The hockey playoffs, like usual have lost some steam with hockey fans as the summer weather is inviting everyone out to the golf course, cabin and back yard for some gardening or yard work. I admit my recent schedule has prevented me from watching most of the third round of the playoffs, but I still have made it a point to catch the highlights.
You?d think being two weeks away from crowning a new Stanley Cup champion and having a Canadian team in the final would be more exciting, still for many Canadians the bigger news is the possible return of NHL hockey to Winnipeg.
Nothing was confirmed Tuesday, which was the initial date leaked of a media announcement, and it appears nothing will be made official this week. This story came out of left field and perhaps everyone felt they were closer to calling it a done deal than it appears. Reports say the AHL?s Manitoba Moose are all set to move to St. John?s for the next season, but that announcement won?t be made official until the deal with the Thrashers and Winnipeg is confirmed. An ECHL team has also been removed from Victoria to make room for a WHL team, so maybe since the Saskatoon Blades sold their future they will, in turn, pick up an ECHL team. Then they could say bye-bye to the struggles of the Blades in the WHL playoffs and try something different and all of Western Canada will have new teams in new leagues to root for.
Back on topic - the talk for the past three seasons has been on the Phoenix Coyotes franchise returning to Winnipeg, but that was Gary Bettman?s baby and he wasn?t going to allow that to happen. Phoenix is a go for another year and it appears this idea of Atlanta heading north is very close to becoming reality. As he was protecting Phoenix, Atlanta struggled and the ridiculous gimmicks used to lure fans to the rink didn?t work for the Thrashers. Bettman couldn?t baby both NHL centres and it appears for the second time in 31 years Atlanta is sending a team up to Canada.
Former players have come out and said that the NHL can survive in Winnipeg and it was a great place to play. Player, especially in Phoenix, appeared reluctant to embrace the Winnipeg scene, but soon enough it could become more than an annoying question. It could be reality.
Winnipeg could be compared to Flin Flon of the SJHL. Any time a player is traded there, they debate whether they will report or not. For all those players I know who have played their they said it was an amazing experience and something no one should turn down if they get the chance.
Not being a Winnipeg Jets fan myself, I can guarantee Winnipeg, with the help of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, will keep a team there as long as they can because they know what it feels like to lose a team once.
If the ownership is there hockey should be played in a hockey centre, because some past experiments have proven you can?t make people like hockey - it is something many Canadians grew up with. Why not play in Canada?
