[News] Jets moving ahl club to Thunder Bay

[Resolute 14]

The stories on the move state that True North is trying to recruit a replacement team for St. John's. With luck, you'll keep the AHL. Hell, I wouldn't be opposed to moving the Heat there, even if the travel wouldn't be much better.

[Ashasx]

Maybe the Heat should move to St. John's if Abbotsford doesn't work out.

[chalms04]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Maybe the Heat should move to St. John's if Abbotsford doesn't work out.

And with a few minor modifications, recycle the Saint John Flames' branding.

[Flamescat]

I see the Moose being resurrected. Thunder Bay Moose. Slap a toque on Mick E. Moose and send his ass up to Northern ON.

[Stealth22]

This is what I thought of when I read St. Johns IceCaps.

[Murph]

Originally Posted by Stealth22

This is what I thought of when I read St. Johns IceCaps.

You weren't the only one. Brutal name. I hate it.

As for the Heat in St. John's, I'd jizz in my pants if it happened. Alas, it ain't gonna happen. The main reason Jets management are citing for the move is the challenges associated with the geography.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The stories on the move state that True North is trying to recruit a replacement team for St. John's. With luck, you'll keep the AHL. Hell, I wouldn't be opposed to moving the Heat there, even if the travel wouldn't be much better.

I wonder how much worse the travel would be? Most of the AHL is in the East..

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I wonder how much worse the travel would be? Most of the AHL is in the East..

Good question as there is a lot more to it than just distance.

I can't imagine that Thunder Bay is a better travel hub than St. John's (or Abbotsford for that matter). It might be better for direct flights between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, but St. John's probably has more flight options for day-to-day AHL purposes.

[Vulcan]

I was hoping if the Heat had to move, they'd go to Thunder Bay. It had been discussed in the Heat forum a while ago.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Don't hold your breath.

According to Winnipeg poster Jets4Life, with Paul Maurice now behind the bench, the Jets are an elite level NHL team:

IF we're lucky, the Jets will go 30-0, to finish the NHL season.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Parallex

So... it's like Winnipeg then?

Winnipeg has added 80,000 people to the city, in the last 10 years. It is noticeably busier and more congested.

[Poe969]

so Thunder Bay is better?

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Winnipeg has added 80,000 people to the city, in the last 10 years. It is noticeably busier and more congested.

More like 40,000. Census population is probably a better indication than population estimates.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I wonder how much worse the travel would be? Most of the AHL is in the East..

In terms of driving distance, St. John's is nearly 2200km from the nearest team - the Portland Pirates. St. John's has the same issue Abbotsford has - they have to fly everywhere in what is predominately a bus league. It's one of the reason why teams keep failing there. Higher costs.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

More like 40,000. Census population is probably a better indication than population estimates.

No. Municipal counts are usually more accurate, ss there is nearly always an undercount to stats canada's count. besides, over the last 5 years, Winnipeg has gained an average of 10000-12500 people per year.