Manitoba Likely to Back NHL Bid

The group aiming to bring the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg looks likely to get some financial relief from Greg Selinger's government.

With momentum building behind True North Sports and Entertainment's bid to bring an NHL hockey team back to Winnipeg, the Manitoba government has signalled it would be willing to provide the group with financial assistance. True North, backed in part by billionaire David Thomson, is in talks with the Atlanta Thrashers to move the franchise as early as next season. True North has asked Greg Selinger's government to help manage debt remaining on the MTS Centre, the downtown Winnipeg arena where a team would play, so that True North could free up more cash to cover relocation fees. Sources within Selinger's government told the Winnipeg Free Press that it looks likely the government would agree to True North's proposal.