Winnipeg Victorias

The Victoria Hockey Club, and the first rink they played in, took their name from the then-reigning monarch of Canada, Queen Victoria. From 1889 until 1892, the Victorias played exhibitions and played against other Winnipeg teams. The Victorias played in the first match in Western Canada between organized hockey clubs on December 20, 1890, against the Winnipeg Hockey Club at the Street Railway Rink in Winnipeg. The players were:

Source: {{cite news |work=The Globe |date=December 28, 1910 |page=11 |title=In the Early Days}}

The Victorias helped to found the Manitoba Hockey Association in 1893. In February 1893, players from the 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.{{sfn|Simpson|1989|p=176}}

Tour schedule

• February 9 vs. Toronto Victorias at Toronto, Ontario (W 8–2){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Hockey: Winnipegers Win in Toronto |date=February 10, 1893|page=8}}
• February 10 vs. Toronto Osgoode Hall at Toronto (W 11–5){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipeg Defeats Osgoode Hall |date=February 11, 1893|page=8}}
• February 11 vs. Queen's College at Kingston, Ontario (W 4–3){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipeg Defeats Queen's |date=February 13, 1893|page=2}}
• February 13 vs. Ottawa Hockey Club at Ottawa, Ontario (L 1–4){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Ottawa Defeats Winnipeg |date=February 14, 1893|page=8}}
• February 15 vs. Montreal Hockey Club at Montreal, Quebec (L 4–7){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipegers Play Well |date=February 16, 1893|page=8}}
• February 17 vs. Peterborough at Peterborough, Ontario (W 9–3){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipeg Defeats Peterboro |date=February 18, 1893|page=8}}
• February 20 vs. Toronto Granites at Toronto (W 11–3){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipegs and Granites |date=February 21, 1893|page=8}}
• February 21 vs. London at London, Ontario (W 7–1){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipeg Defeats London |date=February 22, 1893|page=8}}
• February 22 vs. Niagara Falls at Niagara Falls, Ontario (W 10–4){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipeg Defeats Niagara Falls |date=February 23, 1893|page=8}}
• February 23 vs. Hamilton Thistles at Hamilton, Ontario (cancelled){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipeg Backed Out |date=February 24, 1893|page=8}}
• February 24 vs. Combined Ontario/Osgoode Hall at Toronto (L 3–4){{cite news|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Winnipeg Defeated |date=February 25, 1893|page=8}}

Source: Montreal Gazette{{cite news |newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|title=Tour of the Winnipeg Team|date=February 6, 1893|page=6}}

The Victorias first won the Stanley Cup in 1896, defeated the Montreal Victorias in a single-game challenge 2–0 on February 14, 1896, in Montreal. In the rematch, Winnipeg lost to Montreal in a single-game challenge 5–6 on December 30, 1896, in Winnipeg.

In 1898, the team moved to the new Winnipeg Auditorium, built to hold 2000 spectators for hockey. In February 1899, the Victorias would lose a two-game total goals series 5–3 against Montreal. In their next chance, the Victorias defeated Montreal Shamrocks in a two-game, total goals series 4–3, 2–1 (6–4) on January 29 and 31, 1901 in Montreal. The Victorias held the trophy, winning the Manitoba championship, and successfully defended the Stanley Cup against the Toronto Wellingtons in a two-game, total goals series 5–3, 5–3 (10–6) on January 21 and 23, 1902 in Winnipeg at the Auditorium. The Victorias run as champion ended in a loss to Montreal Hockey Club in a best two-of-three 1–0, 0–5 and 1–2 on March 13, 15 and 17, 1902 in Winnipeg.

The Victorias subsequently operated teams at the senior ice hockey and intermediate levels. The Victorias won the intermediate league during the 1904–05 season, with Claude C. Robinson as the captain.{{cite news|title=Local Hockey Year is Almost Over|date=March 27, 1905|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=9|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-27-1905-3398025/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=Four College Clubs Again|date=December 22, 1904|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=16|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-22-1904-3398000/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=Vics In Annual Session|date=November 10, 1905|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=8|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-10-1905-3398048/}}{{free access}} After 1906, the Victorias no longer challenged for the Stanley Cup, and remained an amateur team, playing in the Manitoba Association.{{cite news|title=Hockey League Meets|date=November 12, 1906|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-12-1906-3384300/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=A Split Is Impending|date=November 12, 1906|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-12-1906-3388062/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=Pass Up Stanley Cup|date=December 11, 1906|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-11-1906-3398128/}}{{free access}} Robinson coached the Victorias to a Manitoba Hockey League senior championship for the 1908–09 season, and felt that his team could have competed for the newly established Allan Cup,{{cite news|title=Annual of Victorias|date=November 13, 1909|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=9|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-13-1909-3399792/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Annual of Victorias (Continued)|date=November 13, 1909|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=21|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-13-1909-3399788/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=On the Sunbeam|last=Cottrell|first=Alf|date=November 17, 1942|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107576709/robinson-1942/}}{{free access}} although challenges from senior teams were accepted only from Eastern Canada at the time.

Allan Cup trustees accepted the challenge from Robinson and the Victorias, to play the Toronto St. Michael's Majors for the trophy, in Winnipeg from February 20–25, 1911.{{cite news|title=Victorias are Promised Early Dates by Trustees|date=February 9, 1911|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=11|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-09-1911-3399932/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=Allan Cup Trustees View Favourably Vics' Request|date=February 6, 1911|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=1|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-06-1911-3399909/}}{{free access}} When the Majors refused to play by the deadline given, trustees awarded the 1911 Allan Cup to the Victorias by default.{{cite news|title=Allan Cup Series Between Victoria and Kenoras Will Likely be Played Next Week|date=February 17, 1911|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-17-1911-3355326/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=Trustees Award Allan Cup to Victorias; Kenora May Play for Trophy Next Week|date=February 14, 1911|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-14-1911-3399937/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Allan Cup Trustees Award Trophy to Winnipeg Victorias|date=February 14, 1911|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=15|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-14-1911-3399936/}}{{free access}} The Winnipeg Tribune wrote that the Majors had refused since the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) executive wanted the games to be played in March, and that the OHA initially refused to surrender the trophy despite instructions from the trustees.{{cite news|title=Trustees Deny Calgary Right to Play for Allan Cup Owing to Some Men Being Ineligible|date=March 3, 1911|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=7|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-03-1911-3399950/}}{{free access}}

File:1911 Allan Cup champions Winnipeg Victorias.jpg

Robinson was asked by Allan Cup trustee William Northey, to schedule dates and referees to defend a challenge by the Kenora Thistles. The Victorias defeated Kenora by a combined score of 16–10 in a two-game series.{{cite web|url=http://www.allancup.ca/allancuparchivescores.htm#10's|title=Allan Cup Archives|date=September 25, 2010|website=Allan Cup|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515065832/http://www.allancup.ca/allancuparchivescores.htm#10's |access-date=October 22, 2022|archive-date=2011-05-15 }} The series profited approximately {{Currency|1500|CAD}}, which were donated by cup trustees to charities in Winnipeg chosen by Robinson.{{cite news|title=Allan Cup Games Net Big Sum for Winnipeg Charities|date=March 16, 1911|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=3|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-16-1911-3399998/}}{{free access}} No further Allan Cup challenges were arranged for the season, despite proposals to play the Calgary Athletic Club{{cite news|title=Trustees Order Victorias To Defend Allan Cup|date=March 11, 1911|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=33|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-11-1911-3384350/}}{{free access}} and the Ottawa New Edinburghs.

The Victorias won the 1911–12 Manitoba Hockey League regular season, then defended the Allan Cup in three challenges.{{cite news|title=Weekly Whirligig|last=Shields|first=Clem|date=November 30, 1935|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=27|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-30-1935-3356282/}}{{free access}} Robinson's team defeated the Calgary Athletic Club by 11–0 and 8–6 scores in a two-game series, defeated Toronto Eaton's by 8–4 and 16–1 scores in a two-game series, and the Regina Capitals by a 9–3 score in a one-game challenge. In 1942, Robinson described the victory versus Toronto Eaton's as redemption for winning the trophy by default from the OHA.

Image:Winnipeg-Victorias-1901.jpg

The 1896 and 1901 Stanley Cup champions, and the 1911{{cite web|url=http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/teams/winnipeg-victorias-1911/|title=1910/11 Winnipeg Victorias|website=Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=December 24, 2022}} and 1912 Allan Cup{{cite web|url=http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/teams/winnipeg-victorias-1912/|title=1911/12 Winnipeg Victorias|website=Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=December 24, 2022}} champions Winnipeg Victorias are inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in the team category.{{cite web|url=http://honouredmembers.sportmanitoba.ca/inductee.php?id=305&criteria_name=victorias&criteria_sport=&criteria_keywords=&criteria_induction=&criteria_sort=name|title=1911 & 1912 Winnipeg Victorias|year=2004|website=Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=December 24, 2022}}

• Dan Bain
• Herb Gardiner
• Jack Marshall
• Claude C. Robinson{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/HonouredMembers/MemberDetails.html?type=Player&mem=B194706&list=|title=Claude Robinson|year=2022|website=Legends of Hockey|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=January 25, 2022}}
• Fred Scanlan
• Bullet Joe Simpson

• Percy Galbraith
• Herb Gardiner
• George McNaughton
• Charley McVeigh
• Joe Simpson
• Art Somers

Awarded February 14, 1896

George Merritt (goal), Rod Flett (point), Fred Higginbotham (cover point), Charles Johnstone (cover point), Dan Bain (center), Jack Armytage (rover - Captain), Colin "Tote" Campbell (left wing), Tom "Attie" Howard (right wing), Bobby R. Benson (spare-left-right wing), Jack Sheppard (goal-played 1 regular season game), E.B. Nixon (President), Able Code (Vice President/Manager), J. Carter (Mascot/Trainer).

After this 2–0 win over the similarly named Montreal Victorias, the very first Stanley Cup parade was held in Winnipeg on Main Street celebrating this victory.

File:Winnipeg Auditorium circa 1900.jpg

Awarded January 31, 1901

Art Brown (goal), Rod Flett (point), Jack Marshall (point), Magnus Flett (cover point), Burke Wood (rover), Dan Bain (center - Captain), Fred Cadham (center), Charles Johnstone (left wing), Tony Gingras (right wing), George A. Carruthers (right wing), Jack Armytage (President), Mark Hooper (Trainer), Ted Robinson (Secretary-treasurer), Walter Pratt (Director).

Awarded January 23, 1902

Art Brown (goal), Dan Bain (center - Captain), Fred Cadham (Center), Rod Flett (point), Magnus Flett (cover point), Tony Gingras (right wing), Charles Johnstone (left wing/rover), Fred Scanlan (left wing), Burke Wood (rover), Jack Armytage (President), Mark Hooper (Trainer), Ted Robinson (Secretary-treasurer), Walter Pratt (Director).

{{wikisource|Hockey: Canada's Royal Winter Game/The Victoria Hockey Club of Winnipeg}}

{{commons category|Winnipeg Victorias}}

• List of Stanley Cup champions
• List of ice hockey teams in Manitoba

{{reflist}}

;General

• Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books, 12, 50. {{ISBN|1-55168-261-3}}.
• {{cite encyclopedia |title=A Concise History of Sport In Canada |contribution=Hockey |last=Simpson |first=Wayne |editor-first=Don |editor-last=Morrow |year=1989 |isbn=0-19-540693-1 |publisher=Oxford University Press Canada |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/concisehistoryof0000unse }}

• [http://quebecbulldogs.com/2010/06/17/bien-avant-la-m-h-quebec-3-winnipeg-2/ Games of the 1895 Quebec-Winnipeg series]
• [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/champions.html?category=17&id=295 1896 Winnipeg Victorias] at [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/index.html Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]
• [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/champions.html?category=17&id=296 1901 Winnipeg Victorias] at [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/index.html Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]
• [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/champions.html?category=22&id=305 1911 Winnipeg Victorias] at [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/index.html Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]
• [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/champions.html?category=22&id=306 1912 Winnipeg Victorias] at [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/index.html Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]

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Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Manitoba

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