goals, 107 points). Coached now by Larry Hillman, the Jets seemed to have the inside track on the championship, but the scored a league-record 381 goals and reeled off winning streaks Jets channeled their winning knowledge, as well as that of the of 11 and 15 games to run away with the league’s best record. Aeros, to outplay the Oilers, and win their third Avco Cup, the In the playoffs, the Jets put aside New England in five games last the league would offer. to win the 1978 crown and their second in three years. The Jets had strong community support, but struggled Unfortunately for Winnipeg fans, Anders Hedberg and Ulf financially at times, the situation direst in 1974 when it Nilsson signed to play for the New York Rangers the following appeared the team might fold. That summer, a “Save the Jets” season. campaign allowed for individuals to buy shares for as low as In July 1978, the Jets essentially merged with the Houston $25 to own part of the team. The revenue helped keep the Jets Aeros franchise, purchasing thirteen players including Morris solvent, and in February 1978, the Jets were purchased by Lukowich, Terry Ruskowski, Rich Preston and Scott Hockey 8 Ventures, a consortium of eight men led by Barry Campbell. These quality players would help balance the loss of Shenkarow, Bob Graham and Michael Gobuty, and including Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg, and after just a few games Bobby Hull. into the 1978-79 season, the loss of Bobby Hull, who decided In 1979, the Jets entered the NHL along with Edmonton, to retire. Not unsurprisingly, the “Aero-Jets” took time to meld New England and Quebec. At first, the Jets performed poorly, into a cohesive unit, winning and losing games equally often. including a 9-win season in 1980-81, but in time, built a strong Other players stepped up: Lukowich (65 goals), Preston and club led by Dale Hawerchuk that made the Jets competitive, Ruskowski had strong seasons, as did Kent Nilsson (107 albeit with a frustrating tendency to lose in the first round of points) and Peter Sullivan, who broke through for 46 goals. the Stanley Cup Playoffs every year. In 1996, the Jets left Late in the season, Tom McVie took over as coach, and the Jets Winnipeg and relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, becoming the signed veteran netminder Gary Smith from the failed Coyotes. The NHL would not return to Winnipeg until 2011, Indianapolis club. The changes seemed to give the Jets some when the Atlanta Thrashers transferred and assumed the Jets spark, and the team finished strongly, with 39 wins and third nickname. place. In the 1979 playoffs, the exciting Edmonton Oilers An early version of the World Hockey Association logo, circa January 1972. 37 .