08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fervent fans put a lot of thought into Whiteout fashion choices
The first rule of the Jets Whiteout parties is obvious: wear white.
After that, it seems, anything goes.
Winnipeg's National Hockey League team resumed its playoff journey Wednesday with Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series against the Dallas Stars.
The Free Press checked in with some fans to see how their 'white' vision came to light.
Derek Morley
If the Jets are to have a playoff prayer, then it doesn't hurt to have a pope on their side. That's where Morley comes in, having dressed as the 'Jets Pope' since the 2017-18 NHL post-season.
'I was trying to think of a unique white costume that nobody else was doing at the time,' he said. 'I sent a message to my family group chat, and they were sending different ideas, like a doctor or surgeon, but my older sister, Susanne, had the idea of a pope, and I thought it was a great idea.'
Massimo De Luca-Taronno / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets white-out fan, Derek Morley in his customized pope outfit that "took weeks to make."
Massimo De Luca-Taronno / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets white-out fan, Derek Morley in his customized pope outfit that "took weeks to make."
He tracked down his base layer — a costume store pope outfit — before customizing it with all sorts of Jets logos, embroidering the front, back and shoulders.
'It took weeks to make,' Morley said.
Like any fashion maven, he's constantly making alterations, adding fresh updates every year. Most recently, he's had his hat embroidered.
Morley has been to almost every Whiteout party since Jets 2.0 returned to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2015. He said the energy is unmatched.
'Honestly, there's just nothing like Winnipeg,' he said. 'I used to live in Vancouver and go to Canucks parties, and I've been to a lot of sporting event parties, but the Winnipeg Whiteout is one of a kind.'
Morley said his pre-game ritual reminds him of the Spider-Man movie.
'(The pope hat) talks to me like the Green Goblin mask,' he said. 'I'm just sitting in my living room, and it starts talking to me like, 'It's time, you must put it on.'
'Some nights I'm too tired, or I have to work the next day, but it calls to me. It's like a curse sometimes, but there's no way I would have it any other way.'
Gillian Laninga and Quinn Lyon
The Winnipeggers showed up adorned in white aprons painted with catchy taglines.
Massimo De Luca-Taronno / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets white-out fans Gillian Laninga and Quinn Lyon spent more than four hours prepping their custom-made aprons.
Massimo De Luca-Taronno / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets white-out fans Gillian Laninga and Quinn Lyon spent more than four hours prepping their custom-made aprons.
'This was all her. She's the mastermind behind this,' Lyon said.
Laninga, 26, said she's created seven different aprons involving Jets puns. Some of them include 'Tony the Tiger because the Jets are GRRREAT!' and 'Special Kyle Connor.'
'I went to the dollar store for some inspiration, and I saw some white aprons,' Laninga said. All that was left to do was 'add her unique twist to it.'
Laninga and her boyfriend spent more than four hours prepping the aprons.
They had a 3-0 record at Whiteout parties heading into Wednesday's game, a 3-2 loss for the Jets.
Colour plays a factor in their pre-game ritual.
'When I wake up, I make sure I don't wear any colours of the opposing team,' Laninga said; Dallas wears green, black and white.
'No green socks, no green anything.'
Lyon said he enjoys the camaraderie at the Donald Street events.
'Everybody is so electric outside, standing around in the middle of the crowd. Half the people you know, half the people you don't, but everybody here is like brothers and sisters, just getting along,' he said. 'We're all here for the same reason: we want the Jets to win the (Stanley) Cup.'
Matthew Salyn
Salyn, completely covered in lights from the chest down, said he wanted to shine like a star ahead of Game 1's matchup against the Stars.
'I just got lights from Walmart, wrapped myself around, and I wanted to be the brightest here,' he said. 'I look cool, and I stand out.'
Massimo De Luca-Taronno / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets white-out fan, Matthew Salyn, says he wanted to shine like a star ahead of the Jets game against the Stars.
Massimo De Luca-Taronno / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Jets white-out fan, Matthew Salyn, says he wanted to shine like a star ahead of the Jets game against the Stars.
Salyn said the white jumpsuit and lights took about 20 minutes to put together. His inspiration comes from Squirtle, the turtle who plays the saxophone on the massive score clock at Jets games.
'He has lights all over him, and I wanted to be as bright as him… to stand out from miles away.'
This is Salyn's first year attending the street parties. He said he keeps coming back because of the environment.
'It's incredible,' he said. 'Everybody is here, everybody is crazy, so happy and so positive.'
He said the Jets' improbable come-from-behind Game 7 win against the St. Louis Blues to advance from the first round Sunday is a memory he will never forget.
''Everyone was going nuts,' he said.
Aside from the bright lights, the 20-year-old also revealed what he believes will be the key to Manitoba's team lifting the Stanley Cup.
'There are a few pairs of underwear I do not wear during a Jets game,' he said. 'The one I have with flowers on it, never.'
