The
Winnipeg Jets were a WHA and then an NHL franchise who are
now the Phoenix Coyotes. In 1972, Winnipeg was granted one
of the founding franchises in the World Hockey Association.
The National Hockey League 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 professional hockey to Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg,
Edmonton, and later Calgary and Toronto.
The Jets'
first major signing was Bobby Hull, aka the Golden Jet. The
Jets were the most successful WHA team, winning three Avco
Cups, the league's championship trophy. 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, but
had to give up three of their top six scorers and drafted
18th out of the NHL's 21 teams.
The Jets
experienced mixed success in the NHL, with predictably terrible
results in their first few seasons. In 1981, they drafted
future hall of famer Dale Hawerchuk. They finished 5th in
the league in 1984-85, their best showing.
As the
NHL expanded in the United States, operating costs and salaries
grew rapidly, and the Jets were unable to retain their best
players. Various schemes were attempted to save the team,
but it was sold to out-of-town interests. In 1996, the Winnipeg
Jets moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Jets
retired two numbers, #9, Bobby Hull, and #25, Thomas Steen.
Both numbers hang in Glendale Arena with the Phoenix Coyotes
franchise.
In
2004 Winnipeg writer Steve Lundin wrote [When She's Gone]
, which portayed the psychic damage done to Manitioba's hockey
fans by the loss of the team.
Founded: 1972, as the Winnipeg Jets of the
World Hockey Association Joined NHL 1979.
Formerly Known As: Winnipeg Jets (1972-1996)
Arena: Glendale Arena
Uniform colors: Crimson, white, tan
Logo design: A howling coyote symbol
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