After 15 years of waiting, on Sunday, Winnipeg replaced a missing piece of its city. Nation-wide, Manitobans’ gathered to watch the home opener of their beloved Winnipeg Jets.

From the 13,000 season tickets that sold out in just minutes to the pre-season games that sounded like playoffs, fans have made themselves known. If enthusiasm and pride could win the Stanley Cup, the Jets would be a sure thing.

As a born and raised Manitoba girl, I grew up in the hockey rink. I was toted around to my older brother’s games, watched the local Western Hockey League team, and gathered around the TV with my friends and family to watch the playoffs.

I was 10 when the Jets left Winnipeg for Phoenix, and I remember it clearly. Although I don’t currently reside in Manitoba, it will always be my home and on Sunday, like many, I was excited to welcome home an old friend.

The Jets lost their first game, 5-1 to the Montreal Canadians. Though they may have lost and will lose again, for those of us who have gained our team back it doesn’t matter because we have already won.

With the season only beginning the re-born NHL team has brought the community together and the streets of Winnipeg and Canada are full of Jets jerseys once again.