WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets have adopted a military look for their new logo.
The team unveiled a design Friday that shows a sleek fighter jet pointing north or a red Maple Leaf inside a blue and grey circle.
The logo is similar to that of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
"We felt it was important to authenticate the name Jets and we believe the new logo does that through its connection to our country's remarkable Air Force heritage," Jets co-owner Mark Chipman said in a written statement.
The team also unveiled secondary logos. One features military-style wings over two hokey sticks and a maple leaf, with the team name around it. The other has the team name in large stylized letters with a red maple leaf.
Reaction among fans was mixed.
"I know it's not the same (as the old Jets logo), but it's pretty sweet," one person wrote on Twitter.
"I don't really like the new Winnipeg Jets logo," wrote another. "Too military and CF-18s will soon be obsolete anyway."
The team said it will unveil its jerseys at a later date, but started selling some T-shirts, ball caps and other merchandise immediately. Fans were lined up outside MTS Centre Friday evening, waiting patiently to snap up some memorabilia.
The unveiling marked the end of a long guessing game for fans of the team formerly called the Atlanta Thrashers.
The franchise confirmed at last month's NHL draft that it would be using the Jets nickname. But the team did not show its hand on the logo, giving top draft pick Mark Scheifele of the Barrie Colts a generic NHL jersey.
The original Jets franchise moved to Phoenix to become the Coyotes after the 1996 season.
The old Jets logo had a stylized hockey stick as the "J" in Jets with a small plane to the side of the team name.
