After a 15 year absence, hockey has returned to Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba with the Atlanta Thrashers moving up north to become the new Winnipeg Jets. Fans are very excited about the sport returning as well as their team returning.

Sadly,I missed the unveiling of the Jets’ new logo on July 22. I don’t know if it’s because it flew under the radar or I just didn’t even know. I actually thought the Jets would go back to the logo they had before the original team left for Phoenix in 1996 but they went a different route so that may be the reason.

In any case, let’s review their new logo anyway.

“Unlike the Habs or the Red Wings or the Blackhawks, we didn’t have just one logo that may have been more logical to go back to,” said Mark Chipman, Chairman & Governor of True North Sports & Entertainment.

“We thought we had the freedom to try something new, but also make it very meaningful to the community.”

The new design was inspired by the Royal Canadian Air Force’s own logo and displays a sliver jet imposed on a red maple leaf in a blue outlined circle. A secondary logo features a pair of wings in front of two hockey sticks with a maple leaf in the middle and the script Winnipeg Jets across the top and bottom respectively.

“We felt it was important to authenticate the name Jets and we believe the new logo does that through its connection to (Canada’s) remarkable Air Force heritage, including the rich history and relationship that our city and province have enjoyed with the Canadian Forces,” said Chipman.

The logo has received some mixed reviews with fans who loved the team’s previous logos,however gear is flying off the shelves in Winnipeg. Even though I thought the team should have returned to this logo:

I do think it is a great logo and it honors a country’s military branch and anytime a team can do that with a logo, and even though too many Canadian teams have maple leafs in their logos these days, I think the Jets’ new look is a win for the team and their fans. I can’t wait to see their new uniforms next month and yes,there will be a review for those and it will (hopefully) be on time.

I give these a Thumbs Up!