Sunday, April 29, 2012
Pavelec's Thoughts on His First Season in Winnipeg
Winnipeg Jets MVP and goaltender Ondrej Pavelec gives his thoughts to jets.nhl.com's Kristi Hennesy about his first season as a Jet in the hockey-mad city of Winnipeg.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Jets Third Jersey?
There's been talk around the rumor mill that Winnipeg Jets co-owner and Tru North Sports & Entertainment CEO Mark Chipman is warm to the idea of having the Jets possibly wear a third jersey next season that would pay homage to the Jets 1.0. The Manitoba Moose wore the original WHA Jets colours for a game in 2010 I believe it was:
and it seemed to go over well with the fans. As per this rumor, it is being said that Chipman and company may ice the Jets a few times next year with possibly the WHA colour-scheme and the 1979-1990 logo. If done right it would be awesome and look (hopefully) like this:
Pretty cool, me thinks.
Scheifele to Join IceCaps for Remainder of Playoff Drive
After playing in the Jets line-up for seven NHL games, playing in Barrie for the Colts for their season and playoff run and in between being Canada's MVP in the Under-20 World Championships, you'd figure Mark Sceifele would be a tad tired and would appreciate some much-needed time off. But nope. The 2011 Winnipeg Jets first-round draft pick is extending his season to head to St. John's to help the Jets minor league affiliate IceCaps in their hunt for the Calder Cup.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Ladd, Kane Named to Canada Men's National Team
Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd and team mate Evander Kane have been selected to represent Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Hockey Championship.
As for Team USA, Jim Slater was named to their national team.
As for Team USA, Jim Slater was named to their national team.
Friday, April 13, 2012
More the Merrier
just before the Winnipeg Jets were rightfully returned to the people of Manitoba, a lot were venturing to guess what the name of the team was going to be. There were many that said there was no way that the new Winnipeg franchise would (or should) be called the Jets for a number of reasons that I won't get into (like they would be called anything other than the Jets)
Guesses ranged from the Falcons to honor the first Olympic gold medal winning team of 1920 that hailed from Winnipeg, to Flood, to the Polar Bears. A small minority thought the name should honor a past playoff tradition, the White Out, that had Jets fans fill the old Winnipeg Arena wearing white t-shirts, dress-shirts, jerseys, what have you. It was a cool effect and quite intimidating for the opposing team.
So when the team was announced that it was indeed returning, one blogger copyrighted the name before anyone else could. I suppose the thinking was that if the team was named the White Out, True North would have to buy the rights for a pretty penny. Either that, or he simply wanted to the name to increase his volume of hits.
anyway, he's been up and running for a while now, but I just checked it out recently. If you want to take a look for yourself, here's a link to WinnipegWhiteOut.co
UPDATE: It appears there is more than one owner to WinnipegWhiteOut.com.
The two men operating the site (with contributing writers) are Jeff Stevenson and Marshall Stevenson. I'm assuming their related.m
Guesses ranged from the Falcons to honor the first Olympic gold medal winning team of 1920 that hailed from Winnipeg, to Flood, to the Polar Bears. A small minority thought the name should honor a past playoff tradition, the White Out, that had Jets fans fill the old Winnipeg Arena wearing white t-shirts, dress-shirts, jerseys, what have you. It was a cool effect and quite intimidating for the opposing team.
So when the team was announced that it was indeed returning, one blogger copyrighted the name before anyone else could. I suppose the thinking was that if the team was named the White Out, True North would have to buy the rights for a pretty penny. Either that, or he simply wanted to the name to increase his volume of hits.
anyway, he's been up and running for a while now, but I just checked it out recently. If you want to take a look for yourself, here's a link to WinnipegWhiteOut.co
UPDATE: It appears there is more than one owner to WinnipegWhiteOut.com.
The two men operating the site (with contributing writers) are Jeff Stevenson and Marshall Stevenson. I'm assuming their related.m
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Jets Want to Stay, Contract Talks Will Decide; Owner Couldn't Be Happier with Decision to Purchase Team
From what has been coming out of the Winnipeg Jets locker room, it appears, for the time being, that the current crop of players enjoyed their time here in their first year in Winnipeg and would like to be back. General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has a lot to think about on what players to resign as there are a few restricted free agents (Evander Kane, Kyle Wellwood & Ondrej Pavelec) and a couple of non-restricted free agents (Tanner Glass, Jim Slater, and Chris Mason) Some are no-brainers and some may take more thought as the team clearly has to get better.
Chevy says he won't mortgage the future for short-term success, but is willing to trade-up at the Entry Draft this summer.
Coach Claude Noel has stated he is adamant that things will improve next season and Jets fans will see an improved product on the ice.
As for the owners side of things, Jets co-owner David Thomson said he is euphoric about his decision to partner up with Mark Chipman in purchasing the Jets from the Atlanta Spirit group and moving them to Winnipeg and hopes to build a perennial contender for years to come.
And it appears Winnipeg's reputation with players outside the city is improving.
Chevy says he won't mortgage the future for short-term success, but is willing to trade-up at the Entry Draft this summer.
Coach Claude Noel has stated he is adamant that things will improve next season and Jets fans will see an improved product on the ice.
As for the owners side of things, Jets co-owner David Thomson said he is euphoric about his decision to partner up with Mark Chipman in purchasing the Jets from the Atlanta Spirit group and moving them to Winnipeg and hopes to build a perennial contender for years to come.
And it appears Winnipeg's reputation with players outside the city is improving.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Jets Organization Thanks the Fans
And the Jets first year in their triumphant return to Winnipeg was so successful, financially speaking, they will not be receiving any revenue-sharing help from the NHL.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Fans Salute Jets in Final Game in 4-3 OT Loss
Even when Steven Stamkos scored his 60th goal of the year, the Winnipeg fans instantly gave him a standing ovation. Obviously nobody wanted it to be scored against the Jets in their last game and in their own building, but it was just another example of the class the hockey fans of Winnipeg have shown all season long and yet another reason why, as Hockey Night in Canada play-by-play man and Winnipeg native Dean Brown called Winnipeg Jets fans, "The best and loudest fans in hockey."
Unfortunately, the Jets couldn't give them a win to go away with over the summer as they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime to end the inaugural season of the return of the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets fell behind 3-1 at one point on Stamkos 60th goal, but if it weren't for Ondrej Pavelec making at least three outstanding saves in the third period, after the Jets had taken over the momentum, Jim Slater wouldn't have even had the chance to tie it in the final minute with his second of the game and a career-high 13 goals. I was personally hoping that not only that the Jets would win in overtime, obviously, but that Slater to get the winner. Not only to get the hat-trick, but to get what would have been the first and only hat trick by a Jet all year; and at home to boot. It would have been sublime to see the fans at the MTS Centre raining hats down onto the ice for the first time.
There was a pre-game ceremony to hand out the Jets club awards such as the Staffmax Staffing & Recruiting Community Service Award that went to Jim Slater, the The McDiarmid Lumber Three Stars Award that was won by Ondrej Pavelec to no one's surprise, and the Dan Snyder Memorial award honoring former Atlanta Thrasher Dan Snyder who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 2003. It was awarded to Mark Stuart.
I personally really enjoyed the season. There was of course many frustrating moments, but just to simply have a team to cheer for, your own team to cheer for instead of having to adopt a team that may play their home games hundreds of miles away. To get emotionally involved, to get happy, angry and sad with your own team performances is awesome. Even when they lose (and I'll probably never admit this again-once you get over that loss-it's great just to have a team in my own back yard again.
This team is young, but boy, is there some talent on this club. You must remember most of the top talent on this Jets team is under 25 years old. Evander Kane is just 21, Alexander Burmistrov is 20, Zach Bogosian is 21 and they have had more than a few eyes on them this season, especially during the trade deadline back in March. These young Jets have skill and they can only get better. This team can only get better. I believe in the Jets management plan of building this team through the draft and free agency with character players with skill and heart. It will pay off, of that I have no doubt. Like I've said before, I sincerely believe this Winnipeg Jets team will be in the Stanley Cup final by 2016. I don't know if we'll win, but we'll be there. Remember there's still guys like Mark Scheiffele, Ivan Telegan, Spencer Makachuck, Paul Postma and Carl Klingberg still to come.
I don't put any faith whatsoever in the naysayers that say it's still Winnipeg and still the same ol' Winnipeg team that nobody wants to play for. When management builds a class organization and builds a culture of winning, as the saying goes, if you build it they will come.
I hope coach Claude Noel can improve the club (and I have no doubt he will) and keeps his sense of humor with the press corps. I look forward to new stories, such as his anecdotes about his time with the Buffalo Norsemen of the North American Hockey League in 1976 and his team's dealings with the infamous Carlson brothers (aka the Hansons of the legendary Slap Shot film.)
I can't wait for next year and to cheer the Jets onto the playoffs in a wild, decibel-shattering MTS Centre and hopefully have to take the afternoon off of work to see the boys cruise down Portage Avenue with the Stanley Cup on display for all to see.
Hey, one can dream. But it will happen one day soon in Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Jets inaugural season recap from jets.nhl.com
Go Jets Go!
Unfortunately, the Jets couldn't give them a win to go away with over the summer as they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime to end the inaugural season of the return of the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets fell behind 3-1 at one point on Stamkos 60th goal, but if it weren't for Ondrej Pavelec making at least three outstanding saves in the third period, after the Jets had taken over the momentum, Jim Slater wouldn't have even had the chance to tie it in the final minute with his second of the game and a career-high 13 goals. I was personally hoping that not only that the Jets would win in overtime, obviously, but that Slater to get the winner. Not only to get the hat-trick, but to get what would have been the first and only hat trick by a Jet all year; and at home to boot. It would have been sublime to see the fans at the MTS Centre raining hats down onto the ice for the first time.
There was a pre-game ceremony to hand out the Jets club awards such as the Staffmax Staffing & Recruiting Community Service Award that went to Jim Slater, the The McDiarmid Lumber Three Stars Award that was won by Ondrej Pavelec to no one's surprise, and the Dan Snyder Memorial award honoring former Atlanta Thrasher Dan Snyder who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 2003. It was awarded to Mark Stuart.
I personally really enjoyed the season. There was of course many frustrating moments, but just to simply have a team to cheer for, your own team to cheer for instead of having to adopt a team that may play their home games hundreds of miles away. To get emotionally involved, to get happy, angry and sad with your own team performances is awesome. Even when they lose (and I'll probably never admit this again-once you get over that loss-it's great just to have a team in my own back yard again.
This team is young, but boy, is there some talent on this club. You must remember most of the top talent on this Jets team is under 25 years old. Evander Kane is just 21, Alexander Burmistrov is 20, Zach Bogosian is 21 and they have had more than a few eyes on them this season, especially during the trade deadline back in March. These young Jets have skill and they can only get better. This team can only get better. I believe in the Jets management plan of building this team through the draft and free agency with character players with skill and heart. It will pay off, of that I have no doubt. Like I've said before, I sincerely believe this Winnipeg Jets team will be in the Stanley Cup final by 2016. I don't know if we'll win, but we'll be there. Remember there's still guys like Mark Scheiffele, Ivan Telegan, Spencer Makachuck, Paul Postma and Carl Klingberg still to come.
I don't put any faith whatsoever in the naysayers that say it's still Winnipeg and still the same ol' Winnipeg team that nobody wants to play for. When management builds a class organization and builds a culture of winning, as the saying goes, if you build it they will come.
I hope coach Claude Noel can improve the club (and I have no doubt he will) and keeps his sense of humor with the press corps. I look forward to new stories, such as his anecdotes about his time with the Buffalo Norsemen of the North American Hockey League in 1976 and his team's dealings with the infamous Carlson brothers (aka the Hansons of the legendary Slap Shot film.)
I can't wait for next year and to cheer the Jets onto the playoffs in a wild, decibel-shattering MTS Centre and hopefully have to take the afternoon off of work to see the boys cruise down Portage Avenue with the Stanley Cup on display for all to see.
Hey, one can dream. But it will happen one day soon in Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Jets inaugural season recap from jets.nhl.com
Go Jets Go!
Just the Beginning
Well, after 15 years out of the biggest, most prestigious professional hockey league on the planet, the Winnipeg Jets returned to the most rabid, intelligent, hockey-sense fans that were so glad to have their team back. The fans of Winnipeg showed their love of their team by committing to them by selling out the MTS Centre for at least the next two years (after selling out their inaugural season this year) and possibly for three after that. They also now have the reputation as being the loudest, most rabid fans in the NHL. So much so in fact that they now have the reputation that make the MTS Centre an intimidating place for opposition teams to play. Add to that, the fans may now be the reason why free agents may want to come here in their search for a championship. I don't know how many times I've heard play-by-play men or commentators mention how Jets fans are talked about "everywhere we go." Winnipeg hockey fans really have been the seventh player on the ice each and every home game for the Jets.The culture of winning may be a few years off from cementing itself here in the Peg, but players throughout the league know how rabid and knowledgeable the Winnipeg hockey fans are. They know how the passion of fans can influence the outcome of an important game by getting their team pumped up. It's that extra jump rabid fans give their team to overcome a lead by the opposition, to give them that extra oomph to maybe light a fire under them to give them a jump after the opposition gets an early lead, or a power-play goal. Jets fans, you have to remember showed up in the hundreds (if not the low thousands) just to watch the Jets rookies at the MTS IcePlex practice facility back in August.
Whatever the reason teams play better in front of their home crowd, the Jets fans especially, have it. If only the Jets played most or all of their games at home and they would in the playoffs right now...as would most teams I suspect. But as for the Jets not making the playoffs, I'm not going to use the excuse of them "still being the same team as Atlanta." They were good enough to win games they didn't win. They let games go they should have had. Games against the Islanders, Carolina, Edmonton and even Philadelphia should have gotten away from them. A lead in a home game against the Flyers with 10 seconds left that the Jets let get away on Feb. 21 still stings me to this day.
But even though the Jets failed to make the playoffs, I can't view this season as anything other than a success. Sell-out crowds at home, coast-to-coast well-wishing for our team being back, a rabid home crowd at every single game and a general feel-good atmosphere within the city for a prodigal long-lost son's return and not to mention a cool new tradition of the True North "shout out" in the national anthem. I can't wait for next year.
Read on for Eric Postma's take on the Jets first season past.
Mark Chipman Press Conference
Jets owner and True North Sports and Entertainment CEO Mark Chipman spoke to the press on a number of subjects including his opinion on the Jets season, the fans and the Jets future model for success.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
See-Saw In Long Island Goes to Islanders
In a game where the Jets never had the lead, they nevertheless battled back on every New York goal, but still came up short falling to the Islanders 5-4.
For the second time on this road trip, the Jets fell behind 2-0, but rallied back to tie it up on goals by Tobias Enstrom and Andrew Ladd. For Ladd, that was his fourth goal in four games. Kyle Okposo put New York up 3-2, before Zach Bogosian scored on a nice play from Chris Thorburn to tie it up again.
Even though a very questionable penalty shot was called on Dustin Bufuglien and Okposo capitalized with a low stick-side shot on Chris Mason for his second of the game, Bufuglien made up for it just 34 seconds later with a blast from the blue line that cleanly beat Islander goalie Al Montoya. It was Bufuglien's second goal of the game. That made it 4-4.
Just as it looked as though the Jets would be in their fourth straight overtime game, Michael Grabner potted the winner with a tip off of a Travis Hamonic point shot with just 44 seconds left.
Even though, the Jets didn't play terrible, coach Claude Noel wasn't accepting any excuses for the loss, saying "You're a professional. This is the profession you've chosen. Show up on time...do your job." After watching this game against one of the lower-end teams in the league, I have to say I concur. This is a team the Jets should have beaten.
The Jets wrap up the 2011-2012 season at home on Saturday in the friendly confines of the MTS Centre against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
A disappointed Claude Noel
For the second time on this road trip, the Jets fell behind 2-0, but rallied back to tie it up on goals by Tobias Enstrom and Andrew Ladd. For Ladd, that was his fourth goal in four games. Kyle Okposo put New York up 3-2, before Zach Bogosian scored on a nice play from Chris Thorburn to tie it up again.
Even though a very questionable penalty shot was called on Dustin Bufuglien and Okposo capitalized with a low stick-side shot on Chris Mason for his second of the game, Bufuglien made up for it just 34 seconds later with a blast from the blue line that cleanly beat Islander goalie Al Montoya. It was Bufuglien's second goal of the game. That made it 4-4.
Just as it looked as though the Jets would be in their fourth straight overtime game, Michael Grabner potted the winner with a tip off of a Travis Hamonic point shot with just 44 seconds left.
Even though, the Jets didn't play terrible, coach Claude Noel wasn't accepting any excuses for the loss, saying "You're a professional. This is the profession you've chosen. Show up on time...do your job." After watching this game against one of the lower-end teams in the league, I have to say I concur. This is a team the Jets should have beaten.
The Jets wrap up the 2011-2012 season at home on Saturday in the friendly confines of the MTS Centre against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
A disappointed Claude Noel
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Another Comeback Win on the Road
If only they could have played like this on the road earlier in the season, they would be examining their playoff tactics right now. As it is, the Winnipeg Jets will take this big come from behind road victory in overtime against the Florida Panthers 5-4.
This is the best road trip of the season for the Jets, as they took five out of a possible six points.
Once again it was captain Andrew Ladd, who had trouble finding the net on the road this season, that scored the winner 3:12 into the extra frame. It was Ladd's second goal of the game and his 27th goal of the season. The assist came from a nice drop-pass by Blake Wheeler. This was the second game-winner in overtime for Ladd on this road trip. Evander Kane tallied one in the third. It was his 30th.
Zach Bogosian and Bryan Little also scored for the Jets.
The game looked to be out of reach early as the Cats dominated the first half of the game, leading 3-0 midway through the second period. But after Spencer Machachek fed a nice pass to Kane in the Panther crease on a two-on-one to put the Jets on the board, the roles reversed and the Jets took over. The assist was Machachek's ninth point in the seven games since his call-up.
If it wasn't for Ondrej Pavelec, the game wouldn't have gone into overtime as he stopped Thomas Fleischmann cold on a clear-cut breakaway with 20 seconds left in regulation time after the Jets had almost ended it themselves at the other end with Jose Theodore down and Tobias Enstrom just missing a blast from the slot. It was a redemption of sorts for Pavelec who let in a wrist-shot in the top right corner by Tomas Kopeky from a tight angle to allow the tying goal late in the third when he strayed a touch from the post.
The game meant way more for the Panthers than it did for the Jets, as the Panthers were looking to clinch the South-East division and their first playoff spot for the first time in 12 years. It is the longest playoff drought in NHL history. Yes, longer than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although they did get a point, the Panthers will have to wait until Thursday for another kick at the can when they visit the Washington Capitals as the Buffalo Sabres also came back from 3-0 against the Leafs tonight to win 6-5, also in overtime. They are not even guaranteed a playoff spot as both the Sabres and the Capitals would win the tie-breaker rule over the Panthers should a tie at the end of the season occur, as at the present moment, both the Capitals and Sabres have more wins than Florida who have 37 while the Caps have 40 and the Sabres 39.
The Jets have two games left in the season. Next up is Thursday when they're in Long Island to take on the Islanders, then to finish off the season, they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at the MTS Centre.
This is the best road trip of the season for the Jets, as they took five out of a possible six points.
Once again it was captain Andrew Ladd, who had trouble finding the net on the road this season, that scored the winner 3:12 into the extra frame. It was Ladd's second goal of the game and his 27th goal of the season. The assist came from a nice drop-pass by Blake Wheeler. This was the second game-winner in overtime for Ladd on this road trip. Evander Kane tallied one in the third. It was his 30th.
Zach Bogosian and Bryan Little also scored for the Jets.
The game looked to be out of reach early as the Cats dominated the first half of the game, leading 3-0 midway through the second period. But after Spencer Machachek fed a nice pass to Kane in the Panther crease on a two-on-one to put the Jets on the board, the roles reversed and the Jets took over. The assist was Machachek's ninth point in the seven games since his call-up.
If it wasn't for Ondrej Pavelec, the game wouldn't have gone into overtime as he stopped Thomas Fleischmann cold on a clear-cut breakaway with 20 seconds left in regulation time after the Jets had almost ended it themselves at the other end with Jose Theodore down and Tobias Enstrom just missing a blast from the slot. It was a redemption of sorts for Pavelec who let in a wrist-shot in the top right corner by Tomas Kopeky from a tight angle to allow the tying goal late in the third when he strayed a touch from the post.
The game meant way more for the Panthers than it did for the Jets, as the Panthers were looking to clinch the South-East division and their first playoff spot for the first time in 12 years. It is the longest playoff drought in NHL history. Yes, longer than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although they did get a point, the Panthers will have to wait until Thursday for another kick at the can when they visit the Washington Capitals as the Buffalo Sabres also came back from 3-0 against the Leafs tonight to win 6-5, also in overtime. They are not even guaranteed a playoff spot as both the Sabres and the Capitals would win the tie-breaker rule over the Panthers should a tie at the end of the season occur, as at the present moment, both the Capitals and Sabres have more wins than Florida who have 37 while the Caps have 40 and the Sabres 39.
The Jets have two games left in the season. Next up is Thursday when they're in Long Island to take on the Islanders, then to finish off the season, they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at the MTS Centre.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Wellwood Out with Broken Foot
Like Tanner Glass who suffered a broken foot suffered in the March 30 game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Kyle Wellwood has been sent back to Winnipeg from Sunrise, Florida with a broken ankle. He suffered the injury when he took a point shot off his foot from Grant Clisome in Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning that ended in a 3-2 overtime loss which resulted in ending the Jets playoff hopes for this season. The injury not only ends Wellwood's season, but any chance he had of procuring a career-high season in goals. He tied his own marker of 18 in the game against the Bolts.
The Jets have re-called Patrice Cormier from the St. John's Ice Caps to fill Wellwood's spot.
The Jets have re-called Patrice Cormier from the St. John's Ice Caps to fill Wellwood's spot.
Chipman Won't Deviate from Long-Term Plan
Although disappointed to be eliminated from this year's NHL playoffs, Jets owner and True North Sports & Entertainment CEO Mark Chipman says his organization won't deviate from the long-term plan to bring on-ice success to the Winnipeg Jets.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Ladd: Jets Missing the Playoffs "A Failure"
Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd is sorely disappointed that his team was officially eliminated from the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs and says the fact the Jets won't be in the post-season is "a failure."
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