an open letter to the fans of winnipeg

[slapshot]

May 20, 2011 5:25:19 GMT -5 Comrade Fox said:

I hope ATL gets an AHL team.... *cough*wolves*cough*

No way. Wolves owner is running a NHL team in disguise of an AHL team. Roots too deep in Chi-Town.

[bigblueboy]

Classy fan sure would not hear that if we got the Coyotes the fans down there are just plain rude period!!!

[veddhedd]

I can only imagine what it would feel like to lose a team. While this deal (may) bring a team back, another city loses one. I would have preferred that they just expand to 32 and add Winnipeg and Quebec, and try to keep teams in their places. (Then 8 team divisions, with divisional playoffs, but thats a different story)

My NHL always included Winnipeg, so from that standpoint I am happy. And as a Chicago fan, I am really hoping the eventual Division is Chicago, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Detroit, St. Louis. (I know peggers may want Winnipeg in the NW, but I miss playing the Jets.)

Anyway, Cheers to all the true Atlanta fans.

[hui43210]

Man this stinks, Atlanta fans have been all class, cept kincade "shudder", yet they are the ones getting screwed over rather then those cave-trolls in phoenix. but i supose this is how nhl works. I hope you can make it to Winnipeg one day!

[~Jiffy~]

spoken from someone that truely understands what we have went through!!! Thank you and we will love em like yoU!!

[prariefire]

May 19, 2011 21:50:29 GMT -5 headsigh said:

Dear hockey fans of Winnipeg,

From where I'm sitting, the writing is on the wall. It looks all too likely that my beloved Atlanta Thrashers will be sold to True North Sports & Entertainment, most likely to be renamed the Manitoba Moose. For 11 years, I've followed this team and loved it. My love for this team grew even deeper when my ECHL Birmingham Bulls were sold in a very similar deal and moved to Atlantic City.

I know the city of Winnipeg loves hockey, and I know there are many wonderful people in the city. I've been to Winnipeg, and I know despite it being very cold in the winter, it's a very beautiful town experiencing a renaissance of sorts. The arts scene in Winnipeg is incredible. In fact, one of your local music groups has become a favorite of mine. I'm talking about The Duhks.

I know your team will forge its own identity, but I beg of you to not forget this team's past. Please don't forget the likes of Kelly Buchberger, the first captain of the team, who took his lumps as he led the Thrashers to 14 wins in their inaugural season.

I beg of you to not forget the 2003-2004 season, when we faced what might be one of the darkest hours of our franchise, when Dan Snyder was taken from us way too soon. I sincerely hope TNSE continues the legacy of Dan Snyder and remembers and honors him by not issuing Number 37. That being said, I hope you continue another Thrashers tradition by despising #15 of San Jose with all your hearts.

Don't forget that Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, Marc Savard, Peter Bondra, Kari Lehtonen, Ray Ferraro, Byron Dafoe, Bobby Holik, and Scott Mellanby all played for this team.

You're getting some great young players. Evander Kane, Bryan Little and Alex Burmistrov are all poised to be superstars. The system's not that bad either. IVan Telegin is going to be a great NHL player. Paul Postma is another prospect who should shine. I just hope you find someone other than Chicago to be your affiliate.

I don't know if I'll still be watching the NHL or not, but I love the team itself, the players who put on the jersey with whatever crest may be on the front. Honestly, I love this group of guys too much to turn my back on them. I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have about them as we go through this transitional time.

I just ask that you respect the fans of Atlanta. I know some of you still remember what it felt like when you lost the Jets. We're going through that right now, so please be cautious of that. I also ask that you love this team as much as I have. I don't think that should be a problem.

Please take care of my boys in blue.

Hey man any time you want to come to WPG and watch a game! I live an hour north in a lakeside town called Gimli I would pick up and you could stay at my place........of course I would drive you to and from game and airport..........we feel your loss all too WELL!

[~Jiffy~]

I have to be honest, my sympathy level is up since we know we gotter back!

[M.C. Molineux]

That was a great post. Like you say, we have a lot of sympathy having gone through this ourselves.

Cheers and best wishes.

[thenewboss]

Pure class. Some people on this board that insist on bashing people (Phoenix politicians and potential owners, NHL executives, media personalities like Darren Dreger and even Gary Lawless), cities (Phoenix, Atlanta, etc) and organizations (the COG, the NHL, etc) should take note of what class looks like.

There's a saying in Britain: Class always tells. In other words, if you do something long enough, your level of class will always eventually shine though. Highsigh, yours came through right away - here's hoping that this board shows the same level of class at the end of the day.

[Huffer]

Please remain a fan of the team. I hope that all Winnipeggers welcome all Thrasher fans with open arms.

[Dr No]

Pure class it sucks to have a team ripped from you most of us felt the heart ache when the jets left still brings a tear to my seeing all those videos about the jets moving.

We will take great care of your thrashers

[m0rpheen]

I would love tonnes of support from Atlanta

ATLANTA we will remember where this team came from, where is was built and where it was loved! thank you for this opportunity

The thrashers could not be in better hands!!!!

[mrconfusion87]

May 20, 2011 10:07:19 GMT -5 veddhedd said:

I can only imagine what it would feel like to lose a team. While this deal (may) bring a team back, another city loses one. I would have preferred that they just expand to 32 and add Winnipeg and Quebec, and try to keep teams in their places. (Then 8 team divisions, with divisional playoffs, but thats a different story)

My NHL always included Winnipeg, so from that standpoint I am happy. And as a Chicago fan, I am really hoping the eventual Division is Chicago, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Detroit, St. Louis. (I know peggers may want Winnipeg in the NW, but I miss playing the Jets.)

Anyway, Cheers to all the true Atlanta fans.

Couldn't agree with you more with the Central Division line-up proposal you put up, though sadly a few more moves would have to happen before this becomes a reality (like a team in Seattle, for instance and starters)...


Anyway I'm glad this thread is doing pretty well. Any ATL-based fans who want to follow their soon-to-be-former Thrashers team and soon-to-be-new WPG franchise is welcome here in my eyes!

[canadiensfan]

May 20, 2011 10:07:19 GMT -5 veddhedd said:

I can only imagine what it would feel like to lose a team. While this deal (may) bring a team back, another city loses one. I would have preferred that they just expand to 32 and add Winnipeg and Quebec, and try to keep teams in their places. (Then 8 team divisions, with divisional playoffs, but thats a different story)

My NHL always included Winnipeg, so from that standpoint I am happy. And as a Chicago fan, I am really hoping the eventual Division is Chicago, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Detroit, St. Louis. (I know peggers may want Winnipeg in the NW, but I miss playing the Jets.)

Anyway, Cheers to all the true Atlanta fans.

I would have liked to see expansion as well, but with some many teams in financial shiz, it's just not feasible.

[micloria]

My heart goes out to you. Your eloquence speaks volumes about the kind of person you are.

[ducky75]

I hope 37 remains unused as well. We owe it to this team's history to continue to honour Snyder.

[vivianmb]

May 19, 2011 21:50:29 GMT -5 headsigh said:

Dear hockey fans of Winnipeg,

From where I'm sitting, the writing is on the wall. It looks all too likely that my beloved Atlanta Thrashers will be sold to True North Sports & Entertainment, most likely to be renamed the Manitoba Moose. For 11 years, I've followed this team and loved it. My love for this team grew even deeper when my ECHL Birmingham Bulls were sold in a very similar deal and moved to Atlantic City.

I know the city of Winnipeg loves hockey, and I know there are many wonderful people in the city. I've been to Winnipeg, and I know despite it being very cold in the winter, it's a very beautiful town experiencing a renaissance of sorts. The arts scene in Winnipeg is incredible. In fact, one of your local music groups has become a favorite of mine. I'm talking about The Duhks.

I know your team will forge its own identity, but I beg of you to not forget this team's past. Please don't forget the likes of Kelly Buchberger, the first captain of the team, who took his lumps as he led the Thrashers to 14 wins in their inaugural season.

I beg of you to not forget the 2003-2004 season, when we faced what might be one of the darkest hours of our franchise, when Dan Snyder was taken from us way too soon. I sincerely hope TNSE continues the legacy of Dan Snyder and remembers and honors him by not issuing Number 37. That being said, I hope you continue another Thrashers tradition by despising #15 of San Jose with all your hearts.

Don't forget that Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, Marc Savard, Peter Bondra, Kari Lehtonen, Ray Ferraro, Byron Dafoe, Bobby Holik, and Scott Mellanby all played for this team.

You're getting some great young players. Evander Kane, Bryan Little and Alex Burmistrov are all poised to be superstars. The system's not that bad either. IVan Telegin is going to be a great NHL player. Paul Postma is another prospect who should shine. I just hope you find someone other than Chicago to be your affiliate.

I don't know if I'll still be watching the NHL or not, but I love the team itself, the players who put on the jersey with whatever crest may be on the front. Honestly, I love this group of guys too much to turn my back on them. I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have about them as we go through this transitional time.

I just ask that you respect the fans of Atlanta. I know some of you still remember what it felt like when you lost the Jets. We're going through that right now, so please be cautious of that. I also ask that you love this team as much as I have. I don't think that should be a problem.

Please take care of my boys in blue.

we wont forget buchberger, he's from right next door in langenburg SK.