Comments on: Go Jets Go?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:46:00 +0000

With the photo of Bobby Orr behind him when Chipman was on HNIC , maybe number four needs to encourage TNSE as well? That would a difficult hockey trinity to defy.

By: James Gelet

James Gelet — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 22:04:00 +0000

True North couldn’t possibly dare defy The Great One AND Don Cherry, could they?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:20:00 +0000

Wayne Gretzky just said when asked if he had any advice for Mark Chipman , name the team the Winnipeg Jets.

He said Bobby Hull made hockey in Winnipeg and that both Bobby Hull and the fans deserve the respect of calling the team Winnipeg Jets.

Great , great answer. Mark Chipman will be on the show in a bit , let’s hear his response to the Great One.

By: Phillip Smithson

Phillip Smithson — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 06:18:00 +0000

I’m from Winnipeg, my family is from Winnipeg. My son is the 1st in 5 generations to be born outside of Manitoba. I and many other people have no problem with the name of the team being the Winnipeg Jets. Its not just about the history, its about an identity, when someone thinks of professional hockey (WHA and NHL) there is only one team name that rolls off the tongue. That name is Winnipeg Jets. Not the Manitoba Jets, Winnipeg Jets.

There are many other fine team names out there and you’ve listed a few of them. I’m sure that some other city would be happy with those names. But for us its the Winnipeg Jets.
Winnipeggers did not hate the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, they didn’t even dislike that name or team. It is a good team, a fine MINOR pro-team. Arguments for the new NHL team to be called the Manitoba Moose are that it has been the city’s team for 15 years and it is a recognizable brand that True North has shaped and built up. That is all well and true, but I challenge anyone to ask someone from Winnipeg what hockey league they think of when you say “Manitoba Moose” the answer will be and forever be ‘AHL’, just as if you ask the same question but with the “Winnipeg Jets” the answer has been and will forever be ‘NHL’.
You see it isn’t so much the history, it is the identity. WE identify with the JETS, kids who were not even toilet-trained when the Jets 1.0 were sold identify with the Winnipeg Jets, there were quite a few of them at Portage and Main when the rumors were running rampant. They were ALL chanting the same thing…GO JETS GO!

We know the team that was sold in 96 wasn’t the best team, sure since that team entered the league in 79 there were a lot of problems with the on ice product, but that isn’t what I remember, I remember the roar of the crowd and the way the players made Winnipeg their home. I remember my grandfather listening to the radio broadcasts of the games not because he couldn’t afford to go to the games but because that is how he identified with the team. We’d listen to the crowd over the airwaves, the excitement in the announcer’s voice when Dale Hawerchuk would fly up the ice and make 3 opposing players look stupid. Win or lose, we identify with the Jets. Not just us in, and from, Manitoba but people all around the world. Hockey legends like Hawerchuk and Selanne identify with the name, hell even the Great One said today he identifies with the Winnipeg Jets.

So, if anyone from True North is reading this, please name the team Winnipeg Jets. The Jets 1.0 may of moved to Arizona, but to tell you the truth, MY Jets NEVER moved. They are waiting, waiting in Winnipeg to fly again!

By: Jon Smith

Jon Smith — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:41:00 +0000

I agree. Polar Bears is atrocious. Still not a Moose supporter either. ”Go Jets Go”.

By: Brett Crawford

Brett Crawford — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:13:00 +0000

As long as people get to chant “Go Jets Go” they’ll be happy. The best compromise is Manitoba Jets but I think people need to brace themselves for something new altogether.

When I started hearing it was likely the Moose I was pissed, but then the name ” Manitoba Polar Bears” was brought up as a serious contender, and a Moose supporter was born.

Please, God. NOT the Polar Bears.

By: Luke Miguez

Luke Miguez — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:41:00 +0000

Gotta go with the Winnipeg Jets, that or the Manitoba Jets. Either of those is fine with me. There’s a lot of “we have to close an old chapter” on Winnipeg hockey history sort of talk, but I just have to say that a lot of the people I saw at The Forks on Tuesday were people who were under 10 years of age back when the Jets left in 1996. They didn’t have a strong connection to the Jets of the 70s and 80s, but regardless they immediately identified NHL hockey in Winnipeg with the ‘Jets’ moniker.

From a business standpoint it’s basic knowledge that it’s easier to take over existing brands than to build new ones. True North has two existing brands at its disposal, the ‘Winnipeg Jets’ and the ‘Manitoba Moose’ and I just think that the Moose despite how well they were run just bleed minor league-status through the moniker. Would we really want to go to New York and Los Angeles for a US-nationally televised game between the NY Rangers and the Manitoba Moose? Come now.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:55:00 +0000

I think Chipman should make a deal with Grapes; if he agrees to wear a sedate, gray, pin-striped suit to the opener, he’ll go with the Jets name.

By: News you can use: Latest on Return of the NHL to Winnipeg | Illegal Curve Hockey

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:05:07 +0000

[...] Go Jets Go? [...]

By: Ryan Moharid

Ryan Moharid — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:24:00 +0000

I don’t have this name and logo for no reason. Time for a change Winnipeg. We don’t always have to look for precedents to determine what we should do. Time to blaze our own trail. Manitoba Falcons are set to fly.

By: Roshan Menon

Roshan Menon — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:39:00 +0000

Although I was initially not for naming the team the Jets (unless it was the Coyotes who moved back to Winnipeg), I’ve been swept overboard by the feelings & emotions of the vast majority of fans. It should be the Winnipeg Jets.

By: M.Nicholas Fontaine

M.Nicholas Fontaine — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:38:00 +0000

Manitoba Jets , this should satisfy both sides. it’s the new upgraded winnipeg jets. new name/logo while maintaining tradition.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:01:00 +0000

The Moose wasn’t a great name in the IHL or AHL , it would be less of one in the NHL imo.

By: Luke Miguez

Luke Miguez — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:56:00 +0000

Well it won’t be that big a deal if the Phoenix Coyotes end up in Quebec City within a few years :p

By: Pixel

Pixel — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:50:00 +0000

Gotta say, I’ve been guilty of using the “revenue from a new brand” and the “fresh start” arguments. Learned something new from both of your explanations – thanks!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:42:00 +0000

The team that is here now , the team that came from Atlanta. Besides , the franchise in Phoenix will be known as the former team right?

The original post made a salient point in this regard and the Alouettes situation.

By: Gregory Waltz

Gregory Waltz — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:34:00 +0000

One problem with the Jets name is who will own the Jets (1972-1996) team records? The franchise in Phoenix or the franchise that came from Atlanta?

By: Drew Mindell

Drew Mindell — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:03:00 +0000

Given what we know about TNSE and their incredible level of preparation, I’m certain the team name, logo and jersey has all been decided on. Once the Drive to 13 is complete, I suspect the fan’s reward will be finding out the team name etc etc (BTW, I personally hope it is the Manitoba ______–it’s been a provincial effort to bring this team back, so let’s celebrate the entire province with the team name)

By: James Gelet

James Gelet — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:31:00 +0000

Very well said point for point. I keep coming back to one piece of evidence over and over because it’s the one I know from experience. I work in Minneapolis half of the year so I go to a lot of Wild games. Just like Winnipeg, Minnesota LOVES their hockey and they lost their team only to have another one takes its place years down the line. Here we are over ten years after the arrival of the Wild and still most of the Wild games I’ve been to it looks like there are just as many North Stars jerseys as there are Wild jerseys. If not more. I’ve talked to a few guys about that and they say they’ll never wear anything but a North Stars jersey to a game. They love hockey and are happy that they have a team again. They’ve had that new team for over ten years but they still want their North Stars back more than anything.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:28:00 +0000

I don’t have a good feel re the name . I think there is a strong link to the provincial government and therefore Manitoba may be favored instead of Winnipeg, wrongly imo.

Unless TNSE wants to save some fireworks for later , the “we have been too busy to decide on a name” is not believable. Gary Lawless broached this today with Jim Ludlow , he asked if they had a couple mock uniforms done and Ludlow replied with a comment that we saw how prepared and smooth the press conference went. Lawless also said that Ludlow had mentioned many times over the years ( all while no microphone was on ) that the organization was “plug and play” as far as being NHL ready.

So , we all see how prepared TNSE is and was , and we are to believe they haven’t decided on a name at this stage? I certainly don’t.

I concur with how all the teams that played in Montreal are all thought of as the same franchise. That applies to Winnipeg as well imo. This provides continuity for fans , former and future players. History and traditional are vital for sport franchises , and we as fans and owners should do all we can to embrace this .

Virtually to a man , former Winnipeg Jets are effusive in their praise for the Winnipeg fans , for the time spent here and are thrilled to have Winnipeg back in the NHL. Why would a decision be made to not build on this?

I have been in numerous places outside of North America and people know the Winnipeg Jets. Checking in at a hotel , paying for a dinner , working out while wearing a Jet t shirt, so many people have a positive image of Winnipeg because of our Jets. Internationally , the name Winnipeg provides much more than the name Manitoba , no disrespect to the rest of the province. It is their team too of course , I just don’t believe it prudent to name it after the province .

I have tried to understand why the team won’t or shouldn’t be called the Winnipeg Jets , and truly can not come up with a viable reason. By the way , there was a lot of success for the Winnipeg Jets , don’t dismiss the WHA and 3 Avco Cups , and look at the great players we have had in both the WHA and he NHL . I mean when Ulf Nilsson isn’t even the best Nilsson on your team , you have serious talent. Just saying.

Do the right thing , honor the tradition , the passion , and complete this great feel good story , select the only name that should be considered , Winnipeg Jets.

By: Rasheed Hosein

Rasheed Hosein — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:22:00 +0000

Can I get an Amen, Brother! Loved the article. I was born in the early 70s, so my whole life is tied to the Winnipeg JETS name, logos, and history. I WANT THEM BACK!! I want to share them with my kids who never know NHL hockey in Winnipeg. Also want the Queen back too, but its gotta be the JETS … the Winnipeg JETS!

By: J.

J. — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:33:00 +0000

Anything except “Moose” (blech!) would be fine by me.

I’m hearing the team will definitely be “Manitoba _____ ”

Falcons? Blizzard? Jets? Doesn’t matter as long as the LOGO & JERSEY look great !