Winnipeg Falcons

The Winnipeg Falcons was a hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Winnipeg Falcons hockey team was founded in 1911 with a roster of entirely Icelandic players who were not able to play on the other Winnipeg teams due to racial prejudice. In their first season, 1911-1912, they finished at the bottom of their league. The next year, Konnie Johannesson and Frank Frederickson joined the team. That team turned out to be a winner in the league. [ http://www.winnipegfalcons.com ]

In the 1919-1920 season, the Winnipeg Falcons won the Allan Cup. They went on to play in the first modern Olympics in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. There the Falcons, soundly beating all their opponents, won the first Olympic Gold Medal in Hockey for Canada. [ http://www.winnipegfalcons.com ]

Early History

Its early roots can be traced back to the Icelandic Athletic Club which was formed in 1898. [ Long Shot, How the Winnipeg Falcons won the first Olympic hockey gold, Eric Zweig, p.21, James Lorimer and Company, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 1-55028-974-8 ] The club consisted of a two team league called the Icelandic Athletic Club (IAC) and the Vikings. In 1908, the two teams agreed to become one team. [ Long Shot, How the Winnipeg Falcons won the first Olympic hockey gold, Eric Zweig, p.18, James Lorimer and Company, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 1-55028-974-8 ]

During the 1910-11 season, the Falcons became part of a new senior league. Other clubs in the league would include the Kenora Thistles, Brandon Wheat City and Winnipeg AAA. [ Long Shot, How the Winnipeg Falcons won the first Olympic hockey gold, Eric Zweig, p.20, James Lorimer and Company, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 1-55028-974-8 ] In 1913-14, the Falcons became part of the Independent Hockey League, joining the Strathconas from Winnipeg, and teams from Selkirk, and Portage La Prairie. [ Long Shot, How the Winnipeg Falcons won the first Olympic hockey gold, Eric Zweig, p.21, James Lorimer and Company, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 1-55028-974-8 ] The Falcons finished the season with 4 wins and 8 losses. During the following season, the Falcons beat Portage by a score of 4-3 to become league champions. [ Long Shot, How the Winnipeg Falcons won the first Olympic hockey gold, Eric Zweig, p.28, James Lorimer and Company, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 1-55028-974-8 ]

Road to the Allan Cup

In the 1919-1920 season, the Falcons won the Allan Cup. The Falcons were part of the Manitoba Hockey League with Brandon Wheat City and the Selkirk Fishermen. The first place team of the Manitoba Hockey League would play the champion of the Winnipeg Hockey League for the opportunity to represent Western Canada in the Allan Cup playoffs. The Falcons beat the Fishermen 5-3 to claim the Manitoba Hockey League championship. [ Long Shot, How the Winnipeg Falcons won the first Olympic hockey gold, Eric Zweig, p.64, James Lorimer and Company, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 1-55028-974-8 ] Frank Fredrickson won the Manitoba Hockey League scoring title with 23 goals in 10 games. [ Long Shot, How the Winnipeg Falcons won the first Olympic hockey gold, Eric Zweig, p.65, James Lorimer and Company, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 1-55028-974-8 ] Wally Byron led the league with 2 shutouts and had a 2.57 goals against average. Bobby Benson led the league with 26 penalties in minutes.

The team went on to play in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. It was there that the team won the first Olympic Gold Medal in ice hockey. Although an official part of the Summer Olympic Games, hockey and figure skating events were held in late April and early May, while the weather was still cool enough for suitable ice conditions in the arena.

Falcons Olympic Roster

* Hebbie Axford D.F.C.(Club President)
* Bill Fridfinnson (Secretary)
* Bill Hewitt (Canadian Olympic representative)
* Gordon Sigurjonsson (Coach, Trainer)

;Players
* Robert Benson (Left defence)
* Walter Byron (Goal)
* Frank Fredrickson (Captain, center)
* Chris Fridfinnson (Rover)
* Magnus Goodman (Left wing)
* Haldor Halderson (Right wing)
* Konrad Johannesson (Right defence)
* Allan Woodman (Substitute)

There were five other players who contributed to the Falcons 1919-20 season, but they were not part of the Olympic roster. These players were Harvey Benson, Ed Stephenson, Connie Neil, Babs Dunlop and Sam Laxdal.

The 1920 Winnipeg Falcons were inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in the team category.

NHL Alumni

*Bobby Benson *Mud Bruneteau

*Art Chapman *Frank Fredrickson

*Harold Halderson *John Morrison

*Art Somers *Cully Wilson

Winnipeg Junior Falcons

*Doug Baldwin

*Al Carr

*Phil Hergesheimer

*Art Somers

Post Olympics

The first member of the squad to pass away was Chris Fridfinnson. He died at the age of 40 in 1938. The last surviving member was Mike Goodman. He was 93 years old when he died in 1991. [ Long Shot, How the Winnipeg Falcons won the first Olympic hockey gold, Eric Zweig, p.105, James Lorimer and Company, Toronto, Canada, 2007, ISBN 1-55028-974-8 ]

The team may be honoured at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071223/winnipeg_falcons_071223/20071223?hub=Canada]

For more information about the team go to http://www.winnipegfalcons.com

References

External links

* [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/champions.html?category=18&id=297 1920 Winnipeg Falcons] at [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/index.html Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]