- 1972
- 1979
- 1996
-
Winnipeg Jets Team Formation
The NHL had recently expanded to 16 teams, adding franchises in many hockey-hungry cities (only one in Canada), but also in Atlanta, Oakland, and Los Angeles. The WHA brought major professional hockey to Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and later Calgary. On December 27, 1971, Winnipeg was granted one of the founding franchises in the WHA, to Ben Haskins, a ... -
Enter the NHL
By 1979, the vast majority of the WHA’s teams had folded, but the Jets were still going strong and they were absorbed into the NHL along with the Nordiques, Oilers, and Hartford Whalers. They had to pay a high price for a berth in the more established league, however. They had to give up three of their top six scorers ... -
Move to Phoenix – Coyotes
Various schemes were devised to save the team. Attempts to find a local buyer were unsuccessful, with league commissioner Gary Bettman saying, “there doesn’t seem to be anybody, in a serious fashion, who wants to own the franchise.” After a final last effort by a team of local businessmen, dubbed the Spirit of Manitoba, fell through, team owner Barry Shenkarow ...
History of the Jets
The Winnipeg Jets (1972-1996) were a professional ice hockey team that played in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was initially founded as one of the World Hockey Association's original teams, and they joined the NHL in 1979. During their time as an NHL franchise, they made it to two conference finals and won three division titles.
The Jets' first season saw them finish with 33 wins, 37 losses, and 10 ties. Despite this mediocre performance on paper, they made it all the way to game seven of their conference final against Edmonton Oilers before eventually losing out 4-1 on aggregate scoreline over both games. This set up an exciting rivalry between these two teams for years to come! Over subsequent seasons during their tenure in Winnipeg, The Jets had some great players such as Dale Hawerchuk, who led them into another Conference Final appearance against Calgary Flames, which ended with similar results – unfortunately for fans though - no Stanley Cup victory ever came from those efforts despite making multiple playoff appearances throughout their history there.
After 15 years playing out of Manitoba’s capital city, however, due primarily to financial issues within the ownership group at a time, the franchise relocated, becoming Phoenix Coyotes shortly after that. Even after relocation but still today, Winnipeg Jet fans remain passionate about the club & its legacy; furthermore, numerous former players have been inducted into the Hall Of Fame, including Teemu Selanne & Thomas Steen. In 2011 return hockey was brought back when True North Sports & Entertainment purchased Atlanta Thrashers, relocating them back home to where we now know them again simply by the name “Jets!”
Coyotes Products
Established
1972
City
Winnipeg – Phoenix
League History
1979 – Present / National Hockey League
1972 – 1979 / World Hockey Association
Team History
2014 – Present / Arizona Coyotes
1996 – 2013 / Phoenix Coyotes
1972 – 1996 / Winnipeg Jets
Nickname
Jets – The Winnipeg Jets have a long and storied history in the National Hockey League. From 1972 to 1996, they were one of the most beloved teams in Canada, and their unique nickname has always been part of their identity. But where did it come from? Let’s examine how this iconic hockey team got its name.
The original owner of the Winnipeg Jets was Ben Hatskin, who had previously owned an American Hockey League franchise called “the Moose Jaw Canucks” (now known as the Manitoba Moose). He wanted to bring professional hockey back to his hometown, so he purchased an NHL expansion franchise with plans for it to be based out of Winnipeg. When coming up with a name for his new team, he decided on “Jets” because many people associated flying planes with speed and power – two qualities that any successful sports team needs!
Hatskin also thought naming his new hockey club after jets would be fitting since there was already an air force base outside city limits that housed several fighter jets at any given time during those years (it still does today!). The combination between speed/power themes plus local relevance made "Jets" seems like such a natural fit - thus, why it stuck all these years later!
In addition to having symbolic meaning behind its origin story, another reason why fans love this moniker is that when you think about what makes ice-hockey great – skating fast while controlling puck movement - then you can see how similar traits are shared by both airplanes AND skilled players alike: swiftness combined with precision control over your environment; something every fan can relate too when cheering on their favorite squad each game day!
So next time someone asks you where Winnipeg got its nickname back in 1972? You now know that not only is there meaning behind it but also quite possibly some local pride too…Go, Jets, Go!!
Championship
Stanley Cups 0
Avco Cup 3
1979, 1978, 1976
Arena
2014 – Present / Gila River Arena
2006 – 2014 / Jobing.com Arena
2003 – 2005 / Glendale Arena
1996 – 2003 / America West Arena
*Winnipeg*
1972 – 1996 / Winnipeg Arena
Owner
2019 - Present / Alex Meruelo
2013 – 2019/ IceArizona
2009 – 2013 / National Hockey League
2006 – 2009 / Wayne Gretzky and Jerry Moyes
2001 – 2006 / Steve Ellman, Wayne Gretzky, and Jerry Moyes
1998 – 2001 / Richard Burke
1996 – 1998 / Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke
1979 – 1996 / Barry Shenkarow
1972 – 1979 / Ben Hatskin
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
19 / Shane Doan
99 / Wayne Gretzky
*Blue is this team’s history
