You know that feeling when you're driving down Route 90, the sun is dipping low, and the pre-game montage starts hitting your speakers? It’s a specific kind of Winnipeg magic. Listening to the Winnipeg Jets on radio isn't just about catching the score; it’s about that shared pulse of a city that lives and breathes hockey.
Honestly, finding the game shouldn't be hard, but with the way digital rights and broadcast signals shift, it’s easy to get lost in the static.
Where the Signal Actually Lives: Power 97 and CJOB
For years, the voice of the Jets has been synonymous with 680 CJOB. That’s the heritage station. It’s where you go for the deep-dive post-game shows and the morning-after post-mortems that either praise the power play or tear into the defensive pairings. But things evolved. Now, when you want the actual live play-by-play for the Winnipeg Jets on radio, you’re often flipping over to Power 97 (CJKR-FM).
It’s a bit of a strategic move by Corus Entertainment. They’ve split the duties. Power 97 handles the high-energy, live-action broadcast, while CJOB remains the king of the "everything else." This means if you're stuck in your car, you're tuning into 97.1 FM.
Why the move? Well, FM just sounds better. Hockey is a game of sounds—the crisp thud of a puck hitting the boards, the sharp whistle, the roar of the Whiteout at Canada Life Centre. You want that in high fidelity.
Paul Edmonds and Jamie Thomas are the names you need to know. Edmonds has been a staple in the Winnipeg sports scene for decades. He brings a rhythmic, steady pace to the call. He doesn't just tell you the puck is in the corner; he tells you how much pressure is on the defenseman's stick. Jamie Thomas provides that analytical bridge. It’s a partnership that works because it doesn't feel like a corporate broadcast. It feels like two guys who actually care if the Jets make the playoffs.
The Digital Workaround: When You Aren't in Winnipeg
Let’s say you’re a displaced Manitoban living in Calgary or, heaven forbid, Toronto. You still want that hometown feed. You don’t want the national broadcast; you want the guys who know why Josh Morrissey is the most underrated defenseman in the league.
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You can’t always catch a terrestrial signal once you hit the Ontario border.
The easiest way to get the Winnipeg Jets on radio stream is through the Global News / 680 CJOB website or the official NHL app. But here is the kicker: blackout rules occasionally apply to video, but radio is usually much more forgiving. You can also use the TuneIn Radio app, though sometimes the "live" sports feeds get locked behind a premium wall.
- Official Jets App: This is usually the cleanest interface.
- Power 97 Website: Look for the "Listen Live" button in the top right.
- The Radio Player Canada App: A great "one-stop shop" for Canadian stations that doesn't track you as aggressively as some other platforms.
One thing people often overlook is the delay. If you’re trying to sync the radio call with a TV broadcast because you can’t stand the national announcers, you’re going to have a bad time. The radio is almost always "ahead" of the digital TV stream by about 5 to 30 seconds. It’s a frustrating gap. There are apps like "Audio Delay" for PC that allow you to buffer the radio feed so it matches the TV, but that’s some high-level nerdery most people won't bother with.
Why Radio Still Beats the TV Broadcast
There's a grit to radio.
When you watch on TV, your eyes do half the work. On the radio, the play-by-play guy has to be your eyes. If they miss a beat, you’re lost. But when it’s done right—like the way the Jets broadcast team handles a 5-on-3 penalty kill—it’s more intense than the visual. You’re forced to visualize the geometry of the ice.
Also, the radio guys can be a bit more "homer-ish." We like that. We want someone who gets frustrated when a blatant slashing call is missed. We want someone who loses their mind when Kyle Connor snipes one top-shelf in overtime. The national broadcasts on Sportsnet have to stay neutral. The Winnipeg Jets on radio feed doesn't have that burden. It’s for us.
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The Pre-Game and Post-Game Ritual
If you aren't listening to the pre-game show on CJOB, you're only getting half the story.
The "Jets at Noon" show and the various segments leading up to puck drop provide the context. Is Mark Scheifele playing through a nagging injury? Is Hellebuyck getting a rest tonight in favor of the backup? This is where the beat reporters like Ken Wiebe or Mike McIntyre often show up to give the actual "locker room" vibe.
The post-game show is a different beast entirely. It’s the city’s collective therapy session. After a tough loss to Vegas or Colorado, the phone lines light up. You’ll hear from "Glen from Transcona" who thinks they should trade everyone, and "Sarah from River Heights" who thinks they just need more time to gel. It’s entertaining, raw, and quintessentially Winnipeg.
Tech Specs and Signal Strength
If you’re actually using a physical radio—which, let’s be honest, is becoming a rare and beautiful thing—signal strength matters. 680 CJOB has a massive footprint. You can often hear it halfway across the prairies at night because of the way AM signals bounce off the ionosphere.
Power 97 is FM. It’s clearer, but it’s line-of-sight. If you drive too far toward Kenora or Brandon, it’s going to start crackling.
- AM 680: Best for long-distance highway driving.
- FM 97.1: Best for city driving and high-quality home setups.
- Satellite Radio: SiriusXM usually carries the Jets feed on their dedicated NHL channels (often in the 200s). This is the best option if you're crossing provincial lines.
How to Get the Best Experience
Don't just listen through your phone's tinny speakers. If you’re at home, cast it to a decent Bluetooth speaker.
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If you're at the game—yes, people still bring radios to the arena—be aware of the "stadium delay." Most modern digital radios have a slight processing lag. If you want the "instant" call while sitting in the 300 level, you need an old-school analog transistor radio. There’s something incredibly cool about seeing an old-timer at the Canada Life Centre with one earbud in, listening to the call while watching the play develop in front of him. He knows the stats before the scoreboard even updates.
What to Do Next
If you want to stay on top of the broadcast schedule, the first thing you should do is bookmark the Jets official "Broadcast Schedule" page. It fluctuates.
Next, download the Power 97 app. It’s the most reliable way to get the Winnipeg Jets on radio without worrying about finding a physical frequency.
Lastly, if you're a real fan, start tuning in 30 minutes before puck drop. The tactical breakdown of the opposing team's power play is usually spot on and will give you a much better understanding of what to watch for during the game.
Stop relying on Twitter (X) for your updates. The radio gives you the narrative, not just the data points. Whether it's a Tuesday night game against Arizona or a Saturday night showdown with the Leafs, the radio broadcast remains the heartbeat of the Jets' fan experience.
Turn it up. Keep it on. Go Jets Go.
Actionable Insights for Jets Fans:
- Primary Frequency: Set your car presets to 97.1 FM (Power 97) for live play-by-play and 680 AM (CJOB) for talk and analysis.
- Digital Streaming: Use the Global News website stream rather than third-party aggregators to avoid excessive ad-rolls.
- Out-of-Market: If you're outside Manitoba, the NHL app's "Listen" feature is the most stable way to bypass regional blocks.
- Syncing Audio: If watching on TV, use a PC with a browser-based radio stream and a "Global Speed" extension to pause the audio for a few seconds to match the TV lag.
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