Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)

Winnipeg Jets
List of Winnipeg Jets (1972–96) seasons
Founded	1972
History	Winnipeg Jets 1972–1979 (WHA) 1979–1996 (NHL) Phoenix Coyotes 1996–2014 Arizona Coyotes 2014–present
Home arena	Winnipeg Arena
City	Winnipeg, Manitoba
Colours	Blue, red and white
General manager	John Paddock (1993–1996)
Head coach	John Paddock (1991–1994) Terry Simpson (1994–1996)
Stanley Cups	0
Avco World Trophy	3 (1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79)
Conference championships	0
Presidents' Trophy	0
Division championships	3 (1972–73, 1975–76, 1977–78)

Blue, red and white

The Winnipeg Jets were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They began play in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979 following the WHA's collapse. Due to mounting financial troubles, in 1996 the franchise moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes (now the Arizona Coyotes). In 2011 the Atlanta Thrashers franchise relocated to Winnipeg and restored the Jets name, although the prior Jets club history is retained by the Arizona club (the new Jets did acknowledge the original Jets as part of the 2016 Heritage Classic festivities).

The NHL had recently expanded to 16 teams, adding franchises in many hockey-hungry cities (only one in Canada), but also in Atlanta, Oakland and Los Angeles. The WHA brought major professional hockey to Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and later Calgary. On December 27, 1971, Winnipeg was granted one of the founding franchises in the WHA, to Ben Hatskin, a local figure who made his wealth in cardboard shipping containers. The team took their name from the Winnipeg Jets of the Western Canada Hockey League.

The Jets' first signing was Norm Beaudin ("the Original Jet") and the first major signing was Bobby Hull. Hull's acquisition, partially financed by the rest of the WHA's teams, gave the league instant credibility and paved the way for other NHL stars to bolt to the upstart league.

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