Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/733497
4 I T ' S A C A N A D I A N T H I N G , E H ? THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS I S S U E # 2 T he Winnipeg Jets haven't shaped their hockey history in the shadow of bigger markets. From the franchise's days in the upstart World Hockey Association, the city of Winnipeg has made the news because of the Jets and their devoted fans. Here are some headline-grabbing highlights that make up part of the hockey club's heritage, minus that 15- year absence most fans want to forget. 1972-73 to 1978-79 THE WINNIPEG JETS ARE BORN • The Jets became one of 12 teams to form the World Hockey Association for the inaugural 1972-73 season, a league that briefly tried blue pucks. The Jets were in the finals five of the league's seven seasons, winning the Avco World Cup three times ('76, '78, '79). • Norm Beaudin was the first player the WHA Jets signed, but definitely not the most famous one. Bobby Hull inked his historic contract at the corner of Portage and Main, a $2.75-million deal over 10 years, including a $1-million signing bonus. Other teams kicked in some cash to lure the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks star. • The Jets first captain, Ab McDonald, scored the team's first goal on Oct. 12, 1972 in a 6-4 victory in New York against the Raiders. His wife, Pat, was back in Winnipeg giving birth to the last of their five children. • Beaudin was linked to Hull, playing on a line with him and centre Chris Bordeleau. Each of them tallied more than 100 points in the first season. Beaudin and Bordeleau were replaced with Swedes Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson, creating the "Hot Line" with Hull. • The Jets were role models when they opened the locker-room to European players by bringing in Hedberg and Nilsson in the summer of 1974. Hedberg scored 100 points in 65 games in his first season, Nilsson 120 in 78 games and Hull 142 in 78 games. The Swedes would depart together after the 1977- 78 season for the NHL New York Rangers. • The Jets played the final WHA game, beating Wayne Gretzky and his Edmonton Oilers 7-3 on May 20, 1979 to win the Avco Cup. The struggling WHA disbanded and four of its final six teams merged with the NHL. Former Jets mascot Benny (born Oct. 9, 1986 and named after Ben Hatskin), and his jet. Photo by KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS HERITAGE MINUTES MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN WINNIPEG JETS HISTORY By Judy Owen for the Winnipeg Free Press CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Above: Norm Beaudin hoists the trophy during the Winnipeg Jets first Avco Cup Victory Parade in May 1976. Photo by JON THORDARSON / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Left: Anders Hedberg holds the Avco Cup in May 1978. Photo by JON THORDARSON / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS / WINNIPEG TRIBUNE Dale Hawerchuk at his contract signing at Portage and Main in 1981. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES