Manitoba
Manitoba is one of Canada's 10 provinces, with a population of 1,278,365. It was officially recognized by the Federal Government in 1870 as separate from the Northwest Territories, and became the first Province created from the Territories. It is the eastern most of the three Prairie Provinces. The word "Manitoba" is etymologically related to the native word "manitou" which means spirit. Manitoba, in the Red River area, contained the first western colony and settlement area of Canada.
History of hockey in Manitoba
Patrick Anderson McDonald was the father of organized hockey in Manitoba and according to the Manitoba Free Press he was "credited with having brought the first hockey stick to Manitoba." The first hockey match in the province was slated to be played in Winnipeg on November 17, 1886, between the Bankers and the All-Comers. The Bankers won the game, and a return match was slated for the next day, with no winner reported. A third game was played between the two sides on February 24, 1887, resulting in a 3-1 All-Comers win. All-Comers roster: J. R. Waghorn, J. M. Boswell, F. W. Heubach, F. H. Morice, J. Galt, P. A. MacDonald, A. Holloway. Bankers roster: F. H. Matheson, G. H. Balfour, F. L. Patton, A. E. Cameron, J. Kay, W. A. Cameron, E. W. H. Armstrong.
A hockey club was formed in Winnipeg in early 1890. A game was slated to be played on "street-car ice" on March 22. The following players were set to compete: F. Asne, W. Turner, F. Beckett, C. Denison, R. Girdlestone, C.D. Drayson, A. Howard, J.R. Waghorn, B.E. Chaffey, H. Beckett, W. Thompson, H.D. Tullock. Article from the January 31, 1890 Manitoba Daily Free Press:
"INTRODUCING HOCKEY
The Montreal and Quebec Popular Winter Sport being Played Here.
A number of Winnipegs finest young men are going about at present with beautifully variegated countenances. Were it in the summer time everyone would assume that they had been playing our gentle national game; but it being the winter season, some may imagine that a wave of pugilism has passed over the city lending to numerous John L. Sullivan encounters. To demonstrate how erroneous this impression would be it is only necessary to remark that a Hockey club has been formed in town. Its members play every afternoon at Mr. Austin's open air skating rink and the ambulances wait outside for the victims. This is the first attempt to introduce into this city a game which in Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa is quite as popular in winter as lacrosse in summer. Indeed it much resembles the latter game, and in the east the players for both games are mainly the same set of men, but being played on skates it is necessarily a much faster game than lacrosse. It remains to be seen whether the game will flourish here. The severity of the climate really demands for such arduous exercise a covered rink. Still the young men who are at present playing industriously on these fine afternoons on Mr. Austin's open air rink find the sport very enjoyable."
In early November of 1890 the Victoria Hockey Club of Winnipeg was organized, and latter that month the Winnipeg Hockey Club was created. On Saturday afternoon, December 20, the first game was played, with the Victorias defeating the Winnipegs four to one at the Street Railway Rink in Winnipeg. The Winnipegs got their revenge blanking the Victorias 1-0 in the second game, on March 10. Frank Beckett scored the game’s only goal. A tie breaking game was soon scheduled, but by game day, March 28th, the ice was gone.
The Manitoba Hockey League was played for the first time in 1891-92. The Victorias, Winnipegs and Fort Osborne Rifles participated. Both the Victorias and the Winnipegs iced a junior team for the 1891-92 season. The junior teams were commonly know as the second seven. These two teams played four games against each other, with each winning two.
The Manitoba Hockey Association was formed on November 11, 1892 to organize ice hockey play in Manitoba. In February 1893, players from the Winnipeg Victorias joined players from the Winnipeg Dragoons and the Winnipeg Hockey Club on a tour of Eastern Canada to demonstrate the quality of ice hockey in Western Canada. The team won seven and lost three games on their tour.
The dedication of the Stanley Cup in 1893 as the symbol of world hockey supremacy led to the establishment of a competition to determine the best team in the sport. Winnipeg Victorias issued a challenge to the reigning champion Montreal Victorias and on February 14, 1896, the two teams met in Montreal in the first truly national championship match.
Over 2,000 spectators watched as Winnipeg gained the early advantage on a goal by team captain Jack Armytage and the Montrealers were shocked when C.J. Campbell gave the visitors a 2-0 lead prior to the end of the first half. In the second half, the Winnipeggers played a more defensive game and faced growing pressure from the Montreal squad. An exceptional effort by goaltender George “Whitey” Merritt, who was the first backstop to wear leg protection in the form of cricket pads, led the Winnipeg team to a stunning 2-0 triumph and brought the trophy westward for the first time.
Winnipeggers, who received the first ever play-by-play accounts via CPR Telegraph, were elated by the victory and celebrations lasted until the team’s return on February 24. Following a parade on Main Street, thousands of citizens greeted the team in a mass display of civic pride.
The Victorias also won the Stanley Cup in 1901 and 1902. The Winnipeg and District Junior Hockey League was established for the 1917-18 season. It became the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 1933. The first intermediate championship was played in 1919.
Overview
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League, regional and national championships
| Championship | Times won | Description |
| Stanley Cup | 3 | Canadian amateur champion |
| Avco World Trophy | 3 | World Hockey Association champion |
| Lester Patrick Cup | 2 | Western Hockey League (minor pro) champion |
| President's Cup | 5 | Western Hockey League champion |
| Memorial Cup | 9 | Canadian Major-Junior national champion |
| Allan Cup | 12 | Canadian senior national champion |
| Anavet Cup | 15† | Manitoba/Saskatchewan Junior "A" regional championship |
| Royal Bank Cup | 3 | Canadian Junior "A" national champion |
| Keystone Cup | 2 | Western Canada Junior "B" champion |
| University Cup | 1 | CIS national men's university champion |
| Telus Cup | 2 | Canadian men's Midget 'AAA' champion |
| Esso Cup | 2 | Canadian women's Midget 'AAA' champion |
†Includes win by the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
References
- Manitoba Daily Free Press
- Winnipeg Tribune
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