Winnipeg Braves

The Winnipeg Braves were a Canadian Junior Hockey Team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, affiliated with the Winnipeg Warriors (minor pro) of the Western Hockey League (minor pro). The Braves entered the MJHL in 1957 and played regular season games at Winnipeg's Olympic Rink. The Winnipeg Braves won 2 Turnbull Cup Championships as Manitoba Junior Champions, 1959 & 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, 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.

For the 1966-67 season the team changed it's name to the St. James Braves.

During the summer of 1967, community-minded sports group purchased the St. James Braves from Ben Hatskin, ending the Braves franchise.

NHL Alumni

*Gary Bergman *Ted Green

*Bill Heindl Jr. *Howie Hughes

*Ted Irvine *Bob Leiter

*Wayne Stephenson *Ernie Wakely

External links

* [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/champions.html?category=25&id=336 1959 Winnipeg Braves] at [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/index.html Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]