Winnipeg NEEDS a WHL team

The Brandon Wheat Kings were forced to play game 6 in the Winnipeg arena on Monday. Winnipeggers didn't even know if there would be a game 6 played until the weekend(saturday I believe. Yet, over 7 000 bought tickets to see the Wheat Kings eedge the Raiders in 6 games.

Thats more than the Moose (yawn*) average all season, when tickets went on sale in summertime. We gotta buy a team and move them back to our city. Peggers are dying for junior hockey. Nobody wants the AHL, yet we are in the top 10 in minor league attendance.

With the new arena being built, hopefully soem investor takes over the arena, and pushes for a WHL team, since Mark Chipman (owner of the Moose would never allow a Junior Hockey team there. I hope mondays game sent a mesage to the WHL league office. Winnipeg wants a franchise NOW! :yo:

If Winnipeg won't support AHL hockey, they sure don't deserve the WHL. Why would you not want to support the Vancouver Canucks farm team?

Brandon's last home game of the first round in Winnipeg did have 7,000+, but I would bet that at least 1,500-2,000 of those people made the short trek from Brandon to see their team in an important playoff game.

If Winnipeg deserves the WHL, they will fill their new arena for the Moose.

i think you'd still get people coming in from those *short trips, like from selkirk and portage la prairie, i'm sure some people would come from there.

as for the ahl vs whl/ohl/qmjhl question, i'd rather go to a junior game over an ahl game too..

If Winnipeg won't support AHL hockey, they sure don't deserve the WHL. Why would you not want to support the Vancouver Canucks farm team?

Brandon's last home game of the first round in Winnipeg did have 7,000+, but I would bet that at least 1,500-2,000 of those people made the short trek from Brandon to see their team in an important playoff game.

If Winnipeg deserves the WHL, they will fill their new arena for the Moose

Van, maybe before trashing Winnipeg for it's "lack of support" for the Moose, you should try visiting the city and asking people what would they prefer- the WHL or AHL.

After the NHL, junior hockey rules this city. There is no emotional attachment to a Vancouver Canucks farm team. How else would you explain 90% of the arena fans cheering the Oilers on when they played an exhibition game here 2 years ago.

And yet, the Moose draw 6,700-plus to each home game. The AHL average is just over 5,000. Not bad when you consider the AHL is #3 league behind the NHL and WHL. You should really research this issue before making such ridiculous comments :shakehead

I don't think you have a clear idea of what hockey means to the prairie provinces. It is like a religion. If you did ny kind of study on WHL History (including when it was known as the WCHL), you will see that Winnipeg has a long and storied history in the league.

The Moose issue is another story. Most Winnipeggers consider the AHL #3 in importance of hockey leagues. The majority say:

1. NHL
2.WHL
3.AHL

It would not be something you would be able to understand. When you have had an NHL team, you believe there is always a chance you will get a franchise back (i.e. San Jose, Minnesota, Atlanta, Colorado). It is unfortunate, but the AHL will draw good in the city, but will always considered a novelty.

THE WHL was a big sucess in Winnipeg in the 1960's and 70's, until the Winnipeg Jets came along. Winnipeg was year after year, one of the most profiltable cities in the CHL until the NHL era (79-96). Now we are hungry for a Junior team. Look no further that the 99 World juniors

It is my opinion that if Winnipeg cannot support the AHL, than they do not deserve the WHL. Deal with it.

It's good that you have your opinion and I respect it. However, like jet said, Winnipeg has an emotional tie to WHL, not a Vancouver farm team. I think it's extremely rude for a person to say that a city doesn't deserve what it has emotional ties to.

That's like telling your kid he can't have a glass of water because he didn't feel like having a glass of milk.

It's like that here to. My hometown is home to the largest minor hockey association in Western Canada....and that includes Manitoba.

Don't talk to me like I don't understand what hockey means to Canadians.

It is my opinion that if Winnipeg cannot support the AHL, than they do not deserve the WHL. Deal with it.
HEY!! Do you understand English? We DO support the AHL our attendance is near the top of the league(6,500) in a brutal arena. We are just saying we would love a junior team. ;)

HEY!! Do you understand English? We DO support the AHL our attendance is near the top of the league(6,500) in a brutal arena. We are just saying we would love a junior team. ;)



Boom Sakalaka!!! I think it would be cool if they just brought the Jets back!!

:gman:

It's like that here to. My hometown is home to the largest minor hockey association in Western Canada....and that includes Manitoba.

Don't talk to me like I don't understand what hockey means to Canadians.

It is my opinion that if Winnipeg cannot support the AHL, than they do not deserve the WHL. Deal with it.

For one thing, as I have mentioned before, Winnipeg DOES support the AHL. Out of the 26? teams in the league, we have always finished ( attendance wise) in the top 5, at worst 6th or 7th. Take a look at the figures for Hamilton (averaging 4 000 fans/game) or Quebec (when they had an IHL team before folding).

Winnipeg has proven it will support ANY kind of hockey league throughout its history (NHL, WHA, IHL, AHL, WCHL, WHL). The reason we lost our NHL team had little to do with community support (there was tons of it), rather it had everything to do with corporate Winnipeg having cold feet, and failing to step up to the plate to save the Jets.

What would you prefer? A team with hungry young players all anxious to make it to the NHL, with some eventually becoming stars, with no fear your favorite WHL player will be recalled in mid season to play for a different league. On the other hand what we do have is the AHL, where we endure watching our star player(s) time and time again, being recalled to the parent club (canucks). On top of that, we have to sit through a circus-like atmosphere of mascots, and staff launching hot dogs, and snacks into the seats while I am trying to get into a game.

Then again, maybe I am overreacting. Why should I take a guy from Prince George (1/10 the size of Winnipeg) telling me what my city does not deserve. Dream on, buddy! :lol

Right now the only way the WHL is going to come to Winnipeg is by someone buying a team and moving it. The WHL is watered down and shouldn't of let Vancouver and Everett come in IMO. Twenty teams is too much right now, but I would love to see Winterpeg get a team. It would be rivalrys with Brandon, Moose Jaw and Regina!

Right now the only way the WHL is going to come to Winnipeg is by someone buying a team and moving it. The WHL is watered down and shouldn't of let Vancouver and Everett come in IMO. Twenty teams is too much right now, but I would love to see Winterpeg get a team. It would be rivalrys with Brandon, Moose Jaw and Regina!


Maybe we could steal back the Moose Jaw Warriors. It would be cool having the Winnipeg Warriors back in town! :)

Maybe we could steal back the Moose Jaw Warriors. It would be cool having the Winnipeg Warriors back in town!

I grew up in the 'Peg and went to Warriors games. Was a great time.

What does the size of Prince George have to do with anything.

Quit trolling.

Explain to me how I am "trolling" :shakehead

Secondly, you keep repeating that if Winnipeg cannot support an AHL-IHL team (which they have for almost a decade) they do not deserve a Junior hockey team. Quebec, Cape Breton, Halifax, Moncton, and Fredriction all had AHL teams in the past that they could not support. Yet, once these cities were given teams in the CHL, the teams flourished.

You have not shown me any valid reason why Winnipeg does not "deserve" a team.

If Winnipeg won't support AHL hockey, they sure don't deserve the WHL. Why would you not want to support the Vancouver Canucks farm team?

Brandon's last home game of the first round in Winnipeg did have 7,000+, but I would bet that at least 1,500-2,000 of those people made the short trek from Brandon to see their team in an important playoff game.

If Winnipeg deserves the WHL, they will fill their new arena for the Moose.

Halifax had 1200 people for AHL...the rest is history.

AHL hockey sucks because there is NO PASSION!! The players dont want to be there, they want to be in the NHL. And with injuries to NHL players it could gut your team.

If Winnipeg won't support AHL hockey, they sure don't deserve the WHL.

There is zero correlation between the AHL and WHL. Nobody cares about the AHL because it's a league filled with broken down NHLers, a few prospects and a pile of in betweeners. What does selling AHL tickets have to do with WHL tickets? Nothing.

There is zero correlation between the AHL and WHL. Nobody cares about the AHL because it's a league filled with broken down NHLers, a few prospects and a pile of in betweeners. What does selling AHL tickets have to do with WHL tickets? Nothing.

I agree. Van, you really have no clue what you are talking about. The Moose have a decent fan base, but not many hard core fans like myself give a rats a$$ about the AHL because there's no continuity and no team identity. Who is really going to get into following a team who's players are constantly coming and going, and none of them really want to be here? There's nothing to look forward to. You buy a ticket a week in advance and by the time game day rolls around the top scorer, goon and starting goalie are riding the pine in Vancouver. Who can care about that? It's a league for moms and dads to bring their 7 year old children to. It's not for a real fan who wants to watch players come together as a team and play for each other and the logo on their chest every single night. AHL players play for themselves and they'd do anything to get out of an AHL jersey.

Winnipeg would fall in love with a WHL team and sell twice the tickets the Moose do. Same with the WHA. No matter what the quality of hockey would be like, with a few borderline NHL calibre players and a TEAM and PLAYERS to call our own, the MTS Centre would be packed every game night. That's what real fans enjoy watching.

The AHL is as bad as the CFL. The players are always coming and going. The team concept is not there. The kids in the dub play their hearts out every shift. I enjoy the Moose games but if we had a junior team I would get season tickets.

The AHL is as bad as the CFL. The players are always coming and going. The team concept is not there. The kids in the dub play their hearts out every shift. I enjoy the Moose games but if we had a junior team I would get season tickets.

I'll second that.

Okay... Winnipeg gets 7,000 people out to a WHL playoff game, and its population is what? 1,000,000???

London (Ontario) averages over 8,000 people to OHL REGULAR SEASON games and its population is 300,000.

A WHL team in the Peg will do just as well as the OHL teams in the Toronto area: Brampton, Missisagua, and St. Mike's. If the AHL leaves, then the WHL would work, but not both.

good thread!

here in st.john's, we are losing the maple leafs ahl team after this season. there are rumors of a qmjhl team moving to st.john's, but fans here seem split on what they want.

ahl hockey is definitely much better quality then junior. and ahl players are just one small step away from the nhl. there shouldn't be any lack of passion (although it seems like there is).

here in st.john's, we are losing the maple leafs ahl team after this season. there are rumors of a qmjhl team moving to st.john's, but fans here seem split on what they want.


Hey Frankie, where are the Baby Leafs moving after next season?

Hey Frankie, where are the Baby Leafs moving after next season?

most likely to the ricoh coliseum in toronto.

Okay... Winnipeg gets 7,000 people out to a WHL playoff game, and its population is what? 1,000,000???

London (Ontario) averages over 8,000 people to OHL REGULAR SEASON games and its population is 300,000.

A WHL team in the Peg will do just as well as the OHL teams in the Toronto area: Brampton, Missisagua, and St. Mike's. If the AHL leaves, then the WHL would work, but not both.

No it wont.

There is Much MORE to do in Toronto an dthats why attentence suffers.

The Peg is diehard Hockey.

And bottom line is total fans, not percentage of the city.

Average CHL teams get 3000 a game, if the Peg can get 4000 they should put a team there.

It is my opinion that if Winnipeg cannot support the AHL, than they do not deserve the WHL. Deal with it.

You're confusing me Van, you say that but then say that the AHL is the more impotant league, wouldn't it be the other way around then? You're almost arguing both ways.

If Winnipeg won't support AHL hockey, they sure don't deserve the WHL. Why would you not want to support the Vancouver Canucks farm team?

Brandon's last home game of the first round in Winnipeg did have 7,000+, but I would bet that at least 1,500-2,000 of those people made the short trek from Brandon to see their team in an important playoff game.

If Winnipeg deserves the WHL, they will fill their new arena for the Moose.

Comeone when the Jets had a NHL team they had great support from there fans, the reason why the winnipeg fans don't support the AHL moose team, is because all the fans who grew up watching NHL calibere players, are know watching some crappy hockey, I have a cousin from winnipeg and he was a big jets fan, but he says AHL hockey is dull, and slow, and ofcourse the Moose have one of the worst AHL teams in the league, theres just no exitment, my cousin, said if there was a WHL team in winnipeg he would support it, but its the AHL knowone in winnipeg really likes, if winnipeg ever got a NHL team again trust me they would be sold out.

If Winnipeg won't support AHL hockey, they sure don't deserve the WHL. Why would you not want to support the Vancouver Canucks farm team?

Brandon's last home game of the first round in Winnipeg did have 7,000+, but I would bet that at least 1,500-2,000 of those people made the short trek from Brandon to see their team in an important playoff game.

If Winnipeg deserves the WHL, they will fill their new arena for the Moose.

don't you dare tell us what we do and don't deserve. the WHL is a fun and exciting league to watch. i like watching young guns and potential can't miss prospects play a good level of hockey for a decent price. i don't like to watch NHL wannabes or hasbeens whom no one in winnipeg could care for. i would also support a WHL team because it would be winnipeg's own. why should i have to cheer for a farm team of another NHL city? screw the vancouver canucks if thats the attitude their fans have.

A WHL team in the Peg will do just as well as the OHL teams in the Toronto area: ...St. Mike's.

You can't really compare any team to St Michaels. That arena is horrible.

Winnipeg needs a NHL team. I would drive up 3 hours to see that.

This topic is still coming up from March?

Okay... Winnipeg gets 7,000 people out to a WHL playoff game, and its population is what? 1,000,000???

London (Ontario) averages over 8,000 people to OHL REGULAR SEASON games and its population is 300,000.

A WHL team in the Peg will do just as well as the OHL teams in the Toronto area: Brampton, Missisagua, and St. Mike's. If the AHL leaves, then the WHL would work, but not both.


Before you post messages that are completely inaccurate, you should research this issue .

First off, Winnipeg has a metro population of 698,100. London has a metro population of approx. 450,000 according to stats Canada 2003.

Secondly, the 7,000 fans who showed up at the arena were there for the Brandon Wheat Kings, a city 300km away from the city ( an incredible figure for two non-Winnipeg-based teams). It would be like The Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds playing in Toronto.

Finally, since the WHL is way more popular than the AHL (not to mention cheaper too), you could expect to see anywhere from 9,000-13,000. Fans flood into the MTS Centre to see a WHL team based in Winnipeg compete. I hope we can buy out our old team, the Moose Jaw Warriors, and bring them back here!! :)

Grande Prairie needs a WHL team. Except well never get one because of our location :cry:

We draw the most fans out of any other jr.a team, weve smashed almsot every attendance record in jr.a and had the most people attend the rbc in the histroy of the tournament.

You guys DO need a team. They should move some of the teams with little rinks or poor attendance like Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, P.A., Swift Current. I have attended games in Seattle, Calgary, Red Deer, Med Hat, Swift, Regina, Saskatoon, P.A, Moose Jaw and Brandon and the Saskatchewan Arena's are very small, some probably only hold 2000-3000 people.

Distance is also a problem with Winnipeg.

Grande Prairie will never get into the WHL, simply due to location. Their closest opponent would be Prince George, and during the winter, it can easily be a 7-8 hour drive on a bus, depending on what the conditions are in the Pine Pass. Then after Prince George, it is another 6-7 hours to the next opponent.

A lot of WHL teams don't like Prince George being in the league because they say we are too far away. Our closest opponent (Kamloops) is a 6-7 hour drive by bus. There is no way a Grande Prairie franchise would be approved.


thats what i said. Were just in a horrible location. There was a lot of talk that if edmonton would of got a team then G.P. would have a good chance. But thats unlikely now because they got an ahl team there instead.

But we could definetly support one.

I have some bad news for all Junior Hockey fans in Winnipeg. Mark Chipman and the True North group, which own the MTS Centre and the AHL Moose, are dead-set against having a Winnipeg-based WHL team use the new arena. Since the old one is being torn town to expand Polo Park, they can;t use Winnipeg Arena.

There was some talk over the summer about a group that wanted to build an arena with a 8,000 seat capacity, with a sole purpose of bringing in a WHL team. However it looks like it is just talk at this point, but clearly Chipman has angered some junior hockey fans in our city. :cry:

*bump*

*bump*

Why did you bump this? It hadn't even fallen off the first page yet. :shakehead

Why did you bump this? It hadn't even fallen off the first page yet. :shakehead

sorry :(

Bottom Line:

- Winnipeg does not need a WHL team.
- Winnipeg does not need an AHL team.
- Winnipeg does not NEED any team.

- Winnipeg WANTS an NHL team and nothing else.