YES, sadly it has begun. As we feared, when it comes to the hot-button issue of the NHL's possible return to our fair city, it appears that -- as in war -- the first casualty is the truth.

It's unfortunate, of course, but all too predictable. After all, we've seen this movie before, haven't we? So to those of us who still shudder at the confusion and misinformation that plagued the first Great Jets Debate in 1995, it shouldn't exactly be shocking to see history repeat itself this time around.

Still, it's disconcerting, if only because another generation of young hockey fans might be subjected to the similar inaccurate speculation and assumptions that only made the loss of the Jets even more of a bitter pill to swallow, if that's possible.

Yet as expected, it all began with deputy mayor Dan Vandal's ill-advised leak that he's received an inquiry from a "mystery" NHL team inquiring about the depth of interest the city has in adopting an existing franchise.

In fact, no sooner had the story gone public than a website designed with the noble aspiration of cultivating a grassroots movement to resurrect an NHL franchise here (JetsOwner.com) trumpeted: "It's Nashville!"

Yesterday, the same site breathlessly stated that, according to their sources, "the mystery inquirers are coming to pay Winnipeg a visit, tour our new facility and meet with True North brass." Meanwhile, a local newspaper yesterday quoted True North vice-president of marketing and communication, Jim Millican, as saying: "It's widely acknowledged that time is right now" for local interests to acquire a NHL team.

Now if you didn't know any better, you'd think that: a) the Predators were interested in moving lock, stock and barrel to Winnipeg; b) that Nashville officials are in town kicking the tires at True North as we speak and; c) Millican and Co. believe there has never been a better time to buy a NHL team than right now.

And you know what? That would be just super, except for one itsy-bitsy problem: Not a lick of it is true.

First, it's NOT the Predators who called. Second, no NHL team has contacted True North to date, much less made plans to tour the facility now under construction. And, third, what Millican claims to have told the newspaper was, "It's widely acknowledged that time ISN'T right now," in terms of acquiring a potential franchise.

Now lord knows we're not about to start throwing stones in a glass house here, because every media outlet speculates, and everybody makes honest mistakes. Still, see what we mean when it comes to Winnipeg and the infernal NHL debate?

See how quickly one nugget of misinformation gets mutated into another, combined with a healthy dose of speculation to evolve into an unfortunate (although admittedly quite appealing) bit of fiction? "It doesn't make any sense right now," Millican reiterated to the Free Press yesterday, when asked about the prospect of the arena group seriously entertaining inquiries from struggling NHL teams, rumoured or otherwise. "Obviously, we need to wait for the NHL's economic model to sort itself out. And that's way down the road.

"The economics don't work for the current NHL and it doesn't work here. That's the end of it."

You know, I often find it frustrating, frankly, that True North types, particularly Manitoba Moose owner Mark Chipman, are so reticent to become involved in the NHL debate, especially when it comes to possibly quelling rumours and speculation they know full well to be unfounded.

Yet for the most part they stubbornly refuse to budge.

"We're trying to keep a rational perspective on what's going on in the city," Millican reasoned. "It's irresponsible to be making any statements at all. We just don't have any comment.

"I can't see how it helps any cause," he added. "In my experience, serious business matters don't get played out in the newspaper."

And that's fair. But True North's silence, for better or worse, has the potential to only help create a vacuum that -- in the absence of their input -- inevitably leads to more speculation. That's just the nature of the beast.

Regrettably, however, the true victims in all this threaten to be the innocent and unsuspecting NHL fans -- especially those of a younger generation, untainted by the cynicism held by many veterans of Jets messy demise -- who so want to believe any scrap of news that will feed their hope.

You tell them that a NHL team is genuinely interested in relocating to Winnipeg NOW, you tell them that a team owner is soon to visit town to tour the arena VERY SOON, you tell them that True North officials are rolling out the welcome mat ANYTIME, and that is a tremendous public disservice at best. At worst, it's flat-out emotional fraud. To be clear, this isn't an argument against trying. This is a plea to keep the faith while not losing perspective.

So our suggestion when it comes to digesting any public reports of the NHL's possible return -- based on recent "information," at least -- is to proceed at your own peril.

Me? Well, I'm off to buy a Predators jersey. I hear they're going to be here by next week.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca