Celebrate a Jets Moment at Portage and Main

"Portage and Main is famous across North America, so why not?" — Barry Shenkarow, former owner, Winnipeg Jets

While you'll find that almost every other moment listed has to do with one of the three Jets eras, there is only one that unites them all, and unquestionably it's the one thing any Jets fan, hockey fan, or simply a citizen of Winnipeg absolutely must do before they die — be part of a celebration at Portage and Main.

Colloquially known as the "Wind Tunnel," Portage and Main is one of the busiest intersections in Winnipeg. It's been called the coldest spot in the city, and urban legend will tell you that the speed of gusts that blow through this area make it the testing ground for car companies.

By ordinary day, Portage and Main is a hub of activity from financial to tourist. Depending on which direction you head toward, you'll see a wide landscape unfold in front of your eyes. Stay too long in one spot, though, and you'll get honked at (albeit very politely). In the summer it's the hub for hot dog carts, and in winter ... okay not much happens on the deepest of deep-freeze days, but there is still a mystique at this spot.

But by hockey night, Portage and Main becomes the central gathering ground for Winnipeg's faithful. Whether it's the local Jets or national team (namely during the Olympics), Portage and Main becomes the single biggest hotbed for shinny. Hoot, holler, grab your stick, and get ready for the best street fest known to mankind.

It's hard to say what was the most important event that took place at the famed intersection — contract signings, Avco Cup celebrations, Save the Jets campaigns, the impromptu celebration when Stephen Brunt's famous Globe and Mail article was published — yeah, there've been a few special moments at this one spot in the city of 750,000 frozen chosen individuals.

The popularity of the spot started with that moment that has been shown time and time again in any Jets retrospective — Bobby Hull in the background of a jubilant Ben Hatskin, holding aloft the contract that the Golden Jet had just signed. Just a couple short years later, the same intersection became the celebration ground for the Jets as they brought the Avco Cup to Winnipeg. Staging was set up at the intersection for a massive street party.

Years later, the signing of the Jets first (and thankfully only) No. 1 overall draft pick was to take place in the River City. Barry Shenkarow reflected on picking the location, noting that the first signing at the spot had started a trend. "Benny Hatskin signed Bobby Hull first at Portage and Main, and that made the WHA and put Winnipeg on the hockey map," he said. "I guess when we signed Hawerchuk, we thought he was the next foundation of the hockey team so that would be the ... I wouldn't say the tradition, but you could call it that."

In years following, there wasn't much to celebrate at the corner at least for local hockey, but it was a regional hotspot for national hockey. In both 2002 and 2010, Canada came away from the Winter Olympics with the gold medal, and the good citizens of Winnipeg feted the feat at the famed corner, as they did in 2014; but those moments didn't compare to 2012, first with the Stephen Brunt–ignited celebration then as the secondary spot during the official announcement that the Jets were coming home.

Once the team was back, however, there was one celebration waiting to happen, and on the night of April 9, 2015, it took place, as Jets fans gathered to toast Winnipeg returning to the NHL playoffs for the first time in 19 years. Only a Stanley Cup victory parade, whenever that happens, will be able to rival the emotion that...