Well, this is it. Tonight is the official return of the Winnipeg Jets to the National Hockey League when the Jets take on the fabled Montreal Canadiens at the MTS Centre. I'm sure you've read the many blogs and/or news items on the anticipation of Winnipeg hockey fans and how Jets Fever has reached a climatic crescendo in the city. Unfortunately for me, I'm not living in Winnipeg at the present time.
I hope to be before the new year as a life change is in the works. Although I will be able to see the Jets in regular season play at least once in the next five years (yes, the hype is true, it is that hard to get a ticket) as I will be in attendance at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Dec. 10 to watch the boys take on the Red Wings. This will be not only my first Jets road game ever but my first NHL game of any kind in an arena other than the old barn on Maroons Road. I can't wait. I hope they win because, as stated, it will be a long time coming until I will get the chance to see them again.I wanted so bad to be at Portage and Main when Mark Chipman announced the purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers I could almost taste it. I wanted to be at the parties, I wanted to be there to high-five my fellow Jetophiles and take in the atmosphere. I shared (and continue to) in the glee and excitement of my fellow Jets fans welcoming home our boys. I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear or two over the last five months as memories of Dale Hawerchuck, Thomas Steen were tearing up the old Winnipeg Arena and later Teemu Selanne, Keith Tkachuck and Alexei Zhamnov.
Unfortunately, I was too young to witness (or really remember) the genesis of the Jets with Bobby Hull, Ulf Nillson and Anders Hedberg of the World Hockey Association. I take great pride in saying "we were right, you were wrong!" to all the naysayers over the years who said the Jets (or the NHL in general) would never be back. I simply laughed at the ignorant who have said (and some continue to) that Jets fans wouldn't support the team and that the team will be gone yet again in five to ten years.But as for tonight, you've seen the videos, you've read the reports, you may have even been lucky enough to witness first-hand the Jets pre-season games. Everything you've read and seen about the excitement and noise level of Winnipeg fans is absolutely true. It is truly deafening and that alone will propel the Jets to a few wins I'm sure. Just wait until the playoffs!
I can't tell you how elated I am about my favorite team of all time in any league at any time. Some people live and die with the Dallas Cowboys or Los Angeles Lakers. For me it's the Jets and if and when they win the Stanley Cup, I will be on a high that will carry me all the way through to the next season. Even more so if any seasons after that don't exactly pan out the way they should. Heck, maybe even for the rest of my life if need be.
So here's to the new NHL season, the new Winnipeg Jets and to Jets fans all over the globe. The boys are home and all is right with the world.
Go Jets Go!
