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!
