The Boys are back, the boys are back in town!

Guess who just got back today?
Those wild eyed boys that've been away
Haven't changed, haven't much to say
But man I still think them cats are crazy
They were askin' if you were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told 'em you were liven' downtown
Driving all the old men crazy


"The Boys are Back in Town", Thin Lizzy,  Jailbreak, 1976

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When Phil Lynott and the boyos of Thin Lizzy put together their hugely successful little ditty in the mid seventies, who knew that some thirty five years later it could have been taken as the theme song for Winnipeg's NHL rebirth.

But here we were watching along with a large number of our hockey addicted brothers and sisters today as the NHL made their return to the Manitoba capital (subject of course to the official key dokey from the Board of Governors on June 21st),  finding a large number of NHL devotees downtown, going just a little bit crazy.

The path back to the NHL took fifteen years and at one point almost saw the wandering dogs of the desert become the ones to make the migration back north, only it seems the rather generous nature of Glendale's elected officials kept the Coyotes from the Back to the Future machine, so instead it was a march on Atlanta that brought the NHL back home.

The Atlanta factor, while perhaps the background plan all along, seemed to pop up suddenly, the window of escape for the Atlanta spirit group cracked open by the machinations of the NHL in Arizona.

There were of a course a few potential setbacks for Manitoba hockey fans in the last month, there was the appearance of a would be investor known mysteriously as "the Balkan", a stalking horse that seemingly was set to purchase the Thrashers and keep them in Atlanta.  Though in the end "the Balkan" seemed to be more the thing of legend, somewhat like the legend of Keyser Soze from the Usual Suspects, who was much feared, but seldom seen. In the end, not much seemed to come from the efforts of the Balkan.

Likewise, the plan of former NHLer Anson Carter, who seemed to drop the idea of a bid for the Thrashers as quickly as he thought of it, proved to be but a sidebar in the conversation.

In the end, as Stephen Brunt outlined in the Globe and Mail a few weeks back, though delayed by that period of time for any number of reasons, (as we've documented on the blog here) the NHL indeed is coming back to River City.

No longer will Winnipeg be used as the leverage for struggling franchises in American cities, someone else will have to be handed that torch, (bonjour Ville de Quebec, hello there Hamilton), instead they now join the lodge, all that seems to be left to do is take the secret oath, sacrifice a small animal or two and vow eternal fealty to Gary Bettman and the Vice Presidents.

And while Tuesday will leave more than a few disappointed fans in Atlanta (though sadly not enough that perhaps could have saved their franchise,  a city that has had its NHL presence taken from it twice now) the excitement north of the US Canada border proves a reminder as to where the heart of the game remains.

Tuesday, to borrow the immortal words of Bob Johnson, has  proven to be a good day for hockey for Winnipeg and Canada for that matter.

It is in Manitoba today that the grievances of the past have been redressed, the ghosts of the past brought home and hockey returned to a place where it courses through the blood, part of life itself.

They are celebrating at the Forks and throughout the city today, their far too long absence from the NHL club finally reversed.

As the day progresses we'll update the items of celebration from Manitoba, resonating across the country, a discussion of which you can find below.

Now Mr. Bettman while we have your ear, there's this city on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, a little east of Montreal you might be interested in...


Winnipeg Free Press-- Winner-peg gets its game back
Winnipeg Free Press-- City's NHL dream comes true
Winnipeg Free Press-- City's spirit soars in the core
Winnipeg Free Press-- True North now has extensive to-do list
Winnipeg Free Press-- Back where we belong
Winnipeg Free Press-- Selinger gets playing time on first line
Winnipeg Free Press-- 'Jets is a fine name,' Winnipeg franchise's co-owner says
Winnipeg Free Press-- Time for fans to prove their love
Winnipeg Free Press-- Patient approach earns result
Winnipeg Free Press-- NHL party shifts to Portage and Main
Winnipeg Free Press-- Fans of Winnipeg's NHL team will pay second highest prices in Canada
Winnipeg Free Press-- Back in the big leagues: NHL returns to Winnipeg
Winnipeg Free Press-- Heisinger to play "significant role" in NHL team: Chipman
Winnipeg Free Press-- Thrashers captain Andrew Ladd anticipates crazy reception in Winnipeg
Winnipeg Free Press-- True North says NHL deal finalized
Winnipeg Free Press--  'Sweet spot?" Winnipeg NHL tickets to range from $39 to $129
Winnipeg Free Press-- Katz leads conga line through The Forks
Winnipeg Free Press-- NHL pricing for MTS Centre
Winnipeg Free Press-- 'Business as usual' for Moose as they eye changing hometown
Winnipeg Free Press-- Future of AHL's Manitoba Moose uncertain following NHL's return...
Winnipeg Free Press-- Atlanta Spirit letter announcing Thrashers sale
Winnipeg Free Press-- Winnipeg Jets long defied death, kept flicker of hope alive ...
Winnipeg Free Press-- Police to NHL fans: Go to Forks, not Portage and Main
Winnipeg Free Press-- Free pizza for hockey fans
Winnipeg Free Press-- This time we won't be starting from scratch
Winnipeg Free Press-- NHL commissioner indicates Winnipeg must sellout MTS Centre for ...

Winnipeg Sun-- Welcome back to Winnipeg, NHL
Winnipeg Sun-- Bettman transforms from villain to hero
Winnipeg Sun-- Politicians get behind new Winnipeg team
Winnipeg Sun-- Open up those wallets
Winnipeg Sun-- Party on at Portage and Main
Winnipeg Sun-- Time to step up, hockey fans
Winnipeg Sun-- U of M graduation pauses to congratulate True North
Winnipeg Sun-- Quebec NHL fans out of luck?
Winnipeg Sun-- Winnipeg's NHL dynamic duo
Winnipeg Sun-- Fans at the Forks cheer: Welcome back!
Winnipeg Sun-- Local economy stands to score big with NHL
Winnipeg Sun-- The 'Peg is in the Southeast
Winnipeg Sun-- Thrashers players relieved speculation over
Winnipeg Sun-- Thrashers staff in limbo
Winnipeg Sun-- Three-way realignment battle looms in NHL
Winnipeg Sun-- Will the name be the Jets or... ?
Winnipeg Sun-- EA sports to include Winnipeg in NHL video game
Winnipeg Sun-- Jets provided Ranford's defining moment
Winnipeg Sun-- Happy returns for Semenko
Winnipeg Sun-- What kind of owner will Chipman be?
Winnipeg Sun-- Moose are moving on
Winnipeg Sun-- Failed bids for Jets drove Chipman to bring back NHL
Winnipeg Sun-- Burrows not sad to see Thrashers move
Winnipeg Sun-- Chipman excited to bring back NHL team
Winnipeg Sun-- New owner cares about hockey
Winnipeg Sun-- Former Jets will grab tickets to see new team
Winnipeg Sun-- The NHL blew it in Atlanta
Winnipeg Sun-- Flames all revved up for Winnipeg rivals
Winnipeg Sun-- Long road to deal had many twists and turns
Winnipeg Sun-- Diehard fans never said never
Winnipeg Sun-- "It's nice to be back in Winnipeg': Bettman
Winnipeg Sun-- Party on at Portage and Main
Winnipeg Sun-- NHL return sweet for 'Toban hockey stars
Winnipeg Sun-- Players will warm up to Manitoba: MacLean
Winnipeg Sun-- Grassroots hockey gets boost from bigs
Winnipeg Sun-- Winnipeg fans have Moose to thank
Winnipeg Sun-- Hawerchuk happy with return
Winnipeg Sun-- Big league brings big money
Winnipeg Sun-- Steen confident Winnipeg will attract talent
Winnipeg Sun-- New heroes for next generation of fans
Winnipeg Sun-- NHL's return a day to celebrate
Winnipeg Sun-- Welcome to the new era
Winnipeg Sun-- Great to be back in "a hockey city"
Winnipeg Sun-- Hot Line happy NHL returning to Winnipeg
Winnipeg Sun-- NHL press conference set for 11 a. m. CT

Atlanta Journal Constitution-- Thrashers are on their way to Winnipeg
Atlanta Journal Constitution-- City businesses react to Thrashers departure
Atlanta Journal Constitution-- Gearon: Search for local investors failed
Atlanta Journal Constitution-- Thrasherville will not soon forget what Atlanta Spirit did here
Atlanta Journal Constitution-- It's official: Thrashers to Winnipeg
Atlanta Journal Constitution-- Player reaction mixed to Thrashers' sale and move
Atlanta Journal Constitution-- Thrashers, Atlanta were never given a chance

Globe and Mail-- For wandering Winnipeggers, a return from the wilderness
Globe and Mail-- A proud moment for the humble man who brought pro hockey back to Winnipeg
Globe and Mail-- A city that flourished despite its loss
Globe and Mail-- Bettman hints NHL cool to more Canadian franchises
Globe and Mail-- Canada, hockey is coming home
Globe and Mail-- Former Jets happy for Winnipeg fans
Globe and Mail-- True North confirms purchase of Thrashers
Globe and Mail-- Hockey-mad Winnipeg gets ready to party
Globe and Mail-- Winnipeg finally returning to NHL fold
Globe and Mail-- Stephen Brunt podcast on the NHL return to Winnipeg
Globe and Mail-- Winnipeg will be just fine
Globe and Mail-- Quebec City hockey fans hope they're next
Globe and Mail-- Chipman's work to return NHL to Winnipeg began almost as soon as Jets ...
Globe and Mail-- The NHL comes back to Winnipeg (video)

National Post-- You got your wish, Winnipeg - now pay up
National Post-- Happy Winnipeg fans set to snap up tickets
National Post-- Waddell won't move north with Thrashers
National Post-- Still no plans for NHL return to Quebec
National Post-- It's official: The NHL returns to Winnipeg
National Post-- Winnipeg's team: Young, fast and loads of cap space
National Post-- Atlanta-to-Winnipeg
National Post-- Hamilton hopes Winnipeg 'a sign of good things to come'
National Post-- Tale of the Tape: From Jets to Thrashers
National Post-- MTS Centre becomes Canada's smallest NHL rink
National Post-- What the #&^$: Winnipeg's NHL return

Toronto Star-- History is being made for hockey-loving Canada
Toronto Star-- Thrashers captain Andrew Ladd can't wait to get to Winnipeg
Toronto Star-- NHL makes it official: Thrashers land in Winnipeg
Toronto Star-- Jets? Thrashers? Moose? Six questions as NHL poised to return to Winnipeg
Toronto Star-- Expect Winnipeg to welcome NHL today at noon