Winnipeg Jets History
The Winnipeg Jets were founded in 1997 as the Thrashers, and began play in the 1999-2000 NHL season, spending 11 seasons in Atlanta and making the playoffs once in 2006-2007. In 2011, the franchise was sold to True North Sports and Entertainment, which relocated the team to Winnipeg and adopted the name of the city's original franchise in the World Hockey Association, the Jets.
Major league hockey dates back to 1972 in Winnipeg, which was home to one of the founding franchises of the WHA and one of four (along with Quebec, Hartford and Edmonton) to join the NHL when the leagues merged in 1979. The original Jets moved to Phoenix in 1996 and became the Phoenix Coyotes (now the Arizona Coyotes). In the 12 seasons that the Jets have been in Winnipeg, they've made six playoff appearances, including a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2018.
In 2016, the team established the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame, with the "Hot Line" trio of Anders Hedberg, Bobby Hull and Ulf Nilsson as the inaugural inductees. Recent inductees include Teemu Selänne and Teppo Numminen.
Winnipeg Jets Team Info
Conference: Western
Division: Central
Year Founded: 1997
Team Colors: Blue, Silver, Red
Team Rivals: Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre
Located in downtown Winnipeg, Canada Life Centre is the home of the Winnipeg Jets and also the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. The arena is able to host just over 15,300 hockey fans, making it the smallest permanent arena in the NHL. Canada Life Centre is also home to the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum.