There’s a new sound echoing in the stands at the MTS Centre during Winnipeg Jets games this season.
True North Sports and Entertainment has installed a new organ, and hired an organist to play old-timey hockey tunes.
“Installing an organ has been on our to-do list for a number of years, but with the 2016 Tim Horton’s Heritage Classic, (we) felt it was a priority to get an organ in place this year,” said Rob Wozny, Vice President, Communications and Community Engagement with True North Sports and Entertainment in an email to CTV News.
“We’re always looking for interactive ways to enhance the live in-game experience for Winnipeg Jets fans at the MTS Centre. The organ, which is actually six Midi keyboards with weighted keys, can make thousands of sound effects for our organ player to utilize,” he said.
True North hired Trevor Olfert, an experienced local musician to play the organ during Jets games. Olfert is also a public school teacher and is involved in the community, Wozny wait.
“Finding an organ player is not hard to find, but finding the right organ player for us involved us reaching out through our network. We had a few candidates come available through the process, and Trevor had the experience and personality for the job,” he said.
Wozny said because the Jets are hosting the 2016 Tim Horton’s Heritage Classic, the repertoire this season will focus on the classic in-game songs.
“[Songs] you typically hear with organs during game stoppages, plus some of the well-known favourite songs with Trevor’s talent on the organ,” Wozny said.
The organ was installed behind section 318.
