Winnipeg Jets

Canada Life Centre holds about 15,321 for hockey - smaller than most NHL buildings, which makes the atmosphere on a playoff night genuinely intense in a compact way. The Whiteout tradition, where the entire crowd dresses in white for playoff games, creates one of the more visually striking crowd effects in the league. When Winnipeg makes a deep run, the Whiteout extends to outdoor watch parties at the plaza and throughout downtown.

The original Winnipeg Jets played in the NHL from 1979 to 1996 before relocating to Phoenix as the Coyotes. The 15-year absence made the return of Jets 2.0 in 2011 - when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated - a civic event. The fan base had been waiting and showed up immediately. The Portage and Main area downtown has The Forks nearby, which is a historic market district with restaurants and bars that serve the pregame crowd. Winnipeg in winter is genuinely cold in the way that Canadian Prairies winters are, so plan for weather walking to and from the arena.

The Jets have been a playoff team for most of their second existence and the current roster competes in the Central Division against tough Western Conference competition. Home games against the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche carry extra weight given the geography.

Grab your Jets tickets through Evil Tickets and join the Whiteout this season.