Portfolio: Players
HELGE BOSTROM
Helge Bostrom was born in Winnipeg in 1894. A late bloomer by professional standards, Bostrom would not debut in the NHL until age 36, but his path reflects the challenges faced by players in hockey’s early days. Before turning professional, Bostrom played in patriotic military leagues in Winnipeg and served overseas in the First World...
RON MATTHEWS
Ron Matthews, was the kind of defenseman every team wants anchoring its blue line—reliable, and productive. Over a career that spanned nearly two decades, Matthews became one of the most durable and respected players in minor professional hockey, particularly in the Pacific Coast and Western Hockey Leagues (PCHL/WHL). With 947 games played, he ranks ninth...
AL MILLAR
The nickname ‘Suitcase’ is common in sport for well-travelled players. Franklin Allan (Al) Millar earned his right to the name with a 20-year hockey career with 21 different teams. Millar grew up playing minor hockey in Winnipeg, joining the Winnipeg Canadians of the MJHL at the age of 18 where he went 10-4-2 with a...
HARRY BUECKERT
Growing up around Gretna and Altona, Manitoba, Harry Bueckert’s hockey skills, especially his ability to put the puck in the net, would catch the eye of GM Dennis Ball of the MJHL Winnipeg Rangers. Joining the Rangers in the 1959/60 regular season, the Rangers would finish fourth and battle their way to the 1960 MJHL...
HAL WINKLER
Born on March 20, 1894 in the little village of Gretna, Manitoba, Harold Lang Winkler and his family would make the move to Winnipeg when he was 15. Known as 'Hal', he would first establish himself in the local college ranks before helping the Selkirk Intermediates win the 1913 Manitoba Intermediate title. After five seasons...
RUSS ROMANIUK
Growing up in Transcona, Russ Romaniuk was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in baseball, football, golf and hockey. His goal-scoring touch in hockey put him on the roster of the MJHL St. Boniface Saints in 1987. Rookie-of-the-Year and league all-star honours from a 46-goal season would earn Romaniuk a scholarship with the WCHA University of North...
BRAD MAXWELL
Brandon's Brad Maxwell grew up around the hockey rinks of his father Ron's playing and coaching career. He quickly took to the game developing into an exceptional puck-moving defender. His talents brought him to the attention of legendary coach Ernie "Punch" Maclean of the Western Hockey League New Westminster Bruins. Playing with the Bruins from...
SHANE HNIDY
Neepawa's Shane Hnidy graduated from the Yellowhead Chiefs Midget hockey program to a brief stop with Neepawa Natives of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League before catching the attention of the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League as a 15-year-old. The Broncos would switch the rugged Hnidy to defense where he quickly established himself...
LAURIE LANGRELL
After winning a title with his hometown Warren Bantams, Laurie Langrell made the move to play with Winnipeg's West End Orioles hoping to play the best hockey he could find. The tall and athletic Langrell started out as a defenceman with a knack for putting the puck in the net. This was in an era...
DUVIE WESTCOTT
Winnipeg's Duvie Westcott has enjoyed success at every level of hockey that he has played. Shortly after winning a Winnipeg High School championship with St. Paul's Collegiate, he was called up to the MMJHL Charleswood Hawks in time to be part of another title. He would leverage his excellent play with the MJHL Winnipeg South...
BERNIE MORRIS
Bernie Morris was born in Brandon, Manitoba, in 1890, a year after his parents immigrated from Ireland. Orphaned at the age of 8 along with two brothers, he dropped out of school after the eighth grade to work on his uncle's farm. He played for several senior teams in Manitoba and Saskatchewan before joining...
DAVE HRECHKOSY
Dave 'Wrecker' Hrechkosy was a proud Winnipeger who never forgot his North End roots. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Hrechkosy, learned the game of hockey on the windy rinks of Northwood Community Club. Advancing to the MJHL with the West Kildonan North Stars in 1969/70, he would make the jump the following year to the WCHL's...
JASON BOTTERILL
Born in Edmonton, Jason Botterill moved with his family to Winnipeg at the age of 4. Along with his Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame member sister, Jennifer, the Botterill house was always busy with sports. After a successful minor hockey career in Fort Garry and a 1991 Purolator Challenge Cup Western Canada Bantam title, Jason...
MARK MACKAY
Mark Mackay, was born in Brandon, Manitoba. After moving to Winnipeg at the age of 5 he would start playing for Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame member Ralph Borger's St. Boniface Saints organization at the age of 10, playing on 5 Provincial championship teams. After one season of junior with the MJHL Saints, Mackay...
BRAD CHARTRAND
Brad Chartrand started playing hockey at the age of 7 at Heritage Victoria in St. James where he would play at the AAA level winning championships with St. James Canadians and Winnipeg Hawks organizations. As a member of the Manitoba team Bronze medal team at the 1991 Canada Winter Games, he was selected as Team...
SAMI JO SMALL
Convinced that girls couldn't play hockey, Sami Jo Small started her hockey career on the outdoor rinks of Winnipeg competing in the boys minor system. Stepping into goal at the AAA level in St. Vital, she found a mentor in Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame member, Suzie Yuen. It was while watching Suzie and the...
BARRY LEGGE
There are few forwards that can lay claim to having scored on the legendary Vladislav Tretiak, let alone defenceman, but Winnipeg-born Barry Legge accomplished that feat in a 1978 match while playing with Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA. Raised in St. James, Barry Legge excelled in the St. James minor hockey organization eventually graduating to...
JOHNNY SHEPARD
Joseph John Oswald "Jake" Sheppard - Born July 23, 1902 in Montreal, Quebec. After their parents died in a tragic apartment fire, the young Sheppard and his brother Frank were sent to live with family in Selkirk, MB. After three years with the Selkirk Fishermen Juniors of the MJHL that included a run at the...
TERRY YAKE
Born in New Westminster, BC Terry Yake and his family move to tiny Mather, Manitoba when he was seven years old. While ice time was limited in BC, he had all he could handle on the prairies. After three years with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League, Yake was drafted by the...
TREVOR KIDD
Growing up in Oakbank, Manitoba Trevor Kidd joined the Eastman Selects in the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League in 1987/88. After the season was over, he tried out for a provincial team but ended up getting cut. Brandon Wheat Kings coach Doug Sauter however, liked what he saw and invited him to their Western Hockey...
MARTY MURRAY
Somehow spotted in the little town of Lyleton, MB (population; 28) Marty Murray was placed on the WHL Spokane Chiefs player list when he was 13 years old. After netting 46 goals and 93 points in just 36 games in Midget play with the Manitoba Southwest Cougars his dream of joining the Chiefs seemed the...
SUSANA YUEN
Susie Yuen took up skating when she was eight years old. Like many young girls at the time, girls hockey was not an option, so ringette was the popular winter team sport to sign up for. While attending classes at the University of Manitoba in the Eighties, Susie was encouraged to join the Women's hockey...
LARRY BOLONCHUK
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Larry Bolonchuk grew up in the St. James area enjoying success as a multi-sport athlete. Playing his hockey out of Deer Lodge, he would graduate directly from the Midget ranks to earn a spot on the roster of his hometown Winnipeg Jets of the WCJHL. Bolonchuk was a dependable fixture on...
BOB FITCHNER
After two seasons with the WCJHL Wheaties, Fitchner was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1970 NHL draft. After stops in the Central, International, American and Southern Hockey Leagues between 1970 and 1973, Fitchner was signed by the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA for the 1973/74 season. Taken by Indianapolis in the 1974 WHA...
Lew Morrison
Saskatchewan-born Morrison grew up in Hartney, MB and won consecutive Bantam hockey championships in 1960 and 1961 and a Provincial Juvenile title in 1966. Joining the 1966/67 Flin Flon Bombers, he teamed up with Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach to win the Manitoba Junior Hockey League title and reach the Memorial Cup semi-finals. He was...
Pat Falloon
Born in Foxwarren, this right winger had a record-setting 47 goals with Yellowhead Chiefs in AAA Midget hockey in 1988-89. Joining Spokane Chiefs of the WHL, Falloon had back-to-back 60-goal seasons. In 1991, Falloon won gold with the Canadian World Junior team then returned to the Chiefs to win the 1991 Memorial Cup where he...
Ross Parke
Born in Winnipeg, Ross Parke played in the Winnipeg Monarchs system making it to the 1951 Memorial Cup. An MJHL all-star in1951/52, Parke turned down an offer to turn pro with Detroit Red Wings to attend Michigan State on an NCAA scholarship where he was the Spartans top scorer for three consecutive years. After graduation...
Barney Holden
Holden was one of the first Winnipeg-born professional players when he ventured to Michigan and joined the infamously rough International Hockey League in 1904. The IHL was the first professional hockey league, and Holden helped Portage Lake win three consecutive championships. Holden has the distinction of scoring the first goal in the first game of...
Murray Bannerman
Ontario-born, St. James-raised goaltender Bannerman started junior hockey at age 14 with St. James Canadians of the MJHL. He was Vancouver Canucks' 4th round pick of the NHL Amateur Draft in 1977, and played for their IHL affiliate Fort Wayne Comets. Traded to Chicago, Bannerman played two years in the minors before being called up...
Jennifer Botterill
DOB - May 1, 1979 Ottawa-born, Winnipeg-raised Botterill was the youngest member of Canada's first women's Olympic hockey team at the 1998 Nagano Games, winning silver. Playing on Canadia's National team until 2011, Botterill played in eight World Championships, winning five gold and three silver medals, and was named MVP twice. Botterill won three consecutive...
