New NHL team drawing attention

Nishnawbe Aski Nation hockey fans can’t wait to watch the new Winnipeg National Hockey League team in action.
“When the Winnipeg Jets were playing I used to go to their games ... every time the Toronto Maple Leafs were there,” said Stephen Fiddler, one of the organizers of the Little Bands Native Youth Summer Hockey Tournament being held Aug. 11-14 at the Port Arthur Arena in Thunder Bay. “I can’t wait for the Toronto Maple Leafs to be in Winnipeg.”
Fiddler likes the new MTS Centre, where the new Winnipeg team will play, noting he has attended various events there since it was built in 2004.
“It’s nice, beautiful,” Fiddler said, describing the 15,015-seat arena located on the site of the former Eaton’s building on Portage Ave. in downtown Winnipeg.
The Timothy Eaton statue that used to be a main feature at the Eaton’s building is now housed in the MTS Centre, as well as an original store window.
Fiddler remembers seeing many NAN people at the Winnipeg Jets games back in the 1980s and 1990s.
“I used to recognize lots of people when the Winnipeg Jets were there,” Fiddler said. “I used to get tickets behind the Winnipeg Jets. I used to see Teemu Selanne.”
Known as the Finnish Flash due to his speed and blistering shot, Selanne holds the NHL record for goals and points in a season by a rookie with 76 goals and 132 points.
Jethro Tait, another organizer of the Little Bands Native Youth Summer Hockey Tournament, also enjoyed watching Selanne play with the Winnipeg Jets.
“My nephew was really sick at that time and I think it was bone marrow that (Selanne) gave to my nephew,” Tait said. “To go along with that, he gave the band a photograph with his signature.”
Tait believes the photograph is still on display at the Sachigo band office.
“Me and my family switched (allegiances) to the Jets because of what Selanne did for our nephew,” Tait said. “Before that it was the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Although Tait wonders how many seats would be available in the arena after about 13,000 season tickets were sold, he said if any seats are available he would be there.
“Definitely, if there is a seat available, I will go,” Tait said. “I’m glad they are a close NHL franchise.”