Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Jets news:

Winnipeg Free Press:  Paying last respects.  You can expect to see a full 60 minute effort as the players know they have 15,004 coaches in the audience who will expect nothing less than their best.

Winnipeg Free Press:  So many memories.  From the jersey reveal to rookie training camp to the 1st pre-season game, then a home opener and now the season finale and everything in-between.  The 2011/12 NHL season will stand out for everyone in this province for years to come.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Never again will there be a season like this.  Ed takes you back and looks at what fans have had to enjoy over the past season.  Not surprisingly we at IC loved the GST chant that took on a life of its own.  To read more about how the chant came about, click here.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Chevy kept his promise.  Not a bad first season as the GM of a team that underwent a ton of change in just under a year.  This summer the sole focus of the Jets fandom will be on Kevin Cheveldayoff and what he does with the numerous UFA’s on the team as well as with the upcoming 2012 Entry Draft.

Winnipeg Free Press:  The quotable coach.  Tim and Ed take a look back at all the beauty lines by the Jets bench boss.  From “Free pizzas” to calling the media “Gems & Beauties” Claude Noel has been a reporters dream when it comes to quotable comments.

Winnipeg Free Press:  The top 5.  Taking a look at the top 5 games the Jets won, the top 5 games they lost, 5 most memorable moments and 5 top goals.  Let us know your top 5 moments of the year.

Globe and Mail:  Ready to celebrate ‘restored legacy’.  Can anyone believe that we have already gone through 3 exhibition games and 40 home games?  While it has been a long season, in some ways it seems unbelievable that tonight is the final home game of the Jets 2.0 inaugural season.  Expect a party atmosphere tonight at the MTS Centre.

Globe and Mail:  Noel said it.  He is the gift that keeps on giving.  So many people I talk to about the Jets 1st year coach love his candor.  Some of these quotes are just gems.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets among NHL’s richest teams.  Cannot say I am overly surprised by this.  With Jets mania gripping the city, the Jets have been racking it in hand over fist.  The naysayers will ask if this is sustainable but something tells me True North has long term plans for the financial well being of the team.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets pumped for last stand.  “There is no place like home, there is no place like home”.  While that line is originally from the Wizard of Oz, the Jets players should also be chanting that after a season to remember.  One that saw them act like lions at home, which unfortunately never translated to the road.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets return brought life to city.  I have spoken to hockey fans as well as those without any interest in seeing a Jets game and the consensus has been that the return of NHL hockey has been a boon to the psyche of our province.  Even for former Manitobans, they look on with pride as their former hometown team travels across North America, re-establishing the name Winnipeg in the minds of many who have had 15 years to forget about our great city.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets fans the best in the league.  There is no question that the fans within the MTS Centre (and even in other arenas) have pushed this team to greater heights.  From the True North chant (listen to the players thoughts on that) at the start of the game to harassing the opposition, these fans are like an extra man on the ice.  Even the 50/50 is the talk of the league on many nights.  Speaking of, tonight is our last IC 50/50 guess what the winner takes home contest.  Send us an @tweet to @illegalcurve with your guess and you can win IC merchandise.

Toronto Sun:  Winnipeg Jets out, but not down.  To think that this is all less than one year old.  Under one year since that fateful day in May when Stepehn Brunt dropped the bomb.  The day the TSN Jets Meter took a big jump.  It has been a year to remember for fans of NHL hockey in Manitoba.

ESPN:  Saturday’s web video of the day.  A Winnipeg Jets chant from an Anglican Church in Winnipeg.

Next opponent news – Tampa Bay Lightning:

Globe and Mail:  Steven Stamkos eyes goal no. 60.  While both teams are going to play to win, you can bet the Jets will do their best to ensure Stamkos doesn’t join the 60 goal club.

FS Florida:  Lightning try to end on a high note.  Of all the NHL coaches to spend time in Winnipeg, perhaps the most interesting has been Bolts coach Guy Boucher.  A cerebral guy, the last time he was in Winnipeg, he chatted with media for the standard 5 minute Q & A and then hung around talking hockey for 15-20 minutes.