Jets, Blue Jackets to Switch Divisions?

If and when the NHL and NHLPA somehow strike a deal before the deadline of January 14 to salvage at least half season, there might be a little conference realignment between Columbus and Winnipeg.  A story in Sports Illustrated thinks so.

I still think when it comes to putting the Jets in the right time zone, a switch with Nashville would be the easiest and most logical.

The Other International Hockey Tournament

With all the fanfare surrounding the 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, Russia; there hasn't been all that much attention paid to the other tournament involving Team Canada that rarely gets press due to the World Juniors.   The Spengler Cup Invitational is a international tournament that involves club teams from around Europe and has been in existence since 1923, making it the oldest such tournament other than the IIHF World Senior Mens Championship and the Olympics.  Canada first participated in 1984 winning it all, defeating Dukla Jihlava HC from the former Czechoslovakia.  Canada defeated the host team, HC Davos from Switzerland this year, 7-2.  It is Team Canada's twelfth tournament victory.

Scheifele Scores Again, Canada Advances to Semis with Win Over Russia

Even though he was responsible for a give-a-way that the Russians took full advantage of, Mark Scheifele first scored one of his own on the power play to give Canada an early 2-0 lead and this years Canadian contingent at the IIHF World Under 20 Hockey Championship.  They will now face the winner of the Switzerland-USA quarter-final game.

Trouba Scores for United States as Canada Downs U.S.

Even though he did his hard-hitting best and helped to cut his teams deficit to one by scoring late in the third period,  United States defenseman and 2012 Winnipeg Jets first-round pick Jacob Trouba and his fellow Americans fell to Team Canada 2-1 on Sunday morning in Ufa, Russia.

Scheifele Leads Canada Over Slovakia

Once again Mark Scheifele has shown why the Winnipeg Jets made him their 2011 first-round selection.
With Canada down 2-0 and short-handed twice by two men, including two 10-minute misconduct penalties that left Canada short on forwards,Scheifele took it upon himself to step up and lead Canada to a 6-3 win.

Meanwhile, in the USA/Russia game, Jets 2012 first-round draft-pick Jacob Trouba scored a power-play goal for the Americans in a losing effort.

Favourite Moments of 2012

Ever since the return of the Winnipeg Jets last year, I've been wanting to create a "favourite moments" collage.  I know it's a little late in coming (with several videos instead of a highlight reel on one)
Here are the best moments of the 2011-2012 Winnipeg Jets, in no particular order.





Or this video package I found o YouTube. Some of the same plays, but in a better, condensed video.

Scheifele Knots Two as Canada's Juniors Down Germany

As expected, Canada's world junior hockey team defeated Team Germany with authority on Boxing Day in the opening game of the 2013 World Junior Hockey Championship by a score of 9-3.  The Jets Mark Scheifele scored twice, including a short-handed tally, and the Oilers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins dominated the German team with a five-point night.

TSN has the details.

Hawerchuck Sees Big Things for Scheifele at WJC

Barrie Colts Head Coach and Winnipeg Jets legend Dale Hawerchuck is big on his star and Jets 2011 first-round draft pick Mark Scheifele and sees him being a major contributor at next months IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, Russia.

Keeping an Eye on the Prospects

Ever since the relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, writers and fans have had a keen interest in the players that will make up the future of the Winnipeg Jets.  Some, like center Mark Scheifele's moves around the Ontario Hockey League, American Hockey League and Team Canada's junior ranks, have been well documented, while others have been somewhat exposed to the limelight such as Ivan Telegin.

 The Hockey Future website seems to think the future of the Jets is in good hands, with a piece entitled, "Rebuild Continues to Go Well for the Winnipeg Jets."

Schiefele, Trouba Off to Russia

Top Winnipeg Jets draft selection and prospect Mark Scheifele has made the Canadian World Junior team in his quest for another shot at a gold medal.  Meanwhile the Jets 2012 first round pick Jacob Trouba has also been invited to his respective national team camp for the United States.  He is expected to make the team.

Noel Waiting to Go

While using his free time this locked-out NHL season working with pee-wee and bantam teams, Winnipeg Jets Head Coach Claude Noel can't wait to get going as soon (and if) the NHL lock out ends.

Stuart Signs with Everblades of ECHL

Fed up with daily skating at the MTS Iceplex and wanting to play in actual competitive, meaningful games, Winnipeg Jets defenseman Mark Stuart has signed with the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League.

Chipman Earns Repect

In a very short while, Winnipeg Jets co-owner and True North Sports & Entertainment CEO Mark Chipman has gained respect of the National Hockey League's Board of Governors very quickly it would seem.  It's no surprise though.  Chipman's patience, humility, influence and intelligence got him where he is today.  A successful business and family man.  Those very virtues listed above, through time diligence also got Chipman TNSE the MTS Centre built.  It  got him the experience and know-how as a professional hockey team owner that gave him multiple Executive of the Year awards in the American Hockey League, franchise financial success and respect and admiration from other owners in the league, including AHL league commissioner Dave Andrews; which ultimately led Chipman, TNSE and the city of Winnipeg back to the NHL.

The owners like Chipman.  His players do too.  Is there any mystery then as to why he was selected to be one of six owners to sit down and talk to the players to try and bring some major progress to the CBA negotiations?  There shouldn't be.

The Winnipeg Free Press's Gary Lawless has a article on Chipman's new found stature in the NHL.

Don't be surprised before too long, when the Jets have great success both on and off the ice and Chipman is the talk of the NHL in terms of being a league power broker and whiz kid.  Heck, he may even be added to the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame under the builders category on the walls of his own building in downtown Winnipeg while he still actively owns the team.

Chipman To Be One of Six NHL Owners to Meet with Players

Winnipeg Jets co-owner and True North Sports & Entertainment CEO (and some would say savior) Mark Chipman has been selected by the NHL Board of Governors to be one of six owners to meet with six of the NHL players.  The confident, yet quiet and humble Chipman will certainly be a welcomed presence at the negotiating table, as his laid-back demeanor will certainly be a soothing alternative to the contentious atmosphere between the two sides thus far.

This comes as a welcomed surprise by Jets players.

Scheifele Only Jet Prospect Invited to WJC

Winnipeg Jets 2.0 first-ever draft pick (first round, seventh overall) Mark Scheifele is the only prospect of the club that has been invited to camp of the 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

Jets Value Skyrockets

according to a new report by Forbes Magazine, the Winnipeg Jets are the 20th most valuable team in the National Hockey League when it comes to "hockey related revenue" (HRR) which is the difference between teams that draw their revenue that don't recieve help from a co-tenant in their current arenas such as those who share a National Basketball Association team.

Because of merchandising sales, corporate support, sold-out games every night and owing their own venue (ensuring all revenue of said venue including, parking, and concession that the Jets 1.0 didn't receive due to the greedy Winnipeg Enterprises that took all revenue-save for ticket sales-from the Jets and old Winnipeg Arena)

Jets, NHL Deny Smackdown to Winnipeg Rep

The rumor going around the Jets water cooler this week is whether or not Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs (a NHL Board of Governors big wig with a history of divisive and salacious comments) chastised a representative of the Winnipeg Jets this week at a recent governor's meeting.
Both the Jets and the NHL deny the rumor.
True North Sports and Entertainment CEO Mark Chipman released a statement when the story hit the wire.

Pavelec Tries Again in Finland

Winnipeg Jets net-minder Ondrej Pavelec has decided to sell his wares in the Swedish Elite League, SM-Liiga with the last-placed Lahti Pelicans.

Enstrom Heads to Native Sweden

After his short stint with Salzburg EC Red Bull in Austria, Winnipeg Jets Tobias Enstrom has landed in his native Sweden and signed with the country's second division Orebro Vipers.

Kane Out with Dinamo Minsk

Winnipeg Jets' Evander Kane is the second player to leave his overseas hockey club during the NHL lockout, as he has parted ways with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL.

Road Hockey Night in Canada

Just because the 2012-2013 National Hockey League season may be a bust, that didn't stop Manitoba NHLers and fans from gathering atop the Forks parkade for a road hockey game that included Winnipeg Jets members captain Andrew Ladd, Jim Slater, Mark Stuart and and Los Angeles Kings Mike Richards.

Pavelec On His Way Back to Canada

Ondrej Pavelec's contract with the Liberec Tigers of the Czech Elite League "has expired and wasn't going to be renewed after the current international hockey break in Europe," so he is heading back to Winnipeg.

New Jets Budweiser Flying Off Shelves

Labatt Breweries of Canada has launched a Jets-branded Budweiser for the Manitoba market in limited-edition aluminium bottles.

Scheifele Making Lemonade

The Winnipeg Jets 2011 first-round draft pick and their first pick in general since moving from Atlanta, Georgia to restart the franchise in the Manitoba capital, isn't doing any complaining nowadays as he is taking the lemons dealt to him in the form of the National Hockey League lock-out and making lemonade as he is making the most of his time that he should be spending, in all likelihood, in a Winnipeg Jets jersey perfecting his game until the day either the lock-out is ended and he gets the call-up to the show that he's been waiting his whole life for.

Wheeler Signs with Red Bull Munchen of the German Elite League

The Winnipeg Jets 2011-2012 leading scorer Blake Wheeler is headed to Germany to ride out the NHL lockout.

Jets, Cops to Play Charity Game

A handful of Winnipeg Jets and other NHLers, including Winnipeg-born Chicago Blackhawk Jonathon Toews are planning to be on hand when they take on the Winnipeg Police Service Patrolmen Hockey Club in the "Goals for Dreams Hockey Challenge."

Enstrom Signs with Salzburg in Austrian League

Add defenseman Tobias Enstrom's name to the growing list of NHLers heading overseas during the National Hockey League lockout.  The Jets Swedish blue liner signed with the Austrian league's EC Red Bull Salzburg.

Ladd Still Keeping the Faith

Even though the NHLPA has rejected the NHL's most recent proposal (that included a 50-50 revenue split and no salary roll backs) and the NHL then rejects the Player's counter-proposal just as quickly (even quicker according to NHLPA head Donald Fehr) Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd still feels a deal can be made to salvage the 2012-2013 National Hockey League season.

Jokinen Thinks NHL Season is Toast

Newest Winnipeg Jet Oli Jokinen thinks the current (non) season is already over and everyone should just think about next season...if there is one.

The Winnipeg Jets...40 Years Later

The Winnipeg Jets 40-year (interrupted) history with the city of Winnipeg has seen some ups and downs as every city's favourite sports team does. But if it weren't for two men-Jets original owner and founder Ben Hatskin and star forward Bobby Hull-the Jets simply would not have existed in the first place.

The Jets original starting goalie and the only player to lace up for with the Jets for all seven WHA seasons between 1972 to 1979, Joe Daley regales us with the past glory of Winnipeg's original beloved hockey franchise, what it meant to him to play pro hockey in his hometown and how Hatskin wouldn't take no for an answer to create the best team in the history of the short-lived "rebel league" and the World Hockey Association itself.

Other stories commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Winnipeg Jets:

Bobby Hull: The WHA was the real deal

Hull's faceoff with WHA

Hat tipping Hatskin

Hull, Hatskin got WHA off the ground

No rush to honor Jets alumni