Twitter Reaction: Playoff hockey, whiteout return to Winnipeg

Here is the history of the origins of the whiteout in Winnipeg, its effect on the team and fans, and how the city has hung onto the tradition decades later.

For the second time since relocating from Atlanta, and the first time since 2015, Stanley Cup Playoff hockey is back in Winnipeg. After getting swept by the favoured Anaheim Ducks three years ago, the Jets are still in search of the first new-era win.

And, as you probably know, playoff hockey in Winnipeg means the return of one of the great playoff traditions dating back to the 1980s: the whiteout. Jets supporters take to the streets and MTS Centre is all decked out in white with dyed hair, white masks, white jerseys — whatever they can do to paint the town white. Although the home team now wears its dark jerseys, this tradition dates back to a time when the opposite was true.

Here’s a glimpse of the whiteout in Winnipeg on Night 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Jets host the Minnesota Wild. You can also watch the video at the top of this page to learn about the history of the whiteout, which originated in 1987.

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