Results 41 to 48 of 48
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05-31-2011, 04:16 PM #41
Winnipeg group has deal to buy, move Thrashers
Look's like the deal is finalized, or at least given the green light to be reported to everybody.
The National Hockey League took a first step toward returning to the city of Winnipeg with Tuesday's announcement that True North Sports and Entertainment has acquired the Atlanta Thrashers.
True North Chairman Mark Chipman made the announcement, accompanied on the podium by prospective new owner David Thomson, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and True North President and CEO Jim Ludlow.
"Today, on behalf of my family, our partner David Thomson and our entire organization, I am excited beyond words to announce our purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers," Chipman said. "In a sense, I guess you can say True North, our city and our province has received the call we've long since been waiting for."
The sale is still pending approval by the NHL Board of Governors, which next meets on June 21 in New York. Transfer of ownership requires a 75 percent vote of approval, while relocation requires a majority vote.
Tuesday's announcement was made at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, where the team would play next season pending those approvals. The building, which seats 15,015 for hockey, is currently home to the AHL's Manitoba Moose and has hosted recent NHL preseason games.
In his remarks, Ludlow talked about the new ownership group's goal to sell 13,000 season tickets prior to the Board of Governors meeting, which Bettman said "is the best message to send the NHL Board of Governors before they meet on June 21." The commissioner later added that with the amount of interest shown in recent years by the general public in getting a team back in Winnipeg, he couldn't begin to imagine a scenario in which that goal wasn't met.
"It is clear that times have changed for Winnipeg as an NHL market and this is a wonderful time to add a club to Canada," Bettman said. "Hockey in Canada has never been stronger. The NHL has a different economic system that allows the so-called 'smaller markets' to compete. The NHL is coming off another season of record revenues in both Canada and the United States, and our prospects remain extraordinarily bright.
"This venue, the MTS Centre, will be a fine, fine home for an NHL club. And there is the strength of the prospective ownership group. We now also -- and perhaps this is the most poignant point -- get to be back in a place we wish we hadn't left in 1996."
If approved, the Thrashers move from Atlanta to Winnipeg is the League's first franchise relocation since 1997, when the Hartford franchise moved to Carolina. It is the third NHL relocation in the last 16 years. In the same period, the National Football League has moved four teams, while the National Basketball Association moved three franchises and Major League Baseball moved one.
Tuesday's announcement comes after several years of the League and the Atlanta ownership group attempting to find a local group to purchase and operate the Thrashers in their current city and arena.
"As we have said repeatedly, we don't like to move franchises," Bettman said. "But sometimes, even if it's been 14 years since the last time we moved a franchise, we simply have no choice, as was the case back in '96 when the Jets left Winnipeg. ... No one, at that time, wanted to own the Jets any longer in Winnipeg."
The Jets relocated to Arizona prior to the 1996-97 season and became the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Jets originally came into existence in 1972 and spent seven seasons playing in the World Hockey Association before joining the NHL for the 1979-80 season. Bobby Hull scored more than 300 goals for the club during its WHA days and current Anaheim Ducks star Teemu Selanne scored a rookie-record 76 goals for Winnipeg during the 1992-93 season.
"Memories of the legendary Winnipeg Jets players such as Bobby Hull, Dale Hawerchuk and Teemu Selanne remain fresh in the minds of Canadians," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement. "I know that the new team will inspire countless young Canadians to put on their skates and carry on Canada's proud hockey tradition."
Following the announcement, AHL president and CEO David Andrews released a statement praising Chipman as "an influential leader as an owner in the AHL" and addressing the future of the Moose.
"Manitoba deserves to have NHL hockey, and we have no doubt that the NHL will be successful in its return to Winnipeg," Andrews said. "Our sincere thanks go to the Manitoba Moose fans who have supported the American Hockey League loyally and passionately for the past 10 years.
"The future of the Manitoba AHL franchise will be determined in the weeks ahead, and we look forward to Winnipeg's NHL club developing its top prospects in the AHL."
Stay on NHL.com and NHL Network throughout the day for more reporting from Winnipeg and Atlanta.
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05-31-2011, 05:58 PM #42
A "M" word for an Winnipeg team.
Mosquitoes?
Last edited by flemingc04; 05-31-2011 at 06:28 PM.
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05-31-2011, 07:09 PM #43
I wish they would be the Jets again!
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05-31-2011, 10:17 PM #44
The team is going to be called the Manitoba ____________
They are changing it to Manitoba for sponsorship purposes so I've heard. Maybe the Moose of the NHL? Lol
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05-31-2011, 11:30 PM #45
why not the winnipeg Indians :)
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06-01-2011, 06:27 AM #46
Or Manitoba Monarchs? Lol
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06-01-2011, 08:53 AM #47
Give it a Bob & Doug theme and call 'em the Manitoba Hosers!
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06-01-2011, 11:55 AM #48
Actually in 16 years this will be the fourth. Fifth in 18 years
1993 - Minnisota North Stars to Dallas Stars
1995 - Quebec Nordiques to Colorado Avalanche
1996 - Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix Coyotes
1997 - Hartford Whalers to Carolina Hurricanes
2011 - Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg (?)
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Originally Posted by patrickadams26 
