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The Winnipeg Jets, a professional ice hockey team hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, compete in the National Hockey League's Western Conference as a member of the Central Division. Originally established in 1999 as the Atlanta Thrashers, the franchise initially struggled, enduring five consecutive losing seasons. Despite capturing a division title in 2006–07, the team faced playoff disappointment, getting swept in its sole postseason appearance while based in Atlanta. Subsequent years saw the Thrashers return to a pattern of mediocrity, marked by average winning percentages and dwindling fan interest. In 2011, the franchise was acquired by a Winnipeg-based group and relocated to Canada, adopting the name "Jets" in homage to the city's previous NHL team.
Following realignment, the Jets shifted from the Eastern to the Western Conference after the 2012–13 season and in the 2014–15 season, they set a franchise record with 99 points but finished fifth in the competitive Central Division. Despite qualifying for the playoffs, they were swiftly eliminated. Although experiencing playoff appearances in subsequent seasons, including in the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, the Jets have faced postseason challenges, including a second-round sweep in 2021.
Who is the Winnipeg Jets owned by?
The Winnipeg Jets are owned by Mark Chipman. Moreover, he is also the team's governor, chairman and additionally a amember of National Hockey Board of Governors' Executive Committe. Chipman initially started as a lawyer in Florida, before moving to a group of car dealerships in 1963. Moreover, his father was the founder of the Megill-Stephenson Company, the Chipman family's holding company, whose subsidiaries now include True North Sports & Entertainment ( jointly owned with Osmington Inc), Longboat Development Corporation, and Birchwood. Notably, as the President original Winnipeg Jets left for Phoenix in 1996, Chipman was part of a group which was instrumental in purchasing the International Hockey League's Minnesota Moose and later renaming them Manitoba Moose. Furthermore, he was also instrumental in brokering a deal which saw six former IHL teams, (including Moose) getting accepted into the American Hockey League. Soonafter, Chipman anda group of investors created the True North Sports & Entertainment for the purpose of building a new sports and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg. The ownership of Moose was also transferred to True North after its successful establishment. Remarkably, he was successful in getting Winnipeg an NHL team again after purchasing the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011.
Chipman received the James C. Hendy Memorial Award as the AHL's top executive in 2005 and the Thomas Ebright Memorial Award in 2011 for his contributions to the AHL. He was made a member of the Order of Manitoba in 2012 and received the Sioux Award from the University of North Dakota for his accomplishments and community service.
What conference are the Winnipeg Jets in?
The Winnipeg Jets are a member of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). Notably, while they were known as the Atlanta Thrashers, they used to compete in the Eastern Conference alongside teams like New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Boston Burins and the Montreal Canadiens. Throughout their history, they have qualified for the playoffs seven times, once as the Thrashers and six times since relocating to Winnipeg.
However, in the sole season they made the playoffs as the Thrashers, they had preivously won the Southeast Divison in the 2006-07 season. Led by captain Scott Mellanby, they posted a record of 43-28-11, marking the only time they finished above their opponents in their history. Notable players to have been part of that team included Marian Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk, Bobby Holik, Kari Lehtonen and Shane Hindy among others.
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