Spring whiteout hits downtown Winnipeg as thousands take to street for start of Jets’ playoff run
The streets of downtown Winnipeg were alive with NHL playoff fever on Saturday as thousands of fans gathered to watch the Winnipeg Jets take on the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. The Canada Life Centre was buzzing with excitement as the two teams faced off in what promises to be an intense best-of-seven series.
Prior to the 5 p.m. puck drop, Jets fans painted a stretch of Donald Street white for the first whiteout street party of the season. The sold-out event had a capacity of 5,000, with an additional 1,200 fans expected at the Party in the Plaza at True North Square, also sold out for Game 1.
One fan who traveled a staggering 15,000 kilometers to be at the game was Rob Psaila, a firefighter from Melbourne, Australia. Psaila became a Jets fan during a visit to Canada four years ago and felt a strong connection to the city of Winnipeg. He even adapted a theme song for the team, singing a rendition of it for fellow fans.
For Psaila, the opportunity to see the Jets play in the playoffs was a dream come true. He planned to follow the team on their first-round run, staying in Winnipeg for Game 2 and then traveling to St. Louis for Game 3. With high hopes for the Jets, Psaila expressed confidence in the team’s abilities.
Closer to home, Calgary’s Brad Yakiwchuck was also in town to support the Jets. A longtime fan, Yakiwchuck believed that this was the year for the Jets to win the Stanley Cup, especially after their impressive regular season performance.
Other fans, like Jeff Baquiran and Mike McDonald, shared in the excitement surrounding the Jets’ playoff run. Baquiran praised the team’s strong performance in the Western Conference, while McDonald highlighted the players’ camaraderie on the ice.
As fans filled the streets and the arena, the energy was palpable. With high expectations for the Jets in the playoffs, Winnipeggers were united in their support for the team. The atmosphere was electric, and fans were hopeful that this could be the year the Stanley Cup comes to Winnipeg.
