Winnipeg Jets Motel

Toronto bar becomes ground zero for Winnipeg Jets fans

Today I learned that Toronto has it's own "Little Winnipeg" — all of it located entirely within one dimly-lit, 800-square-foot bar in Parkdale.

#WhiteOut conditions in Toronto! 🏒✈️ #Toronto #Winnipeg #GoJetsGo @nhljets

A post shared by Griffin S (@griffindominique) on

Motel on West Queen West has become a home base, of sorts, for Manitoban ex-pats living in The 6ix, mostly on account of its reputation for playing Winnipeg Jets games.

Owned by Winnipeg native Daniel Greaves (of Canadian rock band The Watchmen), Motel has become known as the place for local Jets fans in recent years — and you best believe the place is bumping now that their beloved team is in the Western Conference final.

The bar was actually lined up on Saturday, before noon, with people wearing Jets jerseys to view Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

And these aren't just fair-weather "I'll root for whatever Canadian hockey team is left" sports fans. Roger Petersen of City News reports that almost everyone in the bar for Game 2 last night had originally come from Manitoba.

Glad I wore my Canadian tuxedo for this Buff Sandwich #gojetsgo #WPGwhiteout

A post shared by Ma Dough (@ma_dough) on

"Another Jets game at my 'Hoser Hut'!" wrote a recent transplant on Instagram earlier this month, sharing a photo of herself watching a Jets game at Motel.

"A year ago today I made my big move. It's been hard to be so far and miss all the Winnipeg fun... but this move was/is the best decision I've made."

Heck, Jets fans in Toronto are tagging Motel as their location on Instagram even when they're nowhere near the bar itself.

The series between the Jets and Golden Knights is now tied at 1-1, which should make for some intense viewing on Wednesday night during Game 3.

Round 2 Game 1 #WPGWhiteout @motelparkdale #gojetsgo

A post shared by Michal Grajewski (@michalgrajewski) on

You can watch it live, surrounded by real Winnipeggers, at 1235 Queen Street West in Parkdale around 9 p.m. tomorrow — if you're able to get a seat, that is.

Lead photo by

Michelle Kiyomi


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Sports & Play

Toronto Maple Leafs rookie keeps crashing fan interviews

Ex-Raptors star Pascal Siakam surprises hundreds of Toronto students

You can now buy seats torn out in the Rogers Centre renovation in Toronto

You can now go roller skating for free at a Toronto transit station

Ex-Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse stuck in a nightmare situation

Toronto Blue Jays selling super-cheap tickets for less than $10 each

Toronto traffic forces NHL team to walk to game against Maple Leafs

Former Toronto Raptors star Fred VanVleet goes viral after altercation with refs