The Day the Bells Rang Out in Winnipeg (Fairy Tale)

It was the best of times, the day of days.

It was the end to the greatest season in Winnipeg Jets history. In a few minutes, NHL commissioner Bobby Hull would come down the red carpet at center ice in the sold-out MTS Centre where the fans had been on their feet in non-stop bedlam since the final buzzer and present the Stanley Cup to the Winnipeg captain.

Actually, the momentous season had begun the previous year when the economy continued its downward turn and finally caught up to hockey. Salaries could no longer be maintained in the millions any more.

Top wages were now in the hundred thousands. This made it possible for ticket prices to be slashed so now the average fan could afford to watch NHL hockey again.

Most importantly, it made arenas like the ones in Winnipeg, Quebec, and Hartford seem like palaces.

Since hockey was obviously going nowhere in Phoenix, Coyotes owners humbly contacted the owners of the MTS Centre asking if the Manitoba Moose games could be rescheduled if the Coyotes were to return to Winnipeg. The owners, with visions of 82 sold-out games joyfully agreed.

The Coyotes were followed by the Atlanta Thrashers and Carolina Hurricanes who went back to Quebec and Hartford.

These franchise shifts were too much for commissioner Gary Bettman who was forced out of office by the disillusioned board of governors, angry at the relocations. He was replaced by Hull who gave his blessing to the recent moves, and also approved the shift of Nashville to Hamilton for the following season.

There was a wild celebration in Winnipeg when the Jets came home. The mayor declared a civic holiday and singled out some fans for special praise.

"The Manitoba Mythbusters were instrumental in getting the Jets back. They sent out petitions, canvassed homes, and appeared on media shows not only in Winnipeg but throughout Manitoba and even in Saskatchewan and Ontario," the mayor said.

As a reward for their devotion, the Mythbusters were given their own private box in the MTS Centre for as long as the Jets would remain. One of their representatives responded,

"This coming year will prove to everyone that the MTS Centre is an NHL arena. All those naysayers and sports bloggers who said it was too small will finally be put in their place."

With the Coyotes came Wayne Gretzky as coach, the same Gretzky who had heaped so many heartbreaking defeats and humiliations on the Jets as a player. But he declared,  "It's great to be back in Canada where I had my greatest success as a player. I want to do for the Jets as a coach what I did for the Oilers as a player."

And as a gesture to win over the Winnipeg fans, he made Dale Hawerchuk his assistant coach.

The season that followed was a roller coaster ride for Winnipeg fans. For a while it seemed the Jets would not make the playoffs. However, the money-losing Florida Panthers were forced to hold a fire sale at the trade deadline. The wealthy, financially stable Winnipeg Jets were able to acquire Jay Bouwmeester and a few other top Panthers for some future draft picks. 

These changes were enough to spur the Jets into sixth place by the end of the season.

The Jets’ playoff series was against the Calgary Flames. It was a rough series with several fights and two games going into overtime but the Jets were victorious in five.

Next were the powerful Detroit Red Wings, the closest thing to a dynasty in the past decade. But the Jets, led by superior goaltending pulled off the upset in six games.

The last game was won in front of a fanatically cheering home crowd at the MTS Centre.

Finally, and most satisfactorily, the Jets eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in the maximum seven games.

Wayne Gretzky declared,  "Before the series started, I had mixed emotions about it. It's not easy coaching against your old team. But after they said what they were going to do to us with that trash talk before the first game, this victory makes it one of the sweetest I've ever had."

Added Hawerchuk, "They beat us so many times before when I was playing. Words can't describe how I feel right now."

There were wild celebrations in Winnipeg after this victory. It seemed like a muzzle had been pulled off, a demon exorcised. But everyone remembered that there was one more series to go with one more tough opponent to overcome.

And who else could it be but the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens had their finest season since the days of the Guy Lafleur dynasty. They were going into the final as heavy favorites.

But the Jets showed their mettle. They won the triple overtime fifth game in Montreal and now had a chance to win the cup on home ice.

There was notable tension in the MTS Centre when the teams took the ice for the sixth game. Everyone in the arena was on edge when they thought that the cup could be won that evening.

Before the game, which many were dubbing historical, there was a preliminary ceremony. Though Hull was the NHL commissioner, he dropped the ceremonial puck at centre ice with his old line-mates, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg.

Other distinguished guests included Lars Erik Sjoberg, Thomas Steen, Morris Lukowich, and Dave Babych.

Former Canadien and Jet Serge Savard said, "I'm torn in two about all this. I'm just proud of both teams."

It was a tense game with Winnipeg falling behind but battling back to tie it midway through the third period. Then the Winnipeg captain scored with less than five minutes left and the Jets hung on to win 4-3.

There was non-stop cheering as fans stood and watched the players skate with the Stanley Cup around the arena.

While they were doing that, Gretzky told an interviewer, "This is as great a moment for me as when I won all those cups as a player with Edmonton. I think there is the making of a dynasty here, perhaps greater than what we had when I was with the Oilers.”

“I love this team and this city. I want to stay and coach this team here forever," Gretzky went on.

Outside the arena, fireworks were set off, the most spectacular Winnipeg had ever seen.  Plans were already being made for the victory parade.

And Winnipeg fans had this added sweet satisfaction:  This was only the beginning.

Author's Note: This article may be found in an upcoming book of modern fairy tales and solemnly read on April Fool's Day.