When the Winnipeg Jets made the NHL playoffs this year, four longtime friends from the Winkler, Manitoba area decided to take their Whiteout Street Party outfits to the next level – and MCC Thrift played a starring role.
In 2024, Arrian Dyck, Niklas Kiptschuk, Greg Ewert and Yojo Friesen showed up to the Jets’ Whiteout festivities in matching white painter suits. It was fun, but this year, they wanted to go bigger. They were after something bold and eye-catching.
The Whiteout Party is a beloved Winnipeg tradition, where thousands of fans flood downtown dressed head-to-toe in white to cheer on the Jets during the NHL playoffs. With massive outdoor viewing screens, live entertainment and an electric atmosphere, the Whiteout transforms the city into a sea of white and a celebration of community pride.
So, why not wear wedding dresses?
“It just made sense,” said Arrian Dyck with a laugh. “In Winkler, we’ve got lots of thrift shops. We needed something white and something people wouldn’t expect. Plus, wedding dresses are like five bucks at a thrift shop. So, we thought, might as well.”
Niklas Kiptschuk chimed in: “It was a good price for the amount of stardom we got!”
The idea was first pitched by Greg and Yojo, and everyone quickly jumped on board. With a shared history of growing up in Winkler, going to school together and playing on the same sports teams, the group had the kind of friendship that made pulling off this fun idea possible.
They hit the local thrift shops in search of the perfect gowns – lace, tulle, sequins, the works. Arrian found his dress at Winkler MCC Thrift shop and described the shopping experience as “actually a lot of fun, not going to lie.” Unsurprisingly, the sight of four young men shopping for wedding dresses turned a few heads.
“Lots of the moms and the ladies working there were loving it,” Arrian said. “Taking pictures and everything.”
The dresses needed some quick adjustments – shortening the skirts, adding strings and pins to get the fit right – but with teamwork and some creative problem solving, they were ready. And once the party began, their efforts paid off.
“Having a group of guys bring that energy and confidence, people were drawn to it.”
“The moment we walked in, it was electric. The energy just shifted,” Arrian said. “We spent a full hour just getting photos taken.”
Fans couldn’t get enough of the group. Local news networks approached them for interviews and the official Jets social media even reposted a photo of them.
When asked how it felt to wear a wedding dress, Arrian didn’t hesitate: “It felt natural.”
The two of them burst into laughter and echoed, “It felt good.” They admitted there was only one real challenge: porta potties. “Wedding dresses and porta potties? Not a good mix,” they joked.
What made the whole thing so special, though, wasn’t just the laughs. It was the sense of confidence and joy they brought to the crowd.
“No one had done that before at a Whiteout Party,” Arrian said. “Having a group of guys bring that energy and confidence, people were drawn to it. They found it funny.”
“They could feel the aura,” Niklas chimed in.
And the best part? They never felt self-conscious. “We were all in it together,” Niklas added.
When asked why thrifting came to mind for this wild idea, Arrian shrugged: “Oh, the pockets are not that heavy.” In other words, a playful way of saying that the price was right.
But there was more to it than just affordability. The boys agreed that thrifting at non-profits like MCC Thrift is great because you also know that your purchase is going towards a good cause.
Whether it’s for a theme party, a costume or an unexpected fashion moment, thrifting is a go-to for creative and budget-friendly looks. And when you shop at MCC Thrift, your dollars support relief, development and peace projects around the world.
As for next year?
“We’ve talked about how this is the peak level,” the guys laughed. “How do you go beyond wedding dresses?”
It’s hard to say – but if they do try to top it, we have a feeling MCC Thrift might be part of the story once again.