Winnipeg Jets Memorial Site

Jets Timeline

Sep 13, 1971For a franchise fee of $25,000, the Winnipeg Jets became one of the twelve charter franchises of the WHA.
Feb 12, 1972The WHA holds its first General Player Draft.
Jun 27, 1972Bobby Hull signs a contract with the Jets at Portage and Main.
Oct 12, 1972The Jets play their first ever game, beating the New York Raiders 6-4 at Madison Square Garden.
Oct 15, 1972The Jets play their first ever home game, losing 5-2 to the Alberta Oilers.
May 6, 1973The Jets lose 9-6 to the New England Whalers, dropping the Avco Cup final series 4-1.
May 3, 1974The Jets sign Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg. The two Swedes would combine with Bobby Hull to form the Hot Line, one of the best lines in hockey history.
May 23, 1974Lars-Erik Sjoberg is signed as a free agent.
Feb 14, 1975Bobby Hull scores his 50th goal in 50 games as the Jets beat the Houston Aeros 5-3 at the Winnipeg Arena.
Apr 6, 1975The Jets close out the 1974-75 regular season with a 5-5 tie against the San Diego Mariners. This was the only season in the WHA era in which the Jets did not qualify for the playoffs. Bobby Hull scores his 77th goal of the season breaking Phil Esposito's single season goal record, which was set in the rival NHL.
May 27, 1976The Jets beat the Houston Aeros 9-1 at the Winnipeg Arena to capture their first Avco Cup championship.
Oct 26, 1976Barry Long is acquired from Edmonton for future considerations.
Feb 6, 1977Anders Hedberg scores his 51st goal in 47 games, breaking the record of 50 goals in 50 games set by Maurice Richard and Bobby Hull. The Jets beat the Calgary Cowboys 6-4 at the Winnipeg Arena on this night. Playing goal for the Cowboys was Gary Bromley, who would later play for the Jets.
Apr 24, 1977The Jets beat the San Diego Mariners 7-3 at the Winnipeg Arena to win the best of seven series 4-3. It was a memorable and long series that saw each team win all their games at home.
May 26, 1977The Jets drop an 8-2 decision to the Nordiques at Le Colisee in Quebec City, losing for the second time in the Avco Cup finals.
Jul 29, 1977Kent Nilsson is signed as a free agent.
Jan 5, 1978The Jets beat the Soviet National Team 5-3 at the Winnipeg Arena.
Feb 6, 1978Anders Hedberg scores his 51st goal of the season in 47 games to break the record of 50 goals in 50 games set by Maurice Richard and Bobby Hull.
May 22, 1978The Jets beat the New England Whalers 5-3 at the Winnipeg Arena to win their second Avco Cup championship.
Jul 6, 1978Rich Preston, Morris Lukowich, Paul Terbenche, and Terry Ruskowski are acquired from the defunct Houston Aeros for cash.
Nov 22, 1978John Ferguson is hired to replace Rudy Pilous as General Manager.
Dec 17, 1978Gary "Suitcase" Smith is signed as a free agent.
May 20, 1979The Jets beat the Edmonton Oilers 7-3 at the Winnipeg Arena in the final WHA game to win their third, and second consecutive, Avco Cup championship.
Jun 13, 1979The NHL holds an Expansion Draft for the four former WHA clubs.
Jun 22, 1979The Jets are officially granted admission to the NHL.
Aug 9, 1979The Jets participate in their first NHL Entry Draft. Their first selection is Jimmy Mann, 19th overall.
Oct 4, 1979Ron Wilson is acquired from Montreal for cash.
Oct 10, 1979The Jets play their first NHL game, losing 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Civic Arena.
Oct 14, 1979The Jets play their first NHL game at home, and earn their first NHL victory, beating Don Cherry and the Colorado Rockies 4-2 in front of a crowd of 12,619 at the newly renovated Winnipeg Arena.
Feb 27, 1980Bobby Hull is traded to Hartford Whalers for future considerations.
Oct 31, 1980Barry Long is acquired from Detroit for cash. This marks the second time the Jets have traded for Long.
Dec 1, 1980Peter Marsh, the Jets first pick in the NHL Expansion Draft, is traded to Chicago for Doug Lecuyer and Tim Trimper.
Mar 7, 1981The Jets beat Montreal 4-2 on Tuxedo Night, only one of nine victories in that miserable season. The enduring image from that game was Rick Bowness pulling away from Guy Lafleur to score the final goal into an empty net to seal the win.
Apr 5, 1981The Jets close out the worst season in their history, playing the St. Louis Blues to a 5-5 tie. Peter Sullivan, in his last game as a Jet, scored late to tie the game.
Jun 19, 1981Bengt Lundholm is signed as a free agent.
Jul 3, 1981Paul MacLean, Bryan Maxwell, and Ed Staniowski are acquired by the Jets from St. Louis for Scott Campbell and John Markell.
Jul 15, 1981The matter involving the rights to Ivan Hlinka is settled as the Jets trade the rights to Hlinka to Vancouver Canucks for Brent Ashton. There had been a tampering charge filed because of the Canucks signing Hlinka, who's NHL rights were owned by the Jets. Ashton is then sent with a third round draft choice to the Colorado Rockies for Lucien DeBlois.
Aug 13, 1981Dale Hawerchuk signs his first contract with the Jets at a ceremony at Portage and Main.
Sep 8, 1981Doug Soetaert is acquired from New York Rangers for a third round draft choice.
Oct 5, 1981Serge Savard is claimed in Waiver Draft.
Nov 11, 1981The Jets drop a 15-2 decision to the Minnesota North Stars at the Met Center. It would prove to be the worst defeat in Jets history.
Apr 7, 1982The Jets play their first ever NHL playoff game, losing 4-3 to the St. Louis Blues at the Winnipeg Arena, as a result of a late goal scored by Guy Lapointe.
Mar 7, 1983Willy Lindstrom is traded to Edmonton for Laurie Boschman.
Jun 8, 1983Dave Christian is traded to Washington for a first round draft choice, which the Jets later used to select Bobby Dollas.
Nov 10, 1983Ed Staniowski is traded to Hartford for Mike Veisor.
Nov 22, 1983Barry Long replaces Tom Watt as Head Coach.
Feb 6, 1984Jimmy Mann is traded to Quebec Nordiques for a fifth round draft choice.
Mar 5, 1984Randy Carlyle is acquired from Pittsburgh for a first round draft choice and future considerations (Moe Mantha).
Jun 13, 1984Lucien DeBlois is traded to Montreal for Perry Turnbull.
Oct 9, 1984Doug Soetaert is traded to Montreal for Mark Holden.
Feb 4, 1985Morris Lukowich is traded to Boston for Jim Nill.
Apr 13, 1985Jamie Macoun cross-checks Dale Hawerchuk, putting him out for the remainder of the series, as the Flames narrow the best of five series to 2-1 on the strength of a 4-0 win over the Jets.
Apr 14, 1985The Jets beat the Flames 5-3 at the Saddledome to win their first NHL playoff series.
Apr 23, 1985The Jets drop a 5-4 decision to referee Bryan Lewis and the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the best of seven Smythe Division Final series in the most flagrant display of biased officiating that Winnipeg fans have ever seen.
Sep 27, 1985Pokey Reddick is signed as a free agent.
Nov 21, 1985Dave Babych is traded to Hartford Whalers for Ray Neufeld in what is arguably John Ferguson's worst trade.
Mar 4, 1986John Ferguson replaces Barry Long as Head Coach.
Jun 20, 1986Dan Maloney named Head Coach.
Jun 21, 1986Scott Arniel is traded to Buffalo for Gilles Hamel.
Jul 3, 1986The Jets finally give up on Murray Eaves, trading him to Edmonton.
Aug 19, 1986Brian Hayward is traded to Montreal for Steve Penney and the rights to Jan Ingman.
Nov 9, 1986The Jets beat the New Jersey Devils 8-1 in the John Ferguson Snow Game. A smothering snowstorm covered Winnipeg, but the Devils were forced to make their way here and eat their pre-game meal at McDonald's despite the fact that most fans were unable to attend.
Apr 16, 1987The Jets beat the Calgary Flames 6-1 at the Winnipeg Arena to win their second and last NHL playoff series.
Apr 27, 1987The Jets drop a 4-2 decision to the Edmonton Oilers at the Winnipeg Arena, keeping their losing streak alive in the second round of the playoffs. The NHL Jets would never win a game in the second round of the playoffs.
Jun 5, 1987Perry Turnbull is traded to St. Louis for a fifth round draft choice.
Jun 8, 1987Brian Mullen is traded to New York Rangers as part of an exchange of draft choices.
Dec 17, 1987Bobby Dollas is traded to Quebec Nordiques for Stu Kulak.
Dec 3, 1988Mike Smith replaces John Ferguson as General Manager.
Dec 6, 1988Mario Marois is traded to Quebec Nordiques for Gord Donnelly.
Dec 30, 1988Ray Neufeld is traded to Boston for Moe Lemay.
Feb 7, 1989Rick Bowness replaces Dan Maloney as Head Coach.
Feb 19, 1989Bobby Hull's #9 is officially retired.
May 25, 1989Bob Murdoch named Head Coach.
Jun 17, 1989Jim Kyte, Andrew McBain and Randy Gilhen are traded to Pittsburgh for Randy Cunneyworth, Dave McLlwain and Rick Tabaracci.
Sep 28, 1989Pokey Reddick is traded to Edmonton for future considerations.
Oct 2, 1989Moe Mantha is re-acquired from Philadelphia in Waiver Draft.
Jan 22, 1990Daniel Berthiaume is traded to Minnesota North Stars for future considerations.
Apr 16, 1990The Jets drop a 4-1 decision to the Edmonton Oilers at the Northlands Coliseum, blowing a 3-1 series lead to lose 4-3. The NHL Jets would never beat the Oilers in a playoff series.
Jun 16, 1990Dale Hawerchuk is traded to the Buffalo Sabres as part of a four player deal which also saw the exchange of first round draft choices. The Jets acquired Phil Housley in the deal and also used the draft pick they acquired to select Keith "Captain Weasel" Tkachuk.
Sep 30, 1990Peter Taglianetti is traded to Minnesota North Stars for future considerations.
Nov 7, 1990Doug Smail is traded to Minnesota North Stars for Don Barber.
Nov 10, 1990Dave Ellett is traded to Toronto with Paul Fenton for Ed Olczyk and Mark Osborne.
Jun 17, 1991John Paddock named Head Coach.
Jul 22, 1991Bryan Marchment is traded with Chris Norton to Chicago for Troy Murray and Warren Rychel.
Nov 26, 1991Mario Marois is re-acquired from St. Louis Blues for future considerations, marking his second stint as a Jet.
Feb 27, 1992Moe Mantha is traded for the second time by the Jets, this time to Philadelphia for future considerations.
Mar 10, 1992Lucien DeBlois is acquired for the second time by the Jets, this time from Toronto for Mark Osborne.
Apr 30, 1992The Jets drop a 5-0 decision to the Vancouver Canucks at the Pacific Coliseum to blow another 3-1 playoff series lead and lose 4-3.
Dec 28, 1992Tie Domi and Kris King are acquired from the New York Rangers for Ed Olczyk.
Mar 22, 1993Rick Tabaracci is traded to Washington for Jim Hrivnak and a second round draft choice.
Jun 30, 1993Kris Draper is sold to Detroit Red Wings for $1.
Sep 24, 1993Phil Housley is traded to St. Louis Blues for Stephane Quintal and Nelson Emerson.
Dec 6, 1993Fredrik Olausson is traded to Edmonton as part of an exchange of draft choices.
Jan 19, 1994Mike Smith is fired as General Manager, John Paddock named interim General Manager.
Mar 8, 1994Bob Essensa is traded to Detroit Red Wings with Sergei Bautin for Tim Cheveldae and Dallas Drake.
Mar 15, 1994Dave Manson is acquired from Edmonton for Boris Mironov, Mats Lindgren, and a first round draft choice.
Jun 3, 1994John Paddock officially named General Manager.
Apr 5, 1995Terry Simpson replaces John Paddock as Head Coach.
Apr 7, 1995Tie Domi is traded to Toronto for Mike Eastwood and a third round draft choice.
May 2, 1995The Jets close out the 1995 lockout season with a 2-1 loss at the Winnipeg Arena to the Los Angeles Kings. Blue ribbons decorated the boards as the city was in the middle of efforts to keep the team in Winnipeg, which ultimately failed.
May 6, 1995Ceremony held at Winnipeg Arena, known as "The Funeral" to say good bye to the Jets and to officially retire #25 in honor of Thomas Steen.
May 9, 1995Operation Grassroots begins an effort to persuade government and local buyers to construct a new arena and keep the Jets in Winnipeg.
May 16, 1995Over 35,000 people attend a rally at the Government Forks to raise money for Operation Grassroots. Approximately $250,000 is raised.
May 19, 1995Barry Shenkarow announces that local buyers have missed the deadline to purchase the team. The team will be purchased as per an agreement in principle with Minneapolis investors.
May 21, 1995Barry Shenkarow announces that the Jets will remain in Winnipeg with details to expand the current ownership group to be finalized and announced in the near future.
Jun 16, 1995The Jets ownership group agrees to sell its shares to the Spirit of Manitoba group pending conditions which must be met before August 15, 1995.
Jul 8, 1995Stephane Quintal is traded to Montreal for a second round draft choice.
Aug 14, 1995The Spirit of Manitoba, much to the delight of the Winnipeg Free Press, announces that they are unable to raise the capital to proceed with the purchase of the Jets, and that the organization would be promptly disbanded.
Aug 15, 1995Barry Shenkarow announces that he will sell the team to a buyer outside the city and that the 1995-1996 season will be the final year for the Jets in Winnipeg.
Oct 7, 1995The Jets open their final season with a 7-5 comeback win over the Dallas Stars at the Winnipeg Arena.
Dec 28, 1995Norm Maciver is acquired from Pittsburgh for Neil Wilkinson. Maciver would score the last ever Jets goal.
Dec 29, 1995The Jets play their final game against the team they hate the most, the New Jersey Devils. In well-established NHL Jets tradition, they mount a furious third period comeback to beat the Devils 5-3 at the Winnipeg Arena.
Feb 7, 1996Teemu Selanne is sent to Anaheim with Marc Chouinard for Chad Kilger, Oleg Tverdovsky and an exchange of draft choices. This "trade" would resonate with Jets fans long after the team left town.
Feb 27, 1996Tim Cheveldae is traded with a third round draft choice to Philadelphia for Dominic Roussel.
Mar 18, 1996Craig Janney is acquired from the San Jose Sharks for Darren Turcotte and a second round draft choice.
Apr 12, 1996The Jets play their final regular season home game, beating the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 to clinch a playoff berth. In the game, Keith "Captain Weasel" Tkachuk scores his 50th goal of the season, to the surprising delight of the crowd. After the game, the crowd gathers in a mass mob of humanity at both main exits to claim a free key chain and poster.
Apr 14, 1996The Jets close out their final regular season, dropping a 5-2 decision to former Jet Teemu Selanne and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Had the Jets won, they would have clinched home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Apr 23, 1996The Jets drop a 6-1 decision to the Detroit Red Wings at the Winnipeg Arena in Game 4 of the best of seven playoff series. Believing it to be the final home game in Jets history, many fans decide to litter the ice during the game with a potpourri of debris in an embarrassing display.
Apr 26, 1996Nikolai Khabibulin steals a 3-1 win in Detroit to extend the Jets life one more game, narrowing the Red Wings lead to 3-2 in the best of seven playoff series. That night, everyone except for Khabibulin mailed in the effort, but Khabibulin stood tall in the Jets goal giving the fans one last home game.
Apr 28, 1996The Jets play their final game, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Detroit Red Wings at the Winnipeg Arena. Norm Maciver scores the only Jets goal of the game, as the Jets pack up and prepare for the move to Arizona.