Winnipeg Jets Farewell May 6th 1995 Part 6 of 10

On the afternoon of 6 May 1995, the Jets held a farewell at the Winnipeg Arena, commonly referred to as "the funeral". This was a gathering of an angry mob that turned into one sad day. The funeral was held prior to the involvement of the Spirit of Manitoba group, so it was believed at the time that the team was headed for Minneapolis. Thomas Steen's #25 was raised to the rafters, QBC entertainer Don Cherry made an appearance, and all the players were introduced and each gave their own good byes to the fans that filled the Arena on that day. The first Jets captain, Ab MacDonald, along with longtime Jet Bill Lesuk, brought out the Avco Cup. Certainly had to be the most emotionally charged group of 15,000 people you'll ever want to be around. On one hand was the angry mob waiting to get in, then the massive amount of cheering once the mob got in (did they think that the team was going to stay because they cheered?), then the teary-eyed emotions all associated with a death in the family.( C.Walker )

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• winnipeg
• jets
• arena
• manitoba
• moose
• gary
• bettman
• nhl
• demolish
• jennifer
• hanson
• don
• cherry
• teemu
• selanne
• thomas
• steen

[euro3b]

so is that the ALEX STEEN that plays in the NHL now?

[JHendrix70]

Yes

[KirkKav]

didnt the jets play until 96 ?

[JHendrix70]

Yes they did play one more year after this "Funeral". The move to Phoenix could not be done fast enough so the new owners kept the Jets in Winnipeg another year until everything was completed for the move. This is what made it so hard to people to go BACK to the Winnipeg Arena in '96 to see a team that was moving.......

Bring'Em Back

[JHendrix70]

Bring'Em Back!

[lobaholic]

Try to find an emotional attachment between player/team/city like that now

[euro3b]

What an honor to have his kid play huh? I never knew the relation until watching this video, thanks!!! BTW my first nhl jersey was a Jets 1989 jersery when I was 4, and its a kids one, still have it to this day and will cherish is forever!!! I also have the away 1995 version in adults, LOVE the Jets!!!!

[tiltcr]

I was there and it broke my heart

[Tarski89]

Winnipeg Jets will be the number one team for me for ever, it's the home of Finland's number one player, Teemu Selänne. Bring'Em Back! From Finland.