Jets Alumni Do City Proud

What a sweet shot.  Laurie Boschman and Teemu Selanne - Forever a Jet.

Ah.  Sweet revenge.  It matters not that it came 16 years or so later and that most of the rosters on both sides are grandfathers.  The Winnipeg Jets 1.0 boys of my childhood finally took out the 1980's Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers in front of all the world to see.

After a three-goal lead collapsed in the second period-just as I thought the Jets were going to get a taste of their own medicine-Teemu Selanne, the hero of he 1.0 90's Jets, was tripped by Craig Simpson (in a Homer-like move) to give the Finnish Flash a penalty shot to win it very late in the third.  Of all people to give a game-winning breakaway opportunity to, you give it to Teemu Selanne (well, either him or Hawerchuck)  O.k.  I'll take that.  Selanne pops one under Curtis Joseph's glove, wins it 5-4 with his second goal and in a game that really means nothing, except it kinda does, Selanne finishes a script (?) that would have been forever lore if this had any modern day significance.


It was just cool to see, even if the clock didn't stop and any penalty was awarded as a penalty shot. 

Dave Ellet (#2) and Teemu Selanne (#13)

It was nice to see my adolescent-age hockey heroes back together for what will surely be the last time these guys play together on a stage such as this ever again.  Laurie Boschman, Dougie Smail, Thomas Steen, Dave Babych, Dave Ellet and Bob Essensa along with Hawerchuck and Selanne, who I finally got to see play on the same line together.  Even my favourite #12, Morris Lukowich looked like he didn't think it was a just a meaningless exhibition game, as he was racing down his old hunting ground on the left wing creating chances often.  Even original Jet, and the man John Ferguson gave up to originally acquire Boschman, Willy Lidstrom, had a funny on-air moment with commentator Scott Oake.  As Oake was asking Lidstrom about being traded to the Oilers and going on to win multiple Stanley Cups, Lidstrom's line was hitting the ice and he simply said, "I gotta go play."

Even the practice jerseys are a beauty.

Overall, I enjoyed it.  It was nice to see Winnipeg on the radar if only for two days by the NHL.  Other than the obvious and inevitable attention going to be paid to Patrik Laine, the Jets (and most western teams to be fair) don't get paid all that much attention by the league, but to the Jets in particular.  This game between the stars of the past and tomorrow afternoon's game between the stars of the present looks good on Winnipeg and True North Sports & Entertainment.  It indeed has a rich hockey heritage and championships to prove it including Stanley Cups, Memorial Cups, Allan Cups, world championships and an Olympic gold medal.

Not bad, eh? 





 

Check out Richard Brignall's Forgotten Heroes:  Winnipeg's Hockey Heritage.  It is the premier history of amateur and professional hockey in Winnipeg.  Then you can see how this celebration weekend in Winnipeg is a modern, living compendium to that history.

Now let's see if our present-day heroes can make it much more sweeter by taking down the still hated Edmonton Oilers tomorrow afternoon.

Go Jets Go.