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Jet player has Yorkton connection

The return of the National Hockey League to Winnipeg has made headlines across the country, being one of the biggest stories in hockey since the collapse of Vancouver in last spring's Stanley Cup final.

The return of the National Hockey League to Winnipeg has made headlines across the country, being one of the biggest stories in hockey since the collapse of Vancouver in last spring's Stanley Cup final.

One player who was part of both storylines is Tanner Glass, a former Yorkton AAA Midget Maller (now Harvest) from the 2000-'01 season.

Glass was a member of the Canucks for its playoff run then signed with the Jets as a free agent in the off season, a signing which put him on the ice Oct. 9, when the Jets launched their season before a frenzied packed house and their opponents, the Montreal Canadiens.

Winnipeg had once been in the NHL, but that ended a decade-and-a-half ago.

The original version of the Jets launched in 1972 as a member of the World Hockey Association, joining the NHL with the demise of the WHA in 1979. The Jets moved to Phoenix in 1996, and the Manitoba city was out of the NHL until this year when the Atlanta Thrashers failed in the southern city and new owners moved them north.

Glass, 28, said the atmosphere for the first game -- Montreal won 5-1 -- and the days leading up to it were electric.

"It's been very exciting. The whole city is just super, super excited," he told Yorkton This Week 48-hours after the historic game. " They're really excited to have their team back."

Glass said the situation has been amazing, noting the players have been "overwhelmed by all the support."

That support has certainly made it easy for the Thrashers, and a free agent signing such as Glass to settle in.

"Coming into a new team, a new city, everybody is excited. All the support is really helpful," he said.

Glass said Winnipeg was certainly on his radar as a free agent once it was apparent the Canucks were not going to resign him.

"It's close to home," said the Craven-area product, noting that while family has travelled to Calgary and Edmonton in the past for games, Winnipeg cuts a few hours off the drive.

"I think I'll have a steady stream of family here this winter."

The stream started with the home opener with Glass' parents and siblings among those in the sold-out arena.

"Having them come to that one was pretty special," said Glass, adding that while he anticipated getting tickets would be near impossible, the team arranged things for players to access enough tickets so immediate family could take part in what was as much an event as a game. "They were able to share the big moment."

Glass added his parents were also in Vancouver for the Canucks Cup finals' series.

Having an arena full of wildly happy fans was perhaps more unsettling than the players might have expected, said Glass.

"I think it affected us. I think we were a little nervous," he said. "I think maybe we were squeezing the sticks too hard."

That said, as the season progresses Glass said the likelihood of playing before an arena of full seats is a positive, especially for a Jets team among the youngest in the NHL. He said the young players should be able to feed off the energy in the stands and that should lead to some wins.

Looking at the Jets roster Glass said "there's a lot of first round draft choices with a ton of potential," but added it may take a while to jell into a consistent winner. The wins will come, said Glass based on the young players having "so much talent, so much skill."

As for his own role, Glass sees it as one of working hard to stir things up, something he said he felt he and line mates Chris Thorburn and Jim Slater did well in the opener.

"I thought we had a good game I thought we had some good shifts," he said, adding there was one chance he had on a centering pass "I'd like to have back."

Overall Glass said he likes his new linemates.

"All three of us play a physical game, are good down the walls," he said. "We want to play in their zone and make their team play defence."