NHL Consolidates Winnipeg Jets’ History

Winnipeg’s history is now one.

The National Hockey League announced earlier today that the Winnipeg Jets’ statistical history includes both iterations of the franchise.

This results in the Jets’ history including their first stint in Winnipeg from 1979 to 1996, the current franchise’s time in Atlanta from 1999 to 2011, and their relocation to Winnipeg from 2011 onward.

This is just a formality for Manitobans.

Most, if not everyone, talks about the history of the Winnipeg Jets beginning as a WHA franchise and then the eventual merger into the NHL.

When Atlanta was relocated to Winnipeg, it was widely speculated about what the name of the team would be.

15 years ago, Mark Chipman introduced Kevin Cheveldayoff to announce the first draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets.

Fans attending the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center (now Grand Casino Arena) went nuts at the announcement.

The draft party held at the MTS Centre (Now Canada Life Centre) turned into “absolute pandemonium,” according to a diehard Winnipeg Jets fan group on Facebook when the team name was announced

History didn’t stop there for Winnipeg.

Mark Scheifele, a cornerstone of the franchise, was drafted seventh overall, and he’s been chasing a lot of Dale Hawerchuk’s records ever since.