Selanne offers fans flash from the past
WINNIPEG — It was a fairy tale ending Saturday for Teemu Selanne and a lousy blast from the past for Curtis Joseph.
Selanne beat Joseph between the pads on a penalty shot with four seconds left in the third period to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 6-5 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in the Heritage Classic alumni game at Investors Group Field.
“I thought my nightmares with Teemu were over,” said Joseph. “He’s a world-class player, obviously.”
Selanne, who retired from the NHL in 2014, also had the game’s first goal on a penalty shot and added three assists. Fans cheered the Finnish Flash loudly before, during and after the game, continuing a passion for the player who began his NHL career in Winnipeg in 1992-93.
Even Oilers legend Wayne Gretzky said the ending fit perfectly with the contest that celebrates the teams and their hockey history.
“You can tell how big the hockey is here,” Gretzky said of the “tremendous” crowd of 31,317 fans wearing Jets and Oilers jerseys.
Selanne was teased about how much of a hand he had in writing the game’s script.
“Actually nothing, but I got a little help there,” replied Selanne, who was tripped by Edmonton’s Craig Simpson to set up the opportunity for glory.
“Obviously, it was a great ending, too, but the whole weekend has been unbelievable.”
Selanne received the key to the city Friday from Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman.
“He’s a people person and everyday hard worker,” said fan Tyson Snelling, who was sporting a Selanne jersey as he sipped a beer during the second intermission.
“It’s what we expect and what we see here in Winnipeg and Manitoba.”