The St. James Canadians were a Canadian junior hockey team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League until 2003, folding officially in 2004. The Canadians played out of the St. James Civic Centre, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As the Winnipeg Braves, they won the 1959 Memorial Cup as National Junior Hockey champions.

History

Winnipeg Braves The Winnipeg Braves were founded in 1956 and affiliated with the Winnipeg Warriors (minor pro) of the Western Hockey League. The Braves played regular season games at Winnipeg's Olympic Rink and won 2 Turnbull Cup Championships as Manitoba Junior Champions (1959 and 1965).

The 1958-59, Braves won the Abbott Cup as Western Canadian Junior ‘A’ Champions, and were the last team from Winnipeg to win the Memorial Cup as National Champions. Under the leadership of manager Bill Addison and coach Bill Allum, the Braves defeated the Peterborough Petes coached by 25-year-old Scotty Bowman. In the championship series, the Petes won the first game 5-4, and the Braves came back to win four straight games 5-2, 5-2, 5-3 and 6-2. The final game of the series was played in Brandon, Manitoba due to the Shrine Circus appearing at Winnipeg Arena. The team included future NHL'ers Ted Green and Ernie Wakely.

Roster: Pat Angers, Don Atamanchuk, Al Baty, Gary Bergman, Ernie Bradawaski, Rene Brunel, Ted Green, Howie Hughes, Allan Ingimundson, Ken King, Ted Knight, Jerry Kruk, Laurie Langrell, Wayne Larkin, Al LeBlanc, Bob Leiter, Doug Monro, Zenon Moroz, Lew Mueller, John Rodger, Paul Sexsmith, John Sutherland, Bob Wales, Wayne Winstone, Ernie Wakely, J. D. (Jack) Perrin Jr. (President), Bill Addison (Manager), Bill Allum (Coach), Jim Drury (Trainer).

The Memorial Cup Championship team was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2003, and inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in the team category.

Prior to the 1966-67 season, the team moved to St. James and changed its name to the St. James Braves.

St. James Canadians During the summer of 1967, a community-minded sports group purchased the St. James Braves from Ben Hatskin. The team relocated to the brand new St. James Civic Centre, where they played as the St. James Canadians.

The Canadians won the Turnbull Cup three times (1968, 1996, 1997) throughout their 35 years in the MJHL. They played until the end of the 2002-03 season. The team took a one-year leave of absence from the MJHL in 2003-04 before ceasing operations .

St. James Canucks The St. James Junior Canucks joined the league in 1978-1979 to help complement the St. James Junior Canadians of the MJHL. The team moved to the Civic Centre and had a dressing room built on the home side of the rink and occupied that until the St. James Canadians folded and the Canucks, with the blessing of Diane Woods, president of the Canadians, took over the dressing room the Canucks call home today.

The Canucks have won the Art Moug Trophy (regular season winner) 4 times and the Jack McKenzie Trophy (playoff champion) 4 times.

Season-by-season record Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs1957-58 30 13 16 1 - 146 135 27 3rd MJHL1958-59 31 22 7 2 - 177 111 46 1st MJHL Won League, won AbC, won MC1959-60 31 16 14 1 - 141 126 33 3rd MJHL1960-61 32 18 14 0 - 145 117 36 3rd MJHL1961-62 40 9 23 8 - 110 177 26 5th MJHL1962-63 39 14 22 3 - 127 156 31 4th MJHL1963-64 30 11 16 3 - 92 120 25 5th MJHL1964-65 44 26 13 5 - 184 140 57 1st MJHL Won League1965-66 48 20 24 4 - 207 219 44 3rd MJHL1966-67 56 21 34 1 - 254 361 43 5th MJHL1967-68 39 16 21 2 - 155 165 34 4th MJHL Won League1968-69 34 16 14 4 - 142 146 36 5th MJHL1969-70 34 16 12 6 - 146 136 38 4th MJHL1970-71 48 21 22 5 - 170 184 47 5th MJHL1971-72 48 31 16 1 - 256 191 63 3rd MJHL1972-73 48 27 20 1 - 225 187 55 2nd MJHL1973-74 48 19 27 2 - 216 223 38 6th MJHL1974-75 48 29 19 0 - 281 238 58 3rd MJHL1975-76 52 29 22 1 - 259 227 59 3rd MJHL1976-77 51 21 30 0 - 239 249 44 7th MJHL1977-78 52 25 27 0 - 265 258 50 7th MJHL1978-79 48 30 18 0 - 273 219 60 1st MJHL1979-80 47 28 18 1 - 236 191 57 4th MJHL1980-81 47 38 8 1 - 353 210 77 2nd MJHL1981-82 48 26 20 2 - 305 261 54 5th MJHL1982-83 48 12 34 2 - 221 301 26 7th MJHL1983-84 48 11 37 0 - 201 312 22 7th MJHL1984-85 48 29 18 1 - 266 224 59 2nd MJHL1985-86 48 29 18 1 - 276 221 59 4th MJHL1986-87 47 23 22 2 - 226 230 48 7th MJHL1987-88 48 21 25 2 - 223 215 44 6th MJHL1988-89 48 10 35 3 - 186 305 23 8th MJHL1989-90 52 24 28 0 - 253 275 48 7th MJHL1990-91 48 25 20 3 - 267 249 53 4th MJHL1991-92 48 30 16 1 1 242 207 62 3rd MJHL1992-93 48 25 20 2 1 241 233 53 4th MJHL1993-94 55 32 19 3 1 -- -- 68 2nd MJHL1994-95 54 21 27 2 4 199 221 48 7th MJHL1995-96 56 34 21 1 0 266 194 69 4th MJHL Won League1996-97 55 31 22 0 2 226 183 64 4th MJHL Won League1997-98 62 29 30 2 1 254 247 61 5th MJHL1998-99 62 35 25 1 1 262 229 72 4th MJHL1999-00 64 38 23 - 3 285 243 79 3rd MJHL2000-01 64 26 31 - 7 224 240 59 10th MJHL2001-02 64 33 25 - 6 228 200 72 6th MJHL2002-03 63 6 56 - 1 166 405 13 11th MJHL2003-04 Did Not Participate St James Canucks 2004 - 2022 seasons not entered2022-23 45 40 4 - 1 270 175 81 1st of 10Won quarterfinal, 4-1 (RielsWon semifinals, 4-1 (Railer Express)Won League Finals, 4-0 (Victorias)MMJHL CHAMPIONS2023-24 45 37 7 - 1 220 110 75 1st of 10Won quarterfinal, 4-0 (Railer Express)Won Div Semifinal, 4-0 (Hawks)Won League Finals 4-1 (Twisters)MMJHL CHAMPIONS2024-25 45 23 19 2 1 184 175 49 6th of 10Lost quarterfinal, 2-4 (Railer Express)2025-26 45 23 19 2 1 184 175 49 6th of 10Won quarterfinal, 4-2 (Hawks)Lost Div Semifinal, 1-4 (Riels)

Playoffs 1971 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg Monarchs 4-games-to-2 St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none 1972 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg Monarchs 4-games-to-2 West Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1973 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated West Kildonan North Stars 9-points-to-7 St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none 1974 Lost quarter-final St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2 1975 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-none West Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2 1976 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-1 West Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-3 1977 Lost quarter-final Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1978 Lost quarter-final Kenora Thistles defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1979 Lost quarter-final St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1980 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated Fort Garry Blues 4-games-to-2 Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2 1981 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated Fort Garry Blues 4-games-to-1 St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1982 Lost quarter-final St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2 1983 Lost quarter-final Fort Garry Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none 1984 Lost quarter-final Fort Garry Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1985 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated Thunder Bay Hornets 4-games-to-2 Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1986 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-3 Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none 1987 Lost quarter-final Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none 1988 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-1 Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2 1989 Lost quarter-final Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1990 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-3 1991 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-3 Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1992 Lost final, Hosted and Eliminated in 1992 Centennial Cup round robin St. James Canadians defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-1 St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none Winkler Flyers defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 Fifth and eliminated in 1992 Centennial Cup round robin (1-3) 1993 Lost quarter-final Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2 1994 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated Southeast Blades 4-games-to-1 St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1995 Lost quarter-final Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2 1996 Won League, lost Anavet Cup St. James Canadians defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-3 St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none St. James Canadians defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-3 MJHL CHAMPIONS Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none 1997 Won League, lost Anavet Cup St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1 St. James Canadians defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-none St. James Canadians defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1998 Lost final St. James Canadians defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-2 St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues Winkler Flyers defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1 1999 Lost quarter-final St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2 2000 Lost quarter-final Winkler Flyers defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-3 2001 DNQ 2002 Lost semi-final St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-3 Winkler Flyers defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none 2003 DNQ

Notable alumni

League championships Jack Mackenzie Trophy (playoffs) 1997-98, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24,

Art Moug Trophy (regular season) 1971-72, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1985–86, 2013–14

References

External links 1959 Winnipeg Braves at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame