The Winnipeg Jets have cut their roster down by 20 to ready their final roster for the start of the 2011-12 NHL season.

One name I didn't fully expect to be released was former Moose and fan-favorite, Jason Jaffray.

The Underrated: Thomas Steen

Anybody and everybody that watched Thomas Steen throughout his career with the Winnipeg Jets and especially those fans in the city of Winnipeg, this very good column is of no surprise. A lot of NHL executives as well as players have commended Steen over the yeras for his play and intellect as well as being of the opinion that Steen was probably the most underrated player of his generation.

Selanne Can't Wait

Of all the people that are heavily anticipating the return of Teemu Selanne to Winnipeg on Dec. 17, count in the Finnish Flash himself.

Jets Beat Senators at Hockeyville

The two standout rookies over the past three games, Troy Bodie and Mark Scheifele shone again last night as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-1 in front of a full house of 6,275 at the Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland for the CBC's KRAFT Hockeyville NHL preseason game.

There are two preseason games left for the Jets, both home games against Carolina (Sept. 27) & Nashville(Sept. 30)before they welcome the Montreal Canadiens into the MTS Centre for the start of the 2011-12 season and Winnipeg's first NHL regular season game since April 12, 1996.

Scheifele, Gregoire and Klingberg Make the Cut for Now.

You can expect all three rookie sensations for the Winnipeg Jets to be asssigned to a roster other than the NHL club. Although Scheifele will most likely be offered a 10-day NHL contract for further observations by the Jets front office, he will be sent back to the Barrie Colts to afford him further development and allow him to tear up the Ontario Hockey League before rejoining the big club.

Those being sent back to their junior and/or collegiate programs are here.

My Number Two Jet of the Eighties Excited for Team's Return

I didn't care for him at first, due to his being acquired by the Jets in 1983 from the hated Edmonton Oilers in a trade for the wildly popular Willy Lidstrom (yes, the Jets had a talented Swede named Lidstrom before Detroit did)
But then I saw why the Jets brass wanted him. Laurie Boschman was a talented two-way player that had a work ethic that no one else brought to the team (perhaps besides Jets legends Dale Hawerchuck and Thomas Steen) That, and he was an awesome face-off man.

But in the short term after the trade, Bosch didn't win the battle of the newly-traded-players-facing-their-old-team, as Ol' Willy scored the backbreaking goal against the Jets in the final game of the 1984 Smythe division semi-finals against the Edmonton Oilers. The Jets would go golfing early again early many, many times at the hands of the Oilers in the upcoming years.

On hand in Conception Bay South in Newfoundland as part of KRAFT Hockeyville, Boschman spoke to NHL.com's Brian Compton.

Jets Lose Lead in Nashville

They were up by leads of 2-0 and 3-1 by goals from Spencer Machacek, Derek Meetch and Paul Postma, who knotted his second goal in as is many games. First round pick and talk of the town, Mark Scheifele garnered his fifth point in two games with an assist on Postma's goal.

Unfortunately, the Predators power play proved to be to effective as they potted three PPGs for the come from behind victory by a score of 4-3. Sergei Kostitsyn, Jordan Tootoo, Martin Erat and Patric Hornqvist scored for the Predators.

Byfuglien Facing Four Charges in Minnesota.

Apprently some police "drug recognition expert" concluded that Big Buff was under the influence of drugs when he was stopped by police while boating in Minnesota last month. He may really face problems crossing the border now.

Jets Split "Meaningless" Games with Columbus

They may have not meant much of anything to anyone either not associated or not a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, but to the 15, 004 people that filled the MTS Centre and those listening in on radio on 1290 in Winnipeg or anywhere in the world for that matter on the internet (as I did) but the two split-squad games that took place in Winnipeg and Columbus last night meant a whole lot to those that have waited 15 years for NHL hockey to return to the Manitoba capital.

Game one, in Columbus didn't go the way Jets fans would have liked, as Winnipeg's "Team 2" fell to the host Blue Jackets 5-1. That Jets squad comprised of Blake Wheeler, Evander Kane and rookie Carl Klingberg. Kane scored the lone goal for the Jets, which if your interested, is the "unofficial" first goal scored by the Winnipeg Jets since April 28, 1996.

But back in Winnipeg at the MTS Centre, where the "real" team was that had the likes of captain Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Zach Bogosian, Nik Antropov and Mark Scheiefle. Scheifele, the Jets first round pick in this years entry draft scored four points on the night with two goals and two assists. Scheifele in fact, was named the first star of the game ahead of Byfuglien and Ladd, the second and third stars respectively. The Jets ended the night with a 6-1 romp over the Columbus "B" team.

The crowd was as loud as everyone expected it to be and the radio commenters, Brian Munz and Shane Hnidy said they expected the Oct. 9 season-opening game against the Montreal Canadiens to be even crazier. I have no doubts about that. Even Chicago will be hard-pressed to out-decibel the rabid Winnipeg hockey fans.

Here is the atmosphere inside the MTS Centre upon the Jets hitting the ice for the first time in 15 years. And it's only the beginning.

Some Historical Shots for Posterity

Some action shots and fan reaction at last weekends opening days of training camp.
Sorry about the layout. For some reason, I can never get photos to line up side by side on Blogger.

Jets Draw Thousands to Open Practice

Thousands of fans turned out in Winnipeg Saturday to watch an open practice of the new Winnipeg Jets.

Why The Jets Sucked in 1980

You know the story. The Winnipeg Jets ruled the World Hockey Association (WHA) since its inception in 1973 until its death in 1979. The Jets were in five of the seven Avco Cup championships winning three including the last one in 1979 against the Edmonton Oilers and an eighteen-year-old Wayne Gretzky.

You also know that when the Jets, Oilers, New England (Hartford) Whalers and Quebec Noridiques were absorbed into the NHL, the Jets top three scorers were claimed by the NHL teams that they players either left to join the WHA or held their NHL draft rights. Right out of the gate, we lost Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson to the New York Rangers and about 80 percent of our scoring. Bobby Hull was traded to the Hartford Whalers.

This is the story of that injustice. It is also the story of the relationship of John Ferguson and the Winnipeg Jets. A good read. Enjoy.

Selanne Returns for Final Year, Signs with Ducks

Teemu Selanne, the NHL rookie record holder for goals (76) and points (132) has signed with the Anaheim Ducks for his final NHL season.

I know, I know. Everybody was wishing that maybe, just maybe, Teemu Selanne would end his career with the same team he started with. I don't think anybody really expected it to happen, but just chalk it up to Winnipeg hockey fans not only wanting their prodigal son to return home for his swan song, but to keep a little of the past team alive.

It wasn't like Jets fans were on pins and needles that maybe the Finnish Flash would succumb to nostalgia as Selanne already said if he came back for one more year, it would be with Anaheim. I'm sure a lot of fans are disappointed, but he only spent three years in Winnipeg. Yes, his first year was one that you will probably never see a rookie duplicate and he was, and still is, loved by all Jets fans young and old, but he did spend 12 out of the past 16 seasons in Anaheim (not including the 2004-05 locked out season.) Most importantly, he won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007.

I mean, what would you do? I don't think if even the Jets offered him five or six million for one year would have made him change his mind. He's more honorable than that.

Just wait until the Ducks visit Winnipeg. He's going to get a pretty wild ovation.
And one more thing fellow Jets fans, don't be upset when he rightfully (as much as it pains me to say that) goes into the Hall of Fame as an Anaheim Duck.

Jets Open Training Camp Today

Their first one in 15 years. The Winnipeg Jets opened training camp today at the MTS Iceplex with medicals and physicals. Tomorrow, the big boys start on-ice practices.

Jets, Manitoba Government Partner Up to Help At Risk Kids

The Winnipeg Jets and the provincial government have joined forces to help at-risk high school students in Manitoba.
The announcement was made Friday morning at MTS Centre by Premier Greg Selinger and True North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman.

Jets Rookies Take Two Out of Three in Pendicton

Even though things never seem to change against the Edmonton Oilers as the Winnipeg Jets squad lost to them 2-0 Tuesday night, the Jets rookies skated out of the Young Stars Tournament with a 2-1 record after beating San Jose in their opener 2-0 on Monday and blanking the host Vancouver Canucks 2-0 today. The Jets allowed only two goals in three games as Jason Gregoire, Shayne Wiebe, Carl Klingberg, goalie Edward Pasquale and especially first round pick Mark Scheifele, who notched one goal (not counting one that was credited to Gregoire) and two assists in the three games, were standouts.

By the way, the above pic is the first here of any team in active competition that wore the new logo.
(CNS LARRY WONG/EDMONTON JOURNAL/)

Jets Sign Bogosian

The Winnipeg Jets have signed defenseman Zach Bogosian to a two-year deal.

Scheifele Impresses at Tournament

The Winnipeg Jets number one pick and seventh overall in thwe 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Mark Scheifele wowed the media in attendence today at the 2011 Young Stars tournament with his patience, poise and soft hands.

Jets in New EA 2012 Game

Finally! The Winnipeg Jets have returned to video game form for the first time since 1995. EA Sports has released "NHL 12," the most popular franchise going for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

However, even though the new Jets logo is included in NHL 12, the team’s jerseys; unveiled just last week, are not. The team is sporting generic NHL jerseys, just like first-round pick Mark Scheifele had to do at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, but EA is looking into an upgrade for the game now that Winnipeg's jerseys have been released to the public.

Byfuglien to Face Charges

A Minnesota district attorney is giving the go-ahead for drunk boating charges against Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, even though Byfuglien did not fail a breathalyzer.

Bogosian Wants A Deal Done

Zach Bogosian, the one member of the new Winnipeg Jets that hasn't signed a contract for the 2011-12 season as of this writing, expects a deal done soon as he emphatically has stated he wants to play in Winnipeg.

Jets Rookie Camp

The young new pilots in training for the Winnipeg Jets are getting ready for the Young Stars tournament in Penticton, BC at the Jets Rookie Camp. There are a few lads to keep an eye on, including first-round pick Mark Scheifele, former UND Sioux Jason Gregoire and Swedish prospect Carl Klingberg.
Other former Thrashers picks are being looked at as well.

Jets Announce Partnership with ECHL's Eagles

The Winnipeg Jets have announced that their new East Coast Hockey League affiliate is the Colorado Eagles.

Jets Sign Wellwood

Veteran centre and former Windsor Spitfire Kyle Wellwood has been signed to a one year, $700,000 contract with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Winnipeg Free Press's (via The National Post) Tim Campbell has more.

Ex-Jet Igor Korolev Among Victims of Russian Plane Crash

Former Winnipeg Jet Igor Korolev (1994-1996) was one of the passengers on the ill-fated plane carrying the Russian hockey team, Locomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League, along with other ex-NHLers Brad McCrimmon and Pavel Demitra.

The Winnipeg Sun's Paul Friesen has the story, as does the AP via TSN.

The Globe and Mail has a great inside scoop on Korelev's heart and love for his adopted country.

About That TSN Jets Channel

So, here's the skinny so far on the announced Jets channel from TSN, via the Illegal Curve website.

Jets Unveil Jerseys

Tuesday morning the Winnipeg Jets unveiled their highly awaited jerseys to a crowd of military personnel and members of the press at 17 Wing Winnipeg's No. 10 Hangar.

Jets Lay Down Logo at Center Ice at MTS Centre

Crews at the MTS Centre spent mere minutes Friday installing a massive Jets logo at the centre ice. It was later covered with a fine mist of water to seal it in.

Here's some more photos:

And I just found video of the installation:

Jets to Unveil Jerseys Tuesday

The Winnipeg jets will unveil their new jerseys to the world on Tuesday. The Jets will show their new jerseys to the world in a setting befitting the new brand; air force base, 17Wing Winnipeg, Hangar No. 10 Tuesday, September 6^th at 11 a.m.

Byfuglien Busted for Alleged Boating While Impaired

Oh great! Are we to have bad luck all the way through the season?

Q&A with Bryan Little

Bryan Little gives us an insight into his team mates on the new Jets.

Fake Jets Jerseys Siezed at Border

Police and Canadian border officials have found and seized a shipment of suspected fake Winnipeg Jets jerseys bearing the NHL team’s new logos after they arrived with an aircraft freight shipment.