True Jets fans not only visit their team's games but also attend open training sessions to stay closer to NHL stars.
About 30 hockey fans from Winnipeg usually come to such events at Bell MTS Iceplex. Many of them have the look of proud parents who came to see the beloved sons of the city. They watch with delight how Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler and other stars of the Jets hone their skills at the hockey rink.
Schedules of such workouts do not exist, so fans are looking forward to when the date of the next open practice will be announced.
"I'm on vacation so I'm just here," one of the most loyal fans of the team Bernus said. "Hanging out, watching the Jets practise."
He also said that he is saving money in case his children want to play hockey because this pleasure is not cheap. But when it comes to his favourite team, he stops thinking about the wallet.
Keith Mikkelson, a Jets season-ticket holder, is a frequent guest at such events. He constantly monitors the Jets site and the Twitter account of the team, so as not to miss an open training session. The only thing that upsets him is the fact that sometimes the training is canceled just a couple of hours before the start.
Open Jets workouts are attended not only by Winnipeggers. Katelin Baron, the resident of the Estevan, Sask., dreamed to get to the event for several years. She considers this a great gift for her 5-year-old son who wants to become a hockey goalie.
"When they're this small, they lay down on the ice and do snow angels," she said. "We're kind of showing him, 'Hey, if you watch the goalie, he never lays down in the net.'"
Many NHL teams practice open training. Fans undoubtedly like this idea. Many say that such events bring players and fans together, making NHL stars look like ordinary people.
The next open practice of Jets is to take place on March 2. Come and see how Winnipeg’s favourite hockey sons are preparing for new victories.
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