D-Day in Winnipeg

Today is June 21, which is a very significant day in the life of Winnipeg, MB.  Though it has been known for some time that the Atlanta Thrashers will be moving to Winnipeg in the wake of the True Sports and Entertainment buying the ex-Atlanta Thrashers franchise, today is the day that the NHL Board of Governors will put their rubber stamp on the deal that would see the ownership change hands.  It would officially mark the end of hockey in Atlanta for the second time, since they also had the current Calgary Flames franchise.

So, the question now is not if Winnipeg will get a team, but what the team will be called.  Many in the city would love for the team to be called the Jets, and why not, since that is the name most associated with the city.  The other side of the coin creates a direct conflict with the former Jets, otherwise known as the Phoenix Coyotes.  There is precedent for such a conflict, as the NFL had this issue when the Cleveland Browns re-entered the league in 1999 after the original franchise moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens in the mid-90's.  Smart money says the Winnipeg team will be called the Jets when the name gets announced.