Mathieu Perreault: Winnipeg is One of the League’s Greatest Fanbases

One would typically have to be on the receiving end of a lopsided trade to find themselves in Winnipeg and playing for the Jets. No, it is not the most desirable winter location. Okay, let’s be honest, it is actually the very worst winter locations of the 32 league teams.

This winter alone, Manitoba’s capital featured 25 days of -30 degrees celsius or colder, it hit record snowfall highs through the month of February, and its streets and sidewalks haven’t been cleaned in weeks. If it’s not a dead car battery from the frigid cold nightly average of -35, it’s the -50 wind chill freezing your car’s external thermometer rock solid for the remainder of the winter.

No one willingly comes to Winnipeg.

That is, except for Mathieu Perreault. And you know what? He did it, by signing with the team on July 1, 2014, and liked it so much that he did it again three years later.

Always a fan-favourite, the long-time former Winnipeg Jets forward spent seven full seasons in Manitoba, suiting up for 455 regular season games, to which he scored 88 goals and added 142 assists for 230 points to go alongside 212 penalty minutes. Perreault added another two goals, seven points and 18 penalty minutes in 29 postseason games for Winnipeg.

A native of Drummondville, QB. the now 34-year-old is no stranger to the snowy conditions that a Canadian winter provides. Spending a winter in Winnipeg is one thing, but seven? That would typically strip the soul out of even the toughest customer.

Not Perreault.

He actually opted to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham from the book of Genesis to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Well, not quite. But during his time in Winnipeg, Perreault and his wife Jennilie once lived out a span of 19 months that saw them welcome three children into the world. It was first Violette, who was followed shortly thereafter by twins Penelope and Hector.

“My time here was amazing,” Perreault said hours before taking to the ice at Canada Life Centre for the first time as a visitor since leaving the organization last summer.

Finishing his final of seven seasons with the Jets by way of a second round playoff exit to the Montreal Canadiens, Perreault opted to join his hometown team this past summer, signing a one-year deal with the Cabs for $950K. Having already earned nearly $30 million over the course of his 11-year, three-team career, the option to play in his home province was too good of an opportunity to pass up, no matter the annual average value.

“I didn’t know the market, it was a new experience for me,” Perreault said shortly after signing his deal in late-July. “I’d been fortunate in Winnipeg to be successful and have a lucrative contract ($4.125 million average annual value), which has been amazing. So I’m at a point in my career where the monetary aspect is a little less important. It was really more about finding a place where I was going to be comfortable and happy, and Montreal filled all the boxes.

“We were really happy when Montreal showed interest. I told my agent that Montreal was at the top of my list. It’s very exciting to have the chance to play with some French-Canadians. I’m very excited to get to meet all the guys, and obviously the French guys on the team, that will be special.”

Although clearly thriving now within the French-speaking community of Montreal, it was Winnipeg to which Perreault will always remember as one of his favourite and most influential stops in his hockey journey.

“I have so many great memories, with my three kids being born at St. Boniface Hospital,” Perreault said. “This morning, I went over and saw all the trainers and guys that I was around for seven or eight years. We became good friends, so it was just nice to see the guys here at Canada Life Centre.”

Playing through some of the biggest moments in recent Jets 2.0 history, Perreault will always have a soft spot for the passionate fans who willingly battle the cold to cheer on the boys wearing polar night blue and aviator blue on a nightly basis.

“The fans are, to me, one of the greatest fanbases in the league, and they were always super respectful,” Perreault said of the Jets. “You would run into people and they’re always happy to see you and it’s always fun. I really appreciate the fans here.”

On Tuesday night, fans in Winnipeg had the chance to see their former beloved winger take to the ice once again. In a true expression of love and support, the majority of those gathered downtown serenaded Perreault with a standing ovation during the first television timeout in the opening frame.

With three goals and four points in 15 games for the Habs this season, Perreault is considerably far off his half-point-per-game rate to which he produced consistently over his time in Winnipeg. But for now, scoring points is not his No. 1 role, whereas putting up two shots and a plus-one rating in 10:56 on ice is now considered a good day for the seasoned veteran.