The NHL is coming back to Winnipeg in 2011-12.Commissioner Gary Bettman announced in a press conference today that the Atlanta Thrashers have been sold to the True North Sports and Entertainment group and will be moved to the Manitoba city to play its games in the 15,015 seat MTS Centre.
Devils center Travis Zajac, a native of Winnipeg, is thrilled.
“I might be the only excited guy,” Zajac told me jokingly.
“I grew up watching the Jets for a little bit. For other people in Winnipeg, it’s great. I think the fan support is there. They lost the team once. You know they’re not going to lose the team again.”
Zajac is anxious to play in his hometown.
“For me it’s great. I have friends and family who have never seen me play live," he said. "To get back there and maybe play in front of them will be pretty special.
“There won’t be many better places than Winnipeg. Players will be treated well. It’s a great city for a guy with a family. There are outdoor rinks all over the place, so you never have a hard time finding ice. A lot of the old guys you talk to all enjoyed playing in Winnipeg.”
Right winger David Clarkson said he likes the idea of Winnipeg returning to the NHL.
“To be honest, I think it’s great," said Clarkson, a Torontoi native. "It’s tough when you have a city like Atlanta. The fans are upset. They support their team. They’re behind them. But for hockey I think it’s going to be great. I think Winnipeg is a very loyal city. I think they show it when they’re watching games and every one of them is wearing a Winnipeg Jets jersey.
“I think they’ll do very well attendance-wise. I think it’s good for the game to have them back. It will be an exciting time. For those people, it’s like when you take something away from somebody and they really love it. When you take away a kid’s game or Play Station and give it back to him three months later, he loves it. Those fans wanted that team back.”
Colin White, from Nova Scotia, said another Canadian franchise will help the NHL.
“I think it’s great," the defenseman said. "There is a lot of support in Canada. It’s tough to move a team anytime from one city to another city, but if it wasn’t going to help the NHL I don’t think they’d go through with it. I think they see potential in Winnipeg. The main goal is to help the leaue.
“Obviously Travis is from there, so Travis will be happy. I’ve never been there, but I’ve played withy some guys like Jim McKenzie, who played there and loved it. A lot of guys say it’s great. I heard it’s cold, too.”
Goalie Martin Brodeur offered his view.
“I know for us French-Canadians, everybody is thinking about Quebec City and when we’re going to have our team," Brodeur said, "but this is a good thing. The passion of Canadian hockey fans is tremendous. Most hockey players are pretty excited about it. There is always a buzz when you play in a Canadian city. It will be fun for the players.
“I love playing in Canada. It’s hockey. People live it. The following is tremendous. I’m really excited, but I’m not the one who is going to play there, either.”
Brodeur wonders what the new NHL alignment will look like.
“It’s a great hockey city. Who is going to be in the East now?" he asked. "Somebody is going to have to move East. Is it going to be Nashville? Columbus? Detroit? Who knows?"
Devils center Travis Zajac, a native of Winnipeg, is thrilled.
“I might be the only excited guy,” Zajac told me jokingly.
“I grew up watching the Jets for a little bit. For other people in Winnipeg, it’s great. I think the fan support is there. They lost the team once. You know they’re not going to lose the team again.”
Zajac is anxious to play in his hometown.
“For me it’s great. I have friends and family who have never seen me play live," he said. "To get back there and maybe play in front of them will be pretty special.
“There won’t be many better places than Winnipeg. Players will be treated well. It’s a great city for a guy with a family. There are outdoor rinks all over the place, so you never have a hard time finding ice. A lot of the old guys you talk to all enjoyed playing in Winnipeg.”
Right winger David Clarkson said he likes the idea of Winnipeg returning to the NHL.
“To be honest, I think it’s great," said Clarkson, a Torontoi native. "It’s tough when you have a city like Atlanta. The fans are upset. They support their team. They’re behind them. But for hockey I think it’s going to be great. I think Winnipeg is a very loyal city. I think they show it when they’re watching games and every one of them is wearing a Winnipeg Jets jersey.
“I think they’ll do very well attendance-wise. I think it’s good for the game to have them back. It will be an exciting time. For those people, it’s like when you take something away from somebody and they really love it. When you take away a kid’s game or Play Station and give it back to him three months later, he loves it. Those fans wanted that team back.”
Colin White, from Nova Scotia, said another Canadian franchise will help the NHL.
“I think it’s great," the defenseman said. "There is a lot of support in Canada. It’s tough to move a team anytime from one city to another city, but if it wasn’t going to help the NHL I don’t think they’d go through with it. I think they see potential in Winnipeg. The main goal is to help the leaue.
Goalie Martin Brodeur offered his view.
“I know for us French-Canadians, everybody is thinking about Quebec City and when we’re going to have our team," Brodeur said, "but this is a good thing. The passion of Canadian hockey fans is tremendous. Most hockey players are pretty excited about it. There is always a buzz when you play in a Canadian city. It will be fun for the players.
“I love playing in Canada. It’s hockey. People live it. The following is tremendous. I’m really excited, but I’m not the one who is going to play there, either.”
Brodeur wonders what the new NHL alignment will look like.
“It’s a great hockey city. Who is going to be in the East now?" he asked. "Somebody is going to have to move East. Is it going to be Nashville? Columbus? Detroit? Who knows?"
