A Month To Remember - Winnipeg Jets April 1996

As a Jets fan before I can remember, I've put together this archive of newspaper articles from 1996. They start at the Jets late season push for a playoff spot, to the first round series against the Red Wings, to the aftermath of defeat and the Jets leaving town. I thought I would share these with people who loved the Jets as much as I did. Those people who remember the White Out, 'Primeau sucks', and the huge empty feeling right after they left.

My name is G Stein and I have so many great memories and keepsakes of the Jets it still kills me to this day that they're not here. I have a ticket stub from my first game on November 9, 1984 in my baby book. Winnipeg beat Vancouver 7-5 and although I don't remember the game (I was 3 years old) I am sure in my heart I was chanting 'B.C. Sucks'.

I do remember going to Game 4 of the 1991-92 playoffs against the Canucks and the chant of 'B.C. Sucks' was so loud that it shook the upper deck and that was during the National Anthem! On the drive home, I told my Dad "we're actually going to the 2nd round!" since we were up 3 games to 1! We all know how that turned out. As well, I remember, having my picture taken with Thomas Steen and the Stanley Cup at a Jets Carnival (as seen on the right), Pokey Reddick refusing to give me an autograph, and my first jersey having Ducky's #10 on the back. Those were great times and it is disheartening to know that my children will never experience the same thing.

Back in 1995, I regretted not keeping some articles when the Jets were close to leaving. Luckily (well, relatively) it was announced the Jets would stay one more season in Winnipeg. This gave me the opportunity to collect as much as a 14 year old kid could. I have scanned them all and apologize for the quality. I don't have the best scanner in the world and the papers were not in the best of condition, but read through the articles and try not to shed a tear. If you were a true Winnipeg Jets fan, you will be holding them back.

Janney's journey
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 25 March 1996.

Selanne glad to miss wake
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 26 March 1996.

Searching for clues
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 29 March 1996.

This line really clicks
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 29 March 1996.

Jets leave March looking like lions
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 01 April 1996.

Winning fun for Khabby
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 01 April 1996.

Flames smoked
     Ewart, Stephen. Winnipeg Sun. 01 April 1996.

Jets pull an ace
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 02 April 1996.

The most typical Jet ever?
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 03 April 1996.

Fans' last chance for a miracle
     Lukowich, Morris. Winnipeg Free Press. 03 April 1996.

Jets are feasting on Janney's feeds
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 04 April 1996.

Best Jets of all time named
     Lunney, Doug. Winnipeg Sun. 04 April 1996.

Tkachuk earns his keep
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 08 April 1996.

Just another day in the life of a King
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 09 April 1996.

Jets Charlie is no angel
     Macgillivray, Donald. Winnipeg Sun. 11 April 1996.

Hull skates to town to sound horn on a golden era
     Turner, Randy. Winnipeg Free Press. 12 April 1996.

Hull city's ticket to pro hockey
     Turner, Randy. Winnipeg Free Press. 12 April 1996.

If Jets can win, they're in
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 12 April 1996.

How they match up: Winnipeg - Los Angeles
     Winnipeg Free Press. 12 April 1996.

There's a special White Out tonight
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 12 April 1996.

One more hurrah
     Turner, Randy. Winnipeg Free Press. 13 April 1996.

Jets ignite white house
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 13 April 1996.

Takes a knee (picture)
     Hossack, Phil. Winnipeg Free Press. 13 April 1996.

Fans' hearts won't be stopped
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 13 April 1996.

Fan frenzy for finale
     Lunney, Doug. Winnipeg Sun. 13 April 1996.

Bitter sweet (picture)
     Krochak, Tim. Winnipeg Sun. 13 April 1996.

No more tears
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 13 April 1996.

Jets fans (picture)
      Winnipeg Sun. 13 April 1996.

Jets players take time to reflect on victory
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 14 April 1996.

Western playoff race clears up only slightly
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 14 April 1996.

Tkachuk snags 50th - then sets new goal
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 14 April 1996.

Look out Teemu - Tkachuk's in charge
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 14 April 1996.

Post-season play awaits
     Lunney, Doug. Winnipeg Sun. 14 April 1996.

Jets tangle with Teemu
     Lunney, Doug. Winnipeg Sun. 14 April 1996.

Jets take nasty dunkin' in Pond
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 15 April 1996.

From Kingpins to Duck soup
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 15 April 1996.

They can't help it, they're the Jets
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 15 April 1996.

Long shot, but...
     Macgillivary, Doug. Winnipeg Sun. 16 April 1996.

Wings pull plug on Jets
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 18 April 1996.

You could just feel it slipping away
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 18 April 1996.

Wider net may help
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 18 April 1996.

Red Wings romp
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 20 April 1996.

Jets netminder Nikolai Khabibulin (picture)
     AP Photo. Winnipeg Free Press. 20 April 1996.

Frustrated Jets question rash of penalties called
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 20 April 1996.

Can fans bring Wings down?
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 20 April 1996.

Phoenix? They can wait; we're still nuts for OUR Jets
     Turner, Randy. Winnipeg Free Press. 22 April 1996.

Fans not thinking about future
     Turner, Randy. Winnipeg Free Press. 22 April 1996.

Everybody was hitting in solid effort
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 22 April 1996.

Rookie Kilger comes up big
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 22 April 1996.

First period tally (picture)
     Bryksa, Joe. Winnipeg Free Press. 22 April 1996.

All eyes on Vernon after Detroit loss
     Turner, Randy. Winnipeg Free Press. 22 April 1996.

Hoarse, happy, smelling of fish
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 22 April 1996.

It was a nearly perfect game
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 22 April 1996.

Right on the Muni
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 22 April 1996.

The Storyline - Game 3
     Macgillivray, Donald. Winnipeg Sun. 22 April 1996.

It's a wrap (picture)
     Krochak, Tim. Winnipeg Sun. 22 April 1996.

Energized
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 22 April 1996.

Beautiful Chretien (picture)
     Krochak, Tim. Winnipeg Sun. 22 April 1996.

Noise annoys?
     Lunney, Doug. Winnipeg Sun. 22 April 1996.

Marry me Khabby (picture)
     Greenslade, Fred. Winnipeg Sun. 22 April 1996.

Jets can't afford to fly high
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 23 April 1996.

Play it tough or lose the war
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 23 April 1996.

Wings amend flight plan
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 23 April 1996.

Just Khabby to be playing
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 23 April 1996.

Keith control
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 23 April 1996.

Penalties kill Jets
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 24 April 1996.

'Just a bad, bad game:' Tkachuk
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 24 April 1996.

Junk flies as Wings wrap up impressive, aggressive victory
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 24 April 1996.

Red Wings walked all over the White Sea
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 24 April 1996.

What sucks, what rules
     Hargreaves, Darron. Winnipeg Sun. 24 April 1996.

The Storyline - Game 4
     Macgillivray, Donald. Winnipeg Sun. 24 April 1996.

White Out of hand
     Lunney, Doug. Winnipeg Sun. 24 April 1996.

Fans show optimism in rush for tickets
     Staff. Winnipeg Free Press. 25 April 1996.

Jets not ready to surrender
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 25 April 1996.

No way to say goodbye
     Taylor, Scott Winnipeg Free Press. 25 April 1996.

'Unreal' goaltender makes 51 stops
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 27 April 1996.

Jets just won't quit
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 27 April 1996.

Re-white
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 27 April 1996.

The Storyline - Game 5
     No credit. Winnipeg Sun. 27 April 1996.

Above and beyond
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 27 April 1996.

Jets' confidence is growing
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 28 April 1996.

King down, out; Jets want justice
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 28 April 1996.

Ready, aim...fire
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 28 April 1996.

Motor City dumps on Winnipiglets
     Turner, Randy. Winnipeg Free Press. 28 April 1996.

This city's reputation is in your hands, hockey fans
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 28 April 1996.

Fedorov fuels Jets
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 28 April 1996.

Trash talk
     Macgillivray, Donald. Winnipeg Sun. 28 April 1996.

Holy Khabby!
     Macgillivray, Donald. Winnipeg Sun. 28 April 1996.

Pick up the pace, Nik!
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 28 April 1996.

When the good fight isn't enough
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 29 April 1996.

Farewell...and thanks
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 29 April 1996.

Tkachuk, fans friends again
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 29 April 1996.

We will miss you too, Teppo
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 29 April 1996.

Jets loss tragic for city: coach
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 29 April 1996.

The party's over for Jets and fans (picture)
     Greenslade, Fred. Winnipeg Sun. 29 April 1996.

The last hurrah
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 29 April 1996.

The Storyline - Game 6
     Macgillivray, Donald. Winnipeg Sun. 29 April 1996.

No tomorrow finally arrives
     Morris, Roberta. Winnipeg Sun. 29 April 1996.

A somber Jets bench (picture)
     Greenslade, Fred. Winnipeg Sun. 29 April 1996.

The way it was
     Lunney, Doug. Winnipeg Sun. 29 April 1996.

Arena bleak and blue
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 30 April 1996.

Lockers and hearts are now left empty
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 30 April 1996.

Let's fancy those who are near
     Sigurdson, Hal. Winnipeg Free Press. 30 April 1996.

Cleaning house (picture)
     Donogh, Brian. Winnipeg Sun. 30 April 1996.

Jets sign off once more
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 01 May 1996.

Thanks, guys, for the memories
     Davis, Reyn. Winnipeg Free Press. 01 May 1996.

Tough job, but...
     Bender, Jim Winnipeg Sun. 01 May 1996.

The Moose is loose!
     Campbell, Tim. Winnipeg Free Press. 02 May 1996.

IHL a league rife with pros and cons
     Taylor, Scott. Winnipeg Free Press. 02 May 1996.

Brand new deal
     Willes, Ed. Winnipeg Sun. 02 May 1996.