It's one of those things that comes across Twitter that you don't know whether to believe or not. It's not controversial it's not anything scandalous but it is something you don't really want to admit will happen, the end.
It appears that the fans at the MTS Centre and beyond have lost one of their own and one they can all relate to, that's Len Kroprioski otherwise known as Kroppy. It appears he passed away today at some point and we will no longer be graced by his presence at games.
This was his niece's post:
Why should we care, well This Article is a great place to start. It outlines why Kroppy was special and how his presence came to be something special to the Jets and the fans. Near the end of Oh Canada before the cameras had left the ice they found a veteran standing near the glass, his arm saluting and they focused in on him. His image was on the screens around the rink and a cheer was met when his image went up.
There's no shortage of connection between the professional sports and the military however in Winnipeg it's something more. Winnipeg is a military town. There is a base right in the heart of it and many throughout the province and the Jets, as well as the Blue Bombers football team, are direct name recognitions to this history. My own step-father came to Winnipeg to learn to fly as part of his military training in Gimli and my wife's grandfather also taught flying in Virden for the military.
The Jets unveiled their jerseys at Wing 17 in the summer of 2011 and you can see some one in full military uniform almost everyday here in Winnipeg. It's part of what we see, feel, know and experience on a daily basis. Military life and careers is part of the historical fabric in Winnipeg and Manitoba and it's easy to understand how one veteran, a fan like all of us, could also draw us in. He didn't have to sale, he didn't have to wear his medal or dress but he did and not for fanfare of respect. In fact it was simple patriotism, something Canadians are often far too polite to show, that seemed to catch on. It lit a bit of a fire and with the Jets being back there was a whole lot of pride that was going around.
Kroppy was ill, that we knew but to what extent was a bit of mystery. It's sad to think he won't be there as he was a tradition before 'true north' was belted out, before the chants and really before anything else since the Jets returned. It's too bad he won't get one last game but surely fans will not forget the man who stood with pride before 15,000 people and got them to pause and maybe think about something more during the anthem.
You'll be missed Kroppy.