Winnipeg Jets superfan Kroppy gets emotional welcome from fans
Len Kropioski, 97, back at MTS Centre after hospital stay
Kroppy got a standing ovation from Winnipeg Jets fans thrilled to see the 97-year-old superfan return to the MTS Centre Wednesday for the game against the Ottawa Senators.
Len Kropioski, a longtime fixture at Jets games, was back after being in a Kenora hospital since February.
He was clearly missed, with the Jets rolling out a special welcome for one of their most devoted fans.
Kroppy got a standing ovation from the stadium. Here's the moment:
Of all the moments in <a href="https://twitter.com/mtscentre">@mtscentre</a>, this is one of the best.<br><br>Relive the moment as Kroppy wins tonight's Fan vs Fan.<a href="https://t.co/6nqDbeSvNG">https://t.co/6nqDbeSvNG</a>
—@NHLJetsKroppy is a Second World War veteran.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/welcomebackkroppy?src=hash">#welcomebackkroppy</a> what a moment @ tonights game <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLJets">@NHLJets</a> & faithful welcoming back 97yr old WWII vet Kroppy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classy?src=hash">#classy</a> <a href="https://t.co/32L7XHsXfv">pic.twitter.com/32L7XHsXfv</a>
—@energy106fmHe's turning 98 this summer, and the fans can't get enough of him.
Classic. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tbt?src=hash">#tbt</a> to that time in 2014 I met <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kroppy?src=hash">#Kroppy</a> at a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jets?src=hash">#Jets</a> game. <a href="https://t.co/HEHPCJk181">pic.twitter.com/HEHPCJk181</a>
—@KimberGracie<a href="https://twitter.com/NHLJets">@NHLJets</a> Kroppy found some time to take a pic with a couple fans. <a href="https://t.co/TSvd2fjku0">pic.twitter.com/TSvd2fjku0</a>
—@tommyq19One of my favorite pics! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mtscentre?src=hash">#mtscentre</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kroppy?src=hash">#Kroppy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nhljets?src=hash">#nhljets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/winnipeg?src=hash">#winnipeg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nhl?src=hash">#nhl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/section316?src=hash">#section316</a> <a href="https://t.co/W9NyBje1U6">pic.twitter.com/W9NyBje1U6</a>
—@Windog0101<a href="https://twitter.com/RickRalphTSN">@RickRalphTSN</a> runner up for Kroppy is good .I would go sit with him for every game warm up that I attended. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/friends?src=hash">#friends</a> <a href="https://t.co/TBwM7ZYYG9">pic.twitter.com/TBwM7ZYYG9</a>
—@thesawch<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KROPPY?src=hash">#KROPPY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GOJETSGO?src=hash">#GOJETSGO</a> <a href="https://t.co/i15uuV4yYr">pic.twitter.com/i15uuV4yYr</a>
—@GoJetsGo80Kroppy became a Jets mainstay after he was regularly seen on the MTS Centre scoreboard screen. For Winnipeg Jets fans, he's become intimately connected with the team and the game.
Many reacted emotionally to his return.
True dedication to your team and community, truly an inspiration to all <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLJets">@NHLJets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kroppy?src=hash">#kroppy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kroppyforprez?src=hash">#kroppyforprez</a>
—@sergeantsoupyStill crying watching Kroppy's fan vs fan game highlight <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gojetsgo?src=hash">#gojetsgo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kroppy?src=hash">#Kroppy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classywpg?src=hash">#classywpg</a>
—@Coco_GibsonI ain't gonna lie. The Kroppy standing O's got me emotional. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jets?src=hash">#jets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLJets">@NHLJets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kroppy?src=hash">#Kroppy</a>
—@locodb05Kroppy, and many others wiping their eyes. That was awesome. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLJets?src=hash">#NHLJets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kroppy?src=hash">#Kroppy</a>
—@TroyWestwoodAnd in case there was any doubt how important Kroppy is to Winnipeg …
XD Kroppy beats Donald Trump as top trend in Manitoba. <a href="https://t.co/rh3c2KFn5K">pic.twitter.com/rh3c2KFn5K</a>
—@MauriceBear21