WINNIPEG, Manitoba – It has been the longest 113 days in Manitoba history, from Mark Chipman’s announcement that True North Sports & Entertainment had purchased the Atlanta Thrashers to tonight’s preseason tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The entire city of Winnipeg is abuzz with excitement, there are Jets shirts and hats everywhere you look. The MTS Centre just finished putting up exterior signs Monday and the big screen on the outside of the arena is on and flashing the words GAME DAY.
Even with half the Jets squad in Columbus for a split-squad set-up that the NHL is trying this year, excitement is the word of the day in the Jets dressing room in Winnipeg and Columbus.
Jason Gregorie who is fighting for a spot on the Jets squad had this to say about tonight’s game, “This is getting closer to the real deal, but I can’t get caught up in all the hype, I’m fighting for a job here.”
Even though the Jets have played in front of 1500 fans at an open practice and all the players have been wearing Jets practice jerseys all week, they are excited about putting on the real jersey and taking to the ice in front of 15,015 Jets fans.
It was reported today that a group of Jets fans have been standing outside the MTS Centre on Portage Avenue since 8:00 AM chanting GO JETS GO!!!
As this day got closer the media covering the JETS has grown and Jets captain Andrew Ladd was asked, “When was the last time you faced this much media?”
His response was “Yesterday”.
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