Mark Chipman
Encyclopedia
Mark Chipman is the principal owner and chairman of the Winnipeg Jets
of the National Hockey League
. He is also chairman of True North Sports & Entertainment
, which operates the Jets and their home arena, the MTS Centre
.
A Winnipeg native, Chipman was an honor student at the University of North Dakota
, graduating with a degree in economics. He later obtained a law degree from the same institution. After working as a lawyer in Florida, he returned to his hometown in 1988 and joined Birchwood Automotive Group
, a group of Winnipeg car dealerships founded by his father. Since 2001, he has been president of Birchwood's parent company, the Megill-Stephenson Company.
In 1996, Chipman led a group that bought the International Hockey League's Minnesota Moose
and moved them to Winnipeg as the Manitoba Moose
. Chipman became team president, and shepherded the franchise's move to the American Hockey League
in 2001. Also in 2001, Chipman formed True North Sports & Entertainment as the Moose's parent company. He also spearheaded the construction of the MTS Centre, which opened in 2004 as the Moose's home arena.
His real goal, however, was to bring the NHL back to Winnipeg in order to fill the void left by the original Jets team's departure in 1996. As early as 2009, Chipman and True North were reported to be in talks to buy the troubled Atlanta Thrashers
and move them to Winnipeg. In May 2011, Chipman and True North announced they would be buying the Thrashers and moving them to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 NHL season, to play in the MTS Centre. At the 2011 NHL Draft held in St. Paul, Minnesota; Chipman revealed the franchise's new name just before making its first-round pick. He turned the mike over to general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff
, "who will make our first pick ... on behalf of the Winnipeg Jets." The Moose were moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
as the St. John's IceCaps
, and became the Jets' top farm team.
Chipman also serves on the board of the Hockey Canada Foundation. He is married to Patti; they have three daughters.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He is also chairman of True North Sports & Entertainment
True North Sports & Entertainment
True North Sports and Entertainment Limited is a Winnipeg, Manitoba based company that owns and operates the MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. The company also owns the Jets' minor league affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey...
, which operates the Jets and their home arena, the MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
.
A Winnipeg native, Chipman was an honor student at the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, graduating with a degree in economics. He later obtained a law degree from the same institution. After working as a lawyer in Florida, he returned to his hometown in 1988 and joined Birchwood Automotive Group
Birchwood Automotive Group
The Birchwood Automotive Group, headquartered in the Pointe West AutoPark in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is Manitoba's largest automotive dealership group....
, a group of Winnipeg car dealerships founded by his father. Since 2001, he has been president of Birchwood's parent company, the Megill-Stephenson Company.
In 1996, Chipman led a group that bought the International Hockey League's Minnesota Moose
Minnesota Moose
The Minnesota Moose was an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. They played in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, at the Saint Paul Civic Center. The team also played some home games at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Moose were a representative of professional hockey in Minnesota at...
and moved them to Winnipeg as the Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
. Chipman became team president, and shepherded the franchise's move to the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
in 2001. Also in 2001, Chipman formed True North Sports & Entertainment as the Moose's parent company. He also spearheaded the construction of the MTS Centre, which opened in 2004 as the Moose's home arena.
His real goal, however, was to bring the NHL back to Winnipeg in order to fill the void left by the original Jets team's departure in 1996. As early as 2009, Chipman and True North were reported to be in talks to buy the troubled Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
and move them to Winnipeg. In May 2011, Chipman and True North announced they would be buying the Thrashers and moving them to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 NHL season, to play in the MTS Centre. At the 2011 NHL Draft held in St. Paul, Minnesota; Chipman revealed the franchise's new name just before making its first-round pick. He turned the mike over to general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff
Kevin Cheveldayoff
Kevin Cheveldayoff is a former professional ice hockey defenceman and currently the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, "who will make our first pick ... on behalf of the Winnipeg Jets." The Moose were moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
as the St. John's IceCaps
St. John's IceCaps
The St. John's IceCaps are a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League and are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .From...
, and became the Jets' top farm team.
Chipman also serves on the board of the Hockey Canada Foundation. He is married to Patti; they have three daughters.