WINNIPEG – Part of Winnipeg’s hockey history could soon return to the MTS Centre.
“If I had to put good old fashioned money on the barrel head I’d say we’re probably going to see the Winnipeg Jets prospects play live… here next year,” said Kelly Moore from 680 CJOB.
According to reports, there is an opportunity for the Jets’ American Hockey League affiliate St.John’s IceCaps to work an agreement with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, who currently have their farm team in Hamilton, Ontario.
The move is also still hinging on plans for a new waterfront arena and convention centre in Thunder Bay, which could be built by 2017.
“What would likely happen is that the Jets would have to move their farm team back to Winnipeg for 2015 through 2017… if everything goes well with Thunder Bay,” said Moore.
But could Winnipeg really support two hockey franchises?
“For the first year, I think you could see the novelty of seeing the Jets’ prospects playing for an entire season,” said Moore. “In year two, probably not so much. So that’s the conundrum that the Jets find themselves in.”
Even if the move was temporary, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ says another hockey team would benefit the city.
“Just from doing a quick scan of people on Twitter and some of our BIZ members, they’re saying that whatever activity that happens in the evening is a great thing,” said Jason Syvixay from Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. “It’s going to help encourage people to have a pint or a drink right before the game.”
And Winnipeg families are hoping for more accessible games in the near future.
“Probably would be a little bit more affordable for everyone… you can go to a few games a year at the Jets but you really can’t go to too many games on that kind of budget so the AHL would be great,” said Winnipeg hockey fan Craig Holmes.
Sources tell Global News more details on the Thunder Bay project will be available by the end this month.
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