WINNIPEG - They came, they cheered and they screamed "Go Jets go" as a 15-year separation between Winnipeg and NHL hockey was put on ice Tuesday night when the Jets made their return.

It was just an exhibition game against the Columbus Blue Jackets but the smallest arena in the league was packed with just over 15,000 jersey-wearing, ecstatic fans who screamed their lungs out at the MTS Centre.

They had lots to cheer. The first fight erupted less than a minute in and Winnipeg's first goal was scored by Paul Postma within the first eight minutes.

"It was heartbreaking to lose them and to get them back like this is extremely exciting," said Kevin Francis, who attended the game with his son John.

"I couldn't be happier," said Francis, one of many who lined up and arrived more than an hour early.

It was 1996 that saw the last incarnation of the Jets leave Winnipeg for Phoenix, where they were rechristened the Coyotes. The reborn Jets played in Atlanta last season as the Thrashers.

Last year there was speculation it would be the Coyotes who might return since, like Atlanta, Phoenix was in financial trouble. But about five months ago, True North Sports and Entertainment sealed a deal to bring the Thrashers to Winnipeg.

Since then it's been hectic as the former home of the AHL's Manitoba Moose was brought up to NHL standards, a team name was picked (Jets wasn't True North's first choice but they bowed to fan pressure) and season tickets quickly sold out.

When the online sale opened to the general public -- Moose ticket holders had first crack -- you didn't have time to drink a cup of coffee before all the tickets were gone.

"The city's gone crazy for them," said Francis, who couldn't get season tickets but was happy to get a couple to the emotional return Tuesday.

Even a Jets' practice on the weekend saw thousands of fans turn out to cheer and get autographs. Many said they knew it would be their only chance to see the team on the ice.

Dancing Gabe was one of the first through the doors Tuesday evening. The fixture at Jets' games in the old Winnipeg Arena threw up his hands and cheered when he walked through.

True North made sure he could get tickets to games.

It was a split-squad game with Columbus but many of the big names on the Jets stayed at home -- including team captain Andrew Ladd, defencemen Zach Bogosian and Dustin Byfuglien and promising draft pick Mark Scheifele, who scored Winnipeg's second goal.

Byfuglien has been making headlines off the ice as well.

He's facing four charges that includes boating while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and refusing to provide a blood or urine sample after his boat was stopped on Lake Minnetonka in his home state of Minnesota.

But he received a huge cheer when, along with Ladd, he was named for an assist on the first goal of the night.