The Winnipeg Warriors were a

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

hockey Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...

team that played in the

Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior h ...

from 1955 to 1961. Owned by Winnipeg's prominent Perrin family, the Warriors represented the return of professional hockey to Winnipeg after a 27-year absence.

History

In 1955, the Warriors Club was the first tenant in the brand-new

Winnipeg Arena Winnipeg Arena was an indoor arena located in the Polo Park district of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The arena was the city's premier ice hockey venue from 1955 to 2004 and is best remembered as the home of the first Winnipeg Jets franchise, whic ...

. The grand opening of Winnipeg Arena occurred on October 18, 1955, during the Warriors' WHL season opening game against the Calgary Stampeders (hockey) club. The ceremonial faceoff, conducted by

John Draper Perrin John Draper Perrin (August 26, 1890 – September 19, 1967) was a Canadian entrepreneur, mining executive and civic leader.Staff report (19 September 1967). J. D. Perrin dies at his home. ''Winnipeg Free Press''Edited by Greene, B. M. (1948). Perri ...

, Sr., President of the Warriors, occurred before a standing room crowd of 9,671 fans, the largest in WHL history. Captained by

Fred Shero Frederick Alexander Shero, nicknamed The Fog (October 23, 1925November 24, 1990) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager. He played for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). However, he spen ...

, the team also included

Bill Mosienko William Mosienko (November 2, 1921 – July 9, 1994) was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks. He is best noted for recording the fastest hat trick in ...

Eric Nesterenko Eric Paul Nesterenko (October 31, 1933 – June 4, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1951 until 1956 and for the Chicago Black Hawks from 1956 until ...

, Danny Summers,

Gary Aldcorn Gary William Aldcorn (born March 7, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played 226 games in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs between 1956 and 1961. Over his ...

, Cecil Hoekstra, Fred Burchell, Bill Burega, Barry Cullen, Mickey Keating,

Eddie Mazur Edward Joseph "Spider" Mazur (July 25, 1929 – July 3, 1995) was a Canadian ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Black Hawks between 1951 and 1956. The rest of his career, which las ...

and

Ed Chadwick Edwin Walter Chadwick (born May 8, 1933) is a Canadian retired ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins between 1955 and 1962. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1952 t ...

. The 1955–56 Warriors, managed by J. D. "Jack" Perrin, Jr. and coached by

Alf Pike Alfred George Pike (September 15, 1917 – March 1, 2009) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent six National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the New York Rangers between 1939 and 1947. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he was a prod ...

, went on to win the

Edinburgh Trophy The Edinburgh Trophy was a trophy given to the winners of a series played between the champions of the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Hockey League professional ice hockey leagues. It was contested in the years 1954 to 1957. Donation The trop ...

. After six seasons, due to financial issues relating to their long WHL traveling distances and uncompetitive rents levied by Winnipeg Enterprises, owners of

, Warriors owner Jack Perrin asked for a leave of absence from the WHL, which was granted. However, the Warriors never returned to the league. The 1956, Winnipeg Warriors were the President's Trophy (later known as the

Lester Patrick Cup The Lester Patrick Cup was the championship trophy of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1949 to 1974. Originally known as the Phil Henderson Cup and then in 1952 it was renamed to the President's Cup. The t ...

) and

champions. The team was also was inducted into the

Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame The Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum is a hall of fame and museum for ice hockey in Manitoba, located on the main level of the Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg. It was established in 1985, when the first honoured members were named an ...

in the team category and Jack Perrin was inducted in the Builder category. A number of the Warriors' players were also inducted over the years.

NHL Alumni

{{columns-list, colwidth=15em, *

Gary Bergman Gary Gunnar Bergman (October 7, 1938 – December 8, 2000) was a Canadians, Canadian professional ice hockey player. A Defenceman (ice hockey), defenceman, Bergman played in the National Hockey League, NHL, mostly for the Detroit Red Wings. He was ...

* Garry Blaine * Buddy Boone * Dick Bouchard * Gerry Brisson * Fred Burchell * Bill Burega *

* Real Chevrefils * Bob Chrystal * Barry Cullen *

Brian Cullen Brian Joseph Cullen (born November 11, 1933) is a Canadian retired ice hockey forward. Brian is the brother of the NHL hockey players Barry Cullen and Ray Cullen. Cullen began his National Hockey League career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in ...

Lorne Davis Lorne Austin Davis (July 20, 1930 – December 20, 2007) was a Canadian ice hockey player, and later a scout. He played for four teams in the National Hockey League between 1951 and 1960, with the rest of his career spent in the minor leagues. Aft ...

Kent Douglas ''For the American actor sometimes known as Kent Douglass see Douglass Montgomery.'' Kent Gemmell Douglas (February 6, 1936 – April 12, 2009) was a professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. Playing career Early career Douglas started his ca ...

Garry Edmundson Garry Frank "Duke" Edmundson (May 6, 1932 – September 20, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 43 games in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEve ...

Bill Folk William Joseph Folk (July 11, 1927 – April 21, 1976) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 12 games in the National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a profe ...

* Howie Glover *

Ted Green Edward Joseph "Terrible Ted" Green (March 23, 1940 – October 8, 2019) was a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and player. Green played defence in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins and in the World Hockey Association (W ...

Pat Hannigan Patrick Edward Hannigan (March 5, 1936 – December 11, 2007) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played five seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers b ...

* Cecil Hoekstra *

Howie Hughes Howard Duncan Hughes (born April 4, 1939) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played 168 games in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings from 1967 to 1970. Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Awards ...

Earl Ingarfield, Sr. Earl Thompson Ingarfield Sr. (born October 25, 1934) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for thirteen seasons from 1958–59 until 1970–71. Ingarfield played 746 career NHL games, scori ...

Gerry James Edwin Fitzgerald (Gerry) James (born October 22, 1934) is a former professional Canadian football running back and professional ice hockey player. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Toronto Ma ...

Bill Johansen William Odd Johansen (July 27, 1928 – March 21, 2001) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played in one NHL game for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1949–50 season, on November 26, 1949 against the Boston Bruins. Born in Oslo ...

Don Johns Donald Ernest Johns (December 13, 1937 – July 8, 2017) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 153 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Minnesota North Stars. He pla ...

* Al Johnson *

Eddie Johnston Edward Joseph Johnston (born November 24, 1935) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and former coach and general manager in the National Hockey League. His professional career spanned fifty-three years (twenty-two ...

Bill Juzda William Juzda (October 29, 1920 – February 17, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1940 and 1952 ...

Julian Klymkiw Julian Gregory Klymkiw (July 16, 1933 – August 10, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one National Hockey League game for the New York Rangers during the 1958–59 NHL season. Klymkiw was working as the De ...

Gord Labossiere Gordon William Labossiere (; born January 2, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 215 games in the National Hockey League between 1963 and 1971 and 301 games in the World Hockey Association between 1972 and 1976. C ...

Bob Leiter Robert Edward Leiter (born March 22, 1941) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, most notably for the Atlanta Flames of the National Hockey League. He spent ten seasons in the NHL and one season in the World Hockey Association betw ...

* Harry Lumley * Paul Masnick *

Gerry McNamara Gerry McNamara (born August 28, 1983) is a retired American basketball player and current assistant coach of the Syracuse University men's basketball team. A former guard for the Orange, he never missed a start in his career which lasted from ...

Nick Mickoski Nicholas Mickoski (December 7, 1927 – March 13, 2002) was a Canadian ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with four teams between 1948 and 1960. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1945 to 1965, was spent in variou ...

* Al Nicholson *

Mike Nykoluk Michael Andrew Nykoluk (December 11, 1934 – January 31, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 32 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1956–57. The rest of his playing ...

* Cliff Pennington * Jack Price *

Noel Price Garry Noel Price (born December 9, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with seven teams between 1957 to 1976. He also spent considerable time in the minor American Hockey League d ...

* Gord Redahl *

Al Rollins Elwin Ira Rollins (October 9, 1926 – July 27, 1996) was a professional Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played for the Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Playing career Before joining the NHL, Rollins played ...

Art Stratton Arthur Stratton (born October 8, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 95 games in the NHL for 5 separate teams. These included the New York Rangers (18 games), Detroit Red Wings (5 games), Chicago Black Hawks (2 ga ...

Tom Thurlby Thomas Newman Thurlby (born November 9, 1938) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who briefly played in the National Hockey League for the Oakland Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that c ...

Ernie Wakely Ernest Alfred Linton Wakely (born November 27, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Career Wakely was a goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues. He also played for ...

* Don Ward * Steve Witiuk

References

External links

Winnipeg Warriors alumni who Played in the NHL
a

Defunct ice hockey teams in Manitoba Ice hockey teams in Winnipeg Western Hockey League (1952–1974) teams