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The Manitoba Moose are bringing back the Finnish Flash.
No, Teemu Selanne won't be in uniform as the Moose get set to play the final two games at the Winnipeg Arena, but he'll be one of the multitude of former players in attendance for the final ceremonies later this week.
Selanne, who set a rookie record with 76 goals for the Winnipeg Jets in 1992-93 season en route to capturing the Calder Trophy, headlines a guest list that includes Thomas Steen, Ulf Nilsson, Anders Hedberg, Dave Babych, Dave Ellett, Bob Essensa, Scott Arniel, Dallas Eakins and Ed Olczyk.
As part of their "Thanks for the Memories" promotion, the Moose will wear throwback jerseys to honour the 1950s Winnipeg Maroons and Winnipeg Braves on Thursday night, offer turn back the clock prices on various concessions items and provide organ music exclusively during the game against the Utah Grizzlies.
The jerseys will be available for auction at Saturday's final game at the Arena, also against the Grizzlies, primary affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes.
On Saturday, the Moose will hold a pre-game ceremony to honour all of the invited guests, which begins at 6 p.m. That ceremony will include a 15-minute video tribute and the lowering of the hockey banners from the rafters in the Winnipeg Arena.
A brief post-game farewell ceremony is also planned.
"The next couple of weeks are going to be very exciting, with the closing of this building and getting ready to move into the other," said Moose GM Craig Heisinger, noting other prominent figures, like Bobby Hull and Dale Hawerchuk, were invited but unable to attend because of other commitments. "Things have been so hectic, probably for me it will probably hit home when it is going on or after the final game on the 6th. Do I know exactly how it's going to feel? No, but typical of those things it's usually a spur of the moment once the reality of the situation hits you."
Heisinger said Moose equipment manager Corey Osmak asked him on Sunday if he was interested in unpacking the hockey bags one last time at the old barn on Maroons Road.
"I took a pass on that, I've packed more than my share of bags," said Heisinger, a former equipment manager himself with both the Jets and Moose.
DAY OF REST: After returning home from their gruelling, but successful road trip late Sunday night, the Moose were given yesterday off by head coach Randy Carlyle.
The Moose, 7-4 and an impressive 7-2 on the road, are in first place in the North Division, two points ahead of the Edmonton Road Runners, who have two games in hand.
STILL PERFECT: The AHL ranks of the undefeated are down to two.
The Grand Rapids Griffins lost last week, leaving the Manchester Monarchs and Hartford Wolf Pack as the only teams without a loss of any kind.
The Monarchs, the primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, are 7-0 and has scored 34 times and given up just 10 so far.
The Wolf Pack, the primary affiliate of the New York Rangers, improved to 7-0 with a 1-0 shootout victory over the Houston Aeros yesterday morning and has 18 goals for and only seven against.
Manchester and Hartford remain tied for top spot in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.
TOP GUN: St. John's Maple Leafs forward Kyle Wellwood won AHL Player of the Week honours on the strength of his five-goal outburst on Saturday night against the Cleveland Barons.
It was the first five-goal game in the AHL in nearly six years.
Wellwood, the top scoring rookie in 2003-04, had six goals and nine points in four games last week.