One of the city’s most decorated athletes says he’s proud to be a Winnipeg Jet after signing with his hometown team.
Jonathan Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup champion named in 2017 as one of the 100 greatest players in NHL history, was formally introduced as a Jet at a press conference Friday, alongside the club’s head coach, Scott Arniel, and general manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff.
Toews officially signed with the Jets at the opening of NHL free agency on July 1. He previously spent his entire pro career with the Chicago Blackhawks, serving as captain from 2008 to 2023. Medical issues kept him off the ice after his time in Chicago, but he’s set to make a comeback at 37 with the Jets this coming season.
“The closer I got to really following through and making a decision, the reality started setting in — how special it was,” Toews said.
“All the memories flooded back from my childhood, of just why and when I first fell in love with the game of hockey.
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“Being a young kid, going to the Winnipeg Arena and watching games and just being in that atmosphere… it’s hard to imagine much about what’s going on down on the ice, but just something about the action, the energy, the whiteouts, and just being a part of that… I just caught the bug and became passionate for the game.”
Toews called the experience of donning a Jets sweater for the first time “surreal”.
“It’s that that new feeling, like you’re getting drafted again and you’re a young kid, so there’s definitely that excitement, and that motivation.”
Cheveldayoff said in the early days of the Jets franchise, he had a discussion with team owner Mark Chipman about the prospect of Toews one day coming home to Winnipeg and playing for the Jets.
“Do you ever think that Jonathan Toews would wear a Jets jersey? Would you ever think he’d come home? And at that point in time, it was merely, a dream or a concept,” he said.
“But, you know, last week when we finalized everything, I sent Mark a text (about Toews) and that was an emotional feeling. And I’m sure it was emotional for Mark.”
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