It was a final farewell to the Finnish Flash. The jersey of Teemu Selanne was retired on Sunday night, and Winnipeg Jets fans celebrated at home and abroad.
Teemu Selanne played for the Winnipeg Jets from 1992 to 1996. In his first season, he scored the most points in one season by a rookie.
“I mean, right before our team was ripped out of our city, he was the last kind of super bright spot that we had,” said Selanne fan Sacha Rosen.
Winnipeg lost Selanne mid-season in 1996 to Anaheim, where he spent most of his career. His #8 Anaheim Ducks jersey was retired on Sunday night, but Winnipeg always remained in Selanne’s heart.
“The way the fans in Winnipeg treated me… there's no… I'm speechless. There's no words for that," Selanne said during his ceremony.
Winnipeggers appreciated Selanne’s kind words over the years for Winnipeg.
“He’s a classy guy. He remembers Winnipeg fondly, so I think this will be nice. Nice little tear jerker,” said fan Alek Rzeszowski.
Sunday night’s scheduled game between Anaheim and Winnipeg meant the Jets could be there for the ceremony, a move hailed by Jets fans.
“It’s really classy of Anaheim to do his retirement with the Jets playing. It’s a really nice move on their part.” said Rosen.
Selanne spent 22 years playing for the NHL. He won multiple awards, including the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1993 while he was with the Jets.
Selanne also took home the ultimate hockey title. In 2007, he became a Stanley Cup Champion with the Anaheim Ducks.
