NEXT UP FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: WINNIPEG
Quick facts on Winnipeg, where the Vegas Golden Knights open the Western Conference finals on Saturday in a best-of-7 series.
Bobby Hull played for the original Winnipeg Jets, starting in 1972. He and his son, Brett, who grew up in Winnipeg, are the only father-son tandem to score more than 50 goals in a season and 600 NHL career goals. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Location—145 miles north of Grand Forks, N.D. in the province of Alberta.
Population-- 705,244 people live in Winnipeg proper, 778,489 in metro area. Canada’s 7th largest city.
Team history—The original Winnipeg Jets, beset with financial issues, relocated in Phoenix after the 1995-1996 season.Five years later, the Atlanta Thrashers relocated in Winnipeg and brought back the Jets name.
Nickname—The Jets nickname comes Winnipeg being the bases of several Royal Canadian Air Force units. The city’s Canadian Football League is called the Blue Bombers.
Crime claim to fame -- From 2007 to 2011, Winnipeg was the "murder capital" of Canada, with the highest per-capita rate of homicides.
Main industries—Farming, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, IT and digital media.
Claim to fame: Winnipeg is North America’s largest center for bus manufacturing, including motor homes, fire engines, and semi-trailers.
Five food items you should try: Pink Lemonade beer at Farmery, Honey Dill sauce for chicken fingers, Wine ice cream at Cornell Cream, Vinarterta Icelandic (multi layer cake from Iceland) sold at Tall Grass Prairie Bakery and Mordens’ chocolates.
Famous residents
--Monty Hall, host of the popular TV show “Let’s Make a Deal.”
--Mike Keane, who was undrafted, played over 1,100 games in the NHL (1988-2004). He was one of only 11 players in NHL history to play on three or more different Stanley Cup-winning teams (Montreal, 1993; Colorado, 1996, and Dallas, 1999). Keane was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Patrick Roy and Keane from Montreal to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Andrei Kovalenko and Martin Rucinsky.
-- Bobby Hull played for the original Winnipeg Jets, starting in 1972. He and his son, Brett, who grew up in Winnipeg, are the only father-son tandem to score more than 50 goals in a season and 600 NHL career goals.
--Neil Young of the Hall of Fame band Crosby Stills Nash and Young. In 2000, Rolling Stone selected Young as the 34th greatest rock ‘n roll artist.
--Brad Roberts, pop singer for the Crash Test Dummies.
-- Magician, illusionist and escape artist Doug Henning, who often headlines in Las Vegas. In 1986, Henning sold his illusions to David Copperfield and other magicians to devote his time to Transcendental Meditation.
--Legendary NHL goalie Terry Sawchuck, who was all-time leader in wins (447) at the time of his death in 1970. He was 40.
(Source: Wikipedia and the Internet)