New Winnipeg NHL Franchise will keep Jets name Alive, Pick Mark Scheifele as first pick –NHL Update
In order to keep the heritage and culture of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, alive, the top-level management of the new Winnipeg National Hockey League (NHL) franchise has decided to use the Jets name for their new team, Co-owner Mark Chipman announced
on Friday.
In Winnipeg, old is gold, and the team management realises the fact that the fans all around the city wanted their old teams’ name to be used for the new one and was chosen after due consideration.
"We considered a lot of names (including Manitoba Jets), and we felt strongly about Manitoba. We've carried that name the past 15 years and we're very proud of the success we've had with the Moose", said Chipman.
It was during a draft party that was organized by the team at the Winnipeg teams’ home stadium, that Chipman called his team the Winnipeg Jets and caused the crowd to erupt in joy. It was ecstatic to see that most of the crowd already had Jets apparel on
and were expecting the announcement sooner or later, which they got much sooner than expected.
"We are thrilled to be using a name that has so much history in our city and means so much to our fans", said Chipman who was nervous about announcing the name at first. "Our fans clearly indicated to us the passion they hold for the name since we acquired
the franchise".
After introducing senior executive vice president and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to the podium, he got right down to business in selecting their first pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft as a team.
The new Winnipeg club picked Mark Scheifele, with their seventh overall pick in the first round and added him to the history books as the franchise’s first ever pick in history. Scheifele was the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Barrie Colts centre player and
one of the top players there.
18-year-old Scheifele from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, put up 75 points in the previous season alone including 22 goals and 53 assists and is known to be a physical player.
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