Goin’ to Winnipeg.
While the humourous and somewhat goofy character from the Goodyear Tire television commercial accepted his fate with a simple shrug of the shoulders, Red Deer’s Chris Mason is welcoming his move to the Manitoba capital with open arms.
The 35-year-old goaltender and his teammates will play out of the MTS Centre in Winnipeg next season after Tuesday’s official announcement that True North Sports and Entertainment have purchased the Atlanta Thrashers and will relocate the NHL franchise to Manitoba.
“I’m happy, I think it’s great. As a player and as a fan of the game, I think it’s awesome for hockey and I’m excited to be a part of it,” Mason said later in the day, after spending the better part of six hours fielding interviews from numerous media outlets.
The move has been rumoured for weeks, and in fact was basically a foregone conclusion.
“But it’s a relief that it’s now confirmed, for living circumstances and for making plans for next season,” said Mason, who signed a two-year, $3.7 million deal with the Thrashers in 2010.
“To be honest, we haven’t heard anything from management other that we’ll be contacted in the next little while. I’m assuming that in the next couple of weeks we’ll be able to move forward with those kinds of plans, so that will be good for peace of mind.”
The move to Winnipeg will mean longer, colder winters and a less cosmopolitan lifestyle than was the case in Atlanta.
“But we’re going to a place where you feel like the fans are a part of your team, which they will be,” said Mason.
“The community in Winnipeg was devastated when they lost their NHL team (the former Winnipeg Jets) 15 years ago. It had to be devastating and it wasn’t because of the fan support but more unforeseen circumstances . . . ownership and corporate support, which has nothing to do with hockey fans.
“Now they have a team and it’s just amazing that True North was able to put so much effort into getting a team back in Winnipeg. I think it’s awesome. I’ve always wanted to play back in Canada with a Canadian team.”
The fans in Winnipeg, as Mason noted, never forgot the Jets and will almost certainly be wildly supportive of their new team.
The audiences at the MTS Centre will surely be loud and proud.
“It will be amazing to play in front of a crowd like that every game.
“That’s what hockey is all about,” said Mason.
The Red Deer minor hockey graduate and seven-year NHL veteran will miss certain elements of his short time in Atlanta.
“It’s a nice city, but I wasn’t there long enough to get really attached to it,” he said. “But I met a lot of nice people there and I really feel for those people. We developed friendships with people in the organization, people who were in public relations and various team services. I just feel bad for them because they get the short end of the stick, as do the passionate hockey fans that were there.
“There were a lot of fans in Atlanta who loved hockey and loved the team. It’s too bad that the ownership situation was the way that it was. The fans were the ones who suffered for it.”
Mason’s positive attitude regarding the move is shared by team captain Andrew Ladd.
“It’s probably going to be bigger than most guys think,” Ladd told The Canadian Press. “I think not having (NHL) hockey there for 15 years, it’s kind of built up and built up to the point where I’m sure (fans) are ready to blow the doors off the hinges and get this thing going.”
In the wake of the announcement, a number of NHL players weighed in with their thoughts on Twitter.
Thrashers players Evander Kane and Anthony Stewart thanked fans in Atlanta for their support while others welcomed Winnipeg back to the NHL family.
“Winnipeg is back, now time for the Quebec Nordiques!!!” wrote St. Louis Blues forward David Perron.
Added Phoenix Coyotes tough guy Paul Bissonnette: “I have a feeling in 9 months there will a lot of babies being born in the city of Winnipeg. Welcome back Jets. Let the party begin in Canada.”
Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall is looking forward to the first road trip that takes him to Manitoba.
“Very excited to play in another Canadian city. Congrats Winnipeg!”
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com