I was a new fan to hockey when the Winnipeg Jets were torn from the city and sent to Phoenix, to become that Coyotes. There is a lot of history with that team, for the fans. The team never really accomplished anything, but to the fans, its no different than the Leafs, or the Flames, or any other team. It was their team. They spent the money to go to the games, to buy the jerseys and the hats. They fell in love with the Jets, told stories to their children, maybe even took their children to games.
As you all know, Winnipeg received a team, when The Atlanta Thrashers no longer had solid ownership, and no one was able to purchase them. They city that lost their team 15 years ago, finally will have NHL hockey back. Now that The Winnipeg Nameless have their GM in place, and are looking for their coaching staff, they still have to figure out what they are going to call this team. From what I have seen online, the people in the town want them to be called the Jets again. I do not have a problem with this, but there are some down falls to giving them that name.
First and foremost they are not the Winnipeg Jets. They are the Atanta Thrashers. Now that they are in Winnipeg, they will have a new logo and a new name (probably) but they will have all of the old Atlanta Thrasher records. As well, their retired numbers will not be available. I do not think that is a big deal since The Thrashers only retired jerseys are #37, Dan Snyder and #99 Wayne Gretzky (Retired league wide). Also, since they are not the real Winnipeg Jets, they will not have access to the retired Jerseys in Phoenix either #9 Bobby Hull, #10 Dale Hawerchuk, #25 Thomas Steen, #27 Teppo Numminen. They would not be able to hang them up in those retired number banners up in their arena either, because they belong to another franchise.
Something else to take into account is the fact that True North Sports group that purchased and moved the Thrashers also own the AHL Manitoba Moose. In the last two weeks, they have moved that franchise to St. John's, Newfoundland. They are in the process of renaming them. During the last decade, the Moose have played in the building that will be home to the Winnipeg Nameless, the MTS center. True North has branded that arena with Moose logos, and have promoted The Manitoba Moose Brand all over the province. All that money they have spent would be for not.
I strongly believe that the longer it takes them to name the team, the better the chances are that they will be called the Manitoba Moose. And so they should be. They certainly are not the Winnipeg Jets.
First and foremost they are not the Winnipeg Jets. They are the Atanta Thrashers. Now that they are in Winnipeg, they will have a new logo and a new name (probably) but they will have all of the old Atlanta Thrasher records. As well, their retired numbers will not be available. I do not think that is a big deal since The Thrashers only retired jerseys are #37, Dan Snyder and #99 Wayne Gretzky (Retired league wide). Also, since they are not the real Winnipeg Jets, they will not have access to the retired Jerseys in Phoenix either #9 Bobby Hull, #10 Dale Hawerchuk, #25 Thomas Steen, #27 Teppo Numminen. They would not be able to hang them up in those retired number banners up in their arena either, because they belong to another franchise.
Something else to take into account is the fact that True North Sports group that purchased and moved the Thrashers also own the AHL Manitoba Moose. In the last two weeks, they have moved that franchise to St. John's, Newfoundland. They are in the process of renaming them. During the last decade, the Moose have played in the building that will be home to the Winnipeg Nameless, the MTS center. True North has branded that arena with Moose logos, and have promoted The Manitoba Moose Brand all over the province. All that money they have spent would be for not.
I strongly believe that the longer it takes them to name the team, the better the chances are that they will be called the Manitoba Moose. And so they should be. They certainly are not the Winnipeg Jets.
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