Jets fans came out in droves to show support for their team as they open their playoff campaign.
Thousands of people in the city showed up to the sold-out street party on Donald Street outside the Canada Life Centre ahead of the start of the team’s best-of-seven series against division rival, the Colorado Avalanche. The puck dropped at 6 p.m.
Roads around the arena were closed and buses rerouted Sunday afternoon, as a localized “whiteout conditions” forecast issued by Environment Canada for downtown Winnipeg turned out to be dead on.
Fans clad in all white waved kerchiefs and danced as the party got started Sunday afternoon.
“Feeling pretty good, ready to go, excited to come out to a whiteout party,” said Thomas Kaluzny, who came wearing a white Viking helmet and a shield with the Jets logo on it.
All 5,000 tickets to Sunday’s whiteout party were sold out within an hour of them going on sale, True North Sports and Entertainment previously told CBC News.
This is the Jets’ sixth playoff appearance in seven years, as the team tries to rebound from an early exit in last year’s playoffs. Kerrin Asmundson, who’s been four of these parties before, said this year may be the one.
“I’m optimistic. Very optimistic,” he said. “I think they have a good chance this year.”
Beau Downey was wearing matching white outfits with his partner, Veronica Gagnon. Downey said coming every year to the whiteout has become the couple’s tradition.
“We cheer like hell,” he said. “I feel like we’re going all the way. We got the team. We got the depth. We got everything we need to go all the way — and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Gagnon said she was there to do one thing.
“I’m here to party.”
Denis Dion said he came all the way from Saint Claude, Man., to “watch the Jets win.”
“I don’t want to miss it,” he said. “It’s going to be a good game, and every time I come, they win.”
It’s the first time Jets will face the Avalanche in the offseason. Amy Marks, however, thinks Winnipeg — which swept Colorado in their season series — will win it pretty easily.
“In 2018, we were so close … but I think this team may be deeper,” Marks said. “Knock on wood, but I think the Jets are going to win this pretty easily.”
Marks, who was with her daughter, Alice Fontaine, said this is the first whiteout party for the eight-year-old.
“I’m so excited,” Alice said. “I think the Jets are going to do very good.”
For Oskar Hoe and Zachary Deleurme, both nine, this party was also a first.
“Go Jets go! Go Jets go!” both chanted.
