WINNIPEG OLYMPICS

The story of the Winnipeg Olympics cannot be told without first tracing the early roots of women’s hockey in Manitoba—a history that began decades earlier on frozen rivers and outdoor rinks. By the 1910s, women across the province were skating and playing informal games, often using borrowed gear or improvised sticks. These contests were community-driven and treated as novelty entertainment rather than legitimate sport, receiving only passing mention in local newspapers.

By the 1920s, however, women’s hockey in Winnipeg began to take shape. Schools, churches, and businesses organized teams, creating regular competition and cultivating local enthusiasm. Department-store teams, such as the Winnipeg Eatons—named for the T. Eaton Company—helped bring attention to the women’s game by attracting fans and media coverage to the newly-formed Winnipeg Ladies Senior Hockey League (WLSHL). Soon the Winnipeg Royals and Winnipeg Rangers joined the league, sparking rivalries that filled city arenas. Though still amateur and underfunded, these teams helped to shift public attitudes toward women’s sport.

The Winnipeg Olympics joined the WLSHL in 1933, and quickly became the dominant force in Western Canada. From 1934 to 1939, the Olympics captured multiple regional titles and represented the West in national championship play, where they would battle the famed Preston Rivulettes of Ontario—the most celebrated women’s hockey team of the era.

The rivalry between Winnipeg and Preston symbolized the national growth of women’s hockey and the pride of regional competition. Their 1937 Dominion championship series in Galt, Ontario, drew 2,500 spectators—a remarkable crowd for the time. Forward Maureen Gault scored the nervous Olympics lone goal in a 3-1 loss in the opener, with goaltender Margaret Hoban winning praise for her fearless play. The Olympics collected themselves and Hoban was spectacular in a gritty Game Two, 0-0 tie.

The Olympics returned in 1938 and 1939 for rematches against Preston, battling to narrow losses and hard-fought ties that showcased their defensive discipline and offensive depth, including strong performances from Gault, Beth Jamieson, Mae Lumsden, and Winnie Fullerton. Their repeated challenges elevated the stature of Western women’s hockey and demonstrated that Manitoba could produce players on par with the best in the country.

The outbreak of World War II in 1939 brought an abrupt end to the Dominion championships, as many players and officials turned their focus to the war effort.

The Winnipeg Olympics’ reign as Western champions with three national finals appearances marks their legacy in establishing women’s hockey in Canada. Players like Gault, Topp, Hoban, and Fullerton helped redefine what was possible for women in sport, inspiring future generations.

Roster: Pauline Sween, M. James, Emily Pearce, Maureen Gault, Winnie Fullerton, Margaret Topp, Beth Jamieson, Dolores Miller, Edith Jacques, Bertha Clarke, Marguerite Hoban, Dora Gault, Margaret Lumsden, Yvette Lambert, May Manson, M. Mozel, Ann Shibicky
Coaches; Sam McCallum, Charles Topp