WINNIPEG - An online tally shows season ticket sales for Winnipeg's returning NHL team are already past the halfway point to the goal of 13,000.

True North Sports and Entertainment's ticket meter says 7,158 hockey ducats were snapped up as of 4:30 p.m. local time today.

Those sales, which started Wednesday, have all gone to fans who had season seats to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Sales to the general public start Saturday -- all online.

True North president Jim Ludlow says it might only take a day to sell the rest of the tickets needed.

True North bought the Atlanta Thrashers for around $170 million and is moving them to Winnipeg in time for next season.