The Return of the Winnipeg Jets Quiz

Answer: Atlanta Thrashers

Mark Chipman, chairman of the board for TNSE, made the announcement at Winnipeg's arena, the MTS Centre (built in 2004). Prior to the announcement regarding the Atlanta Thrashers, there had been much anticipation on the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes, who were the original Jets franchise that left Winnipeg in 1996.

In a last-minute bid, the city of Glendale, Arizona voted to maintain the hefty debt payment required to cover the team's losses and prevent the NHL (who own the team) from moving the franchise elsewhere.

Answer: 2 minutes

According to TNSE, the electronic queue for the remaining 5,842 seats was filled in two minutes, and it then took an additional 15 minutes to actually process the transactions. After those 17 minutes had passed, it was officially announced that the 'Drive-to-13,000' campaign had succeeded. Following the successful completion of the drive, TNSE also took names (and deposits) for a season-ticket waiting list, which was capped at 8,000 names.

This list was filled inside of two hours.

Answer: Kevin Cheveldayoff

Kevin Cheveldayoff's career prior to being hired with Winnipeg's new NHL franchise included two years as the Assistant General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks (winning the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship). Prior to jumping up to the NHL level, Cheveldayoff spent a number of years helming the AHL's Chicago Wolves, as well as the Utah Grizzlies before that.

Cheveldayoff's link to Manitoba extends back to his playing days, when he started with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

Answer: St. John's, Newfoundland

The announcement of the move was made on June 10th, with a promise that the team's new name would be announced in due time. It took until July 29th for the official announcement, and the St. John's IceCaps were officially born. Keith McCambridge, former Manitoba Moose Assistant Coach, was named the new head coach for the moved franchise on July 14th.

The IceCaps became the AHL affiliate of the Jets.

Answer: True

The NHL Board of Governors consists of the owners of every existing NHL team. In order for a transfer of ownership to be approved, there must be a 75% majority, while the vote to relocate a franchise only needs a simple majority. It ended up being a moot point as both votes were cast unanimously.

Had the Board of Governors voted against the sale or the move, then everything up to then would have been for nought, including the 'Drive-to-13,000' season ticket sales and any staff already hired.

Answer: Claude Noel

Claude Noel had just spent the 2010-11 season as the head coach of the TNSE-owned Manitoba Moose, having taken over the reins from former Winnipeg Jet Scott Arniel. Noel came to Winnipeg from Columbus, where he had been an Assistant Coach for three years with the Blue Jackets, as well as interim head coach for the latter part of his third year.

Interestingly, Scott Arniel beat Noel out for the job of head coach of the Blue Jackets, while Noel took over Arniel's position in Winnipeg.

Answer: 7th

Mark Scheifele's choice brought with it another Winnipeg Jet connection, as Scheifele skated with the Barrie Colts under former Winnipeg Jet great Dale Hawerchuck, who took over the reins as head coach for the 2010-11 season.

In all, the Winnipeg Jets made six other pics:
#67 - Adam Lowry (Swift Current, OHL)
#78 - Brennan Serville (Stouffville, OJHL)
#119 - Zachary Yuen (Tri-City, WHL)
#149 - Austen Brassard (Belleville, OHL)
#157 - Jason Kasdorf (Portage, MJHL)
#187 - Aaron Harstad (Green Bay, USHL)

Answer: Andrew Ladd

The GM of the Jets made a number of signings over the summer, including restricted-free agent Zach Bogosian with less than a week to go before the opening day of training camp. At the start of training camp in mid-September, the Jets had managed to come to terms with all of their unsigned players.

Answer: 4-0 win

The team of young prospects was coached by St. John's IceCaps coach Keith McCambridge. Their record at the tournament, after three games against the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks, was 2 wins and 1 loss. Every game was a shutout, 4-0, 0-2, and 2-0 respectively.

The team did not wear the official team jerseys, which had only been revealed a few days prior to the tournament. Rather, they were required to wear practice jerseys in order to compete.

Answer: Columbus Blue Jackets

In total, the Winnipeg Jets scheduled seven pre-season games against the Columbus Blue Jackets (two split squad games), the Nashville Predators (home and away), the Carolina Hurricanes (home and away), and the Ottawa Senators (promotional game in Newfoundland).

The split-squad games with the Blue Jackets were also split in results. The Jets won at home by a 6-1 margin, while the Blue Jackets won in Columbus by a score of 5-1.