The NHL has officially announced that Winnipeg will host the 2016 NHL Heritage Classic. Not the "Winter Classic," but the Heritage Classic. Does this mean we'll see Dale Hawerchuck lace 'em up for the Jets alumni? Hedberg? Nilsson? Not the Golden Jet obviously, at least nothing more than one more skate around the rink in his Jets jersey..halfway.
I imagine the NHL would most likely schedule them against either Vancouver or Edmonton. Most likely the latter. The history between the Jets and Oilers is too obvious to ignore. Never mind that they had a seven-year history in the old World Hockey Association; including facing each other in the last-ever Avco Cup championship in 1979, it changed significantly after that. The long and short of it is, the Oilers repeatedly and decisively handed the Jets their behinds pretty much each and every game in their NHL existence together. So maybe an alumni game could change history just a little bit. And yes, this is probably the only way the Jets can beat the Oilers. Although if the Oilers have Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Messier, Coffey, Fuhr and Gretzky (which is entirely possible) they'll still kick butt. Plus the Jets wouldn't have Paul MacLean on Ducky's wing due to him being the current Senators head coach after all. Although I think a guy like Morris Lukowich could still go.
Vancouver could be the opponent for the Jets as they also have a history versus the Winnipeg, although the Canucks will be hosting their own Heritage Classic this coming March versus the Ottawa Senators at B.C. Place stadium. This is also Ottawa's first Heritage Classic, as Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal have all participated in the last three Heritage Classics. Montreal having been in two. So that leaves only the Jets and the Toronto Maple Leafs as the only Canadian cities that haven't played in the annual outside game.
Who would be on the Jets alumni roster? Hawerchuck and Thomas Steen are no-brainers. Who else though? I'm thinking Dave Ellet, Laurie Boschman and Dave Babych for starters. If Randy Carlyle wasn't currently employed by the Maple Leafs as their head coach, I'm pretty sure he's be there too.
This is pretty awesome.
But, oh yeah. A NHL game outside...in Winnipeg. BRRRRRRR!
