The Winnipeg Blues are a Manitoba Junior Hockey League team based in Oak Bluff, a suburban area of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The team was founded in 1930 as the Winnipeg Monarchs and also formerly known as the Fort Garry Blues (1978-1984) and Winnipeg South Blues (1984-2010).

Winnipeg Blues
CityWinnipeg, Manitoba
LeagueManitoba Junior Hockey League
DivisionEast
Founded1930
Home arenahockey for all centre
ColoursBlack, Blue, Gold, White
       
Owner(s)50 Below Sports + Entertainment
General managerAlex Mandolidis
Head coachAlex Mandolidis
MediaWinnipeg Sun
Winnipeg Free Press
Franchise history
1930–1976Winnipeg Monarchs
1976–1977Assiniboine Park Monarchs
1977–1978Winnipeg Monarchs
1978–1984Fort Garry Blues
1984–2010Winnipeg South Blues
2010-presentWinnipeg Blues

The Blues/Monarchs hockey club has won 17 Turnbull Cups as MJHL champions, two ANAVET Cups, and six Abbott Cups. The Monarchs were also three-time Memorial Cup champions before the reorganization of Canadian junior hockey in 1970. The 1995 Winnipeg South Blues have been inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame under the team category.

History

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Winnipeg Monarchs (1930–1978)

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The Winnipeg Monarchs won the Memorial Cup as Canadian junior hockey champions three times: in 1935, 1937 and 1946. In 1946, George Robertson scored the winning goal in the seventh game of the 1946 Memorial Cup Final before a sell out crowd at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The Monarchs were also finalists in 1932, losing to Sudbury Wolves in the final, and 1951, losing to the Barrie Flyers.

In addition to the three Memorial Cup titles, the Monarchs won ten Turnbull Cups as MJHL champions and five Abbott Cups as Western Canadian junior hockey champions.

Winnipeg Blues (1978–present)

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The Monarchs were sold and relocated to the Century Arena in Fort Garry in 1978 and adopted a new name, the Fort Garry Blues. The team rebranded itself as the Winnipeg South Blues in 1984. The Blues captured six league championships while playing out of Fort Garry.

The Blues moved into the new MTS Iceplex in 2010 and shortened their name to the Winnipeg Blues.[1] The team won its 17th Turnbull Cup in 2014 and made their only Western Canada Cup appearance that year.

In April 2019, the MJHL Board of Governors approved the sale of the team to 50 Below Sports + Entertainment Inc, owners of the Western Hockey League's Winnipeg Ice. The Blues relocated to The Rink Training Centre in the Rural Municipality of Macdonald for the 2019–20 season.[2] The Blues returned to the Iceplex, now called the hockey for all centre, in 2023.

The Blues were the sole Junior "A" club based in the Winnipeg area after the Winnipeg Saints relocated to Virden in 2012. They were joined by the Winnipeg Freeze, also owned by 50 Below Sports + Entertainment Inc, for the 2020–21 season.[3]

List of championships

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Championship Monarchs Blues
Turnbull Cup 1932, 1935, 1937, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1995, 2006, 2014
ANAVET Cup 1986, 1995
Abbott Cup 1932, 1935, 1937, 1946, 1951 1995
Memorial Cup 1935, 1937, 1946

Season-by-season record

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Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
1930-31 9 7 2 0 - 29 15 14 1st MJHL
1931-32 12 11 0 1 - 31 14 23 1st WinJHL Won League, won AbC
1932-33 10 2 8 0 - 18 34 4 3rd MJHL-S
1933-34 14 1 12 1 - -- -- 3 9th MJHL
1934-35 13 9 3 1 - 65 33 29 3rd MJHL Won League, won AbC, won MC
1935-36 15 6 8 1 - 56 47 13 6th MJHL
1936-37 16 12 2 2 - 74 32 26 2nd MJHL Won League, won AbC, won MC
1937-38 23 13 6 4 - 70 55 30 3rd MJHL
1938-39 22 13 6 3 - 105 81 29 3rd MJHL
1939-40 24 16 6 2 - 108 68 34 1st MJHL
1940-41 12 3 9 0 - 52 89 6 6th MJHL
1941-42 18 8 10 0 - 92 127 16 6th MJHL
1942-43 13 7 5 1 - 65 72 15 4th MJHL
1943-44 10 10 0 0 - 58 26 18 1st MJHL
1944-45 8 8 0 0 - 72 13 16 1st MJHL Won League
1945-46 10 8 1 1 - 59 28 17 1st MJHL Won League, AbC, won MC
1946-47 15 12 3 0 - 94 54 24 2nd MJHL
1947-48 23 11 10 2 - 123 103 24 3rd MJHL Won League
1948-49 30 11 19 0 - 132 150 22 3rd MJHL
1949-50 36 16 20 0 - 142 148 32 2nd MJHL
1950-51 36 26 9 1 - 208 128 53 2nd MJHL Won League, won AbC
1951-52 36 26 10 0 - 155 111 52 1st MJHL Won League
1952-53 36 16 19 1 - 132 152 33 3rd MJHL
1953-54 36 13 23 0 - 147 172 26 4th MJHL
1954-55 32 20 10 2 - 173 141 42 1st MJHL Won League
1955-56 24 16 6 2 - 153 108 34 1st MJHL
1956-57 29 17 8 4 - 175 146 38 2nd MJHL Won League
1957-58 30 18 11 1 - 167 127 37 1st MJHL
1958-59 30 5 25 0 - 89 176 10 5th MJHL
1959-60 32 5 27 0 - 90 221 10 5th MJHL
1960-61 32 6 25 1 - 107 205 13 5th MJHL
1961-62 40 20 16 4 - 143 138 44 2nd MJHL
1962-63 39 15 21 3 - 141 177 33 3rd MJHL
1963-64 30 13 15 2 - 112 124 28 4th MJHL
1964-65 45 19 21 5 - 159 165 43 3rd MJHL
1965-66 48 20 24 4 - 198 197 44 4th MJHL
1966-67 57 21 34 2 - 235 316 46 4th MJHL
1967-68 36 20 13 3 - 200 157 43 1st MJHL
1968-69 34 17 12 5 - 145 157 39 3rd MJHL
1969-70 34 17 12 5 - 136 120 39 3rd MJHL
1970-71 48 16 24 8 - 210 221 40 7th MJHL
1971-72 48 9 38 1 - 163 284 19 8th MJHL
1972-73 48 23 25 0 - 261 254 46 5th MJHL
1973-74 47 14 33 0 - 180 251 28 8th MJHL
1974-75 48 19 29 0 - 244 286 38 7th MJHL
1975-76 52 27 24 1 - 253 255 55 6th MJHL
1976-77 51 21 30 0 - 204 242 44 8th MJHL
1977-78 52 12 38 2 - 194 323 26 9th MJHL
1978-79 44 10 32 2 - 175 281 22 9th MJHL
1979-80 47 29 18 0 - 270 220 58 3rd MJHL
1980-81 48 22 25 1 - 228 235 45 4th MJHL
1981-82 48 38 9 1 - 310 167 77 1st MJHL Won League
1982-83 48 31 16 1 - 255 199 63 3rd MJHL
1983-84 48 33 15 0 - 242 176 66 3rd MJHL
1984-85 48 37 10 1 - 292 174 75 1st MJHL
1985-86 48 36 12 0 - 312 157 72 2nd MJHL Won League, won AC
1986-87 48 27 20 1 - 318 232 55 4th MJHL
1987-88 48 32 16 0 - 253 192 64 2nd MJHL Won League
1988-89 48 34 8 6 - 286 178 74 1st MJHL Won League
1989-90 52 36 16 0 - 348 202 72 2nd MJHL
1990-91 48 30 17 1 - 246 212 61 3rd MJHL
1991-92 48 17 29 0 2 219 246 36 7th MJHL
1992-93 48 19 25 3 1 207 234 42 8th MJHL
1993-94 55 33 21 1 0 -- -- 67 3rd MJHL
1994-95 55 24 26 3 2 207 230 53 5th MJHL Won League, won AC, won AbC
1995-96 56 21 28 4 3 246 267 49 8th MJHL
1996-97 55 19 31 2 3 234 275 43 8th MJHL
1997-98 62 30 30 2 0 247 259 62 4th MJHL
1998-99 62 27 33 2 0 223 289 56 6th MJHL
1999-00 64 38 20 - 6 281 239 82 2nd MJHL
2000-01 64 29 27 - 8 221 252 66 7th MJHL
2001-02 64 31 28 - 5 237 246 67 7th MJHL
2002-03 64 30 29 - 5 234 277 65 8th MJHL
2003-04 64 25 31 - 8 252 248 58 8th MJHL
2004-05 63 32 23 - 8 251 217 72 4th MJHL
2005-06 63 39 20 - 4 245 198 82 3rd MJHL Won League
2006-07 63 40 16 - 7 251 171 87 3rd MJHL
2007-08 62 38 17 - 7 260 228 83 4th MJHL
2008-09 62 20 42 - 0 195 313 40 10th MJHL
2009-10 62 27 27 - 8 211 242 62 8th MJHL Lost quarter-final
2010-11 62 18 32 - 12 215 292 48 10th MJHL DNQ
2011-12 62 38 19 - 5 252 204 81 3rd MJHL Lost semi-final
2012-13 60 45 14 - 1 269 165 91 2nd MJHL Lost semi-final
2013-14 60 31 23 - 6 199 175 68 6th MJHL Won League
2014-15 60 38 15 - 7 231 181 83 3rd MJHL Lost semi-final
2015-16 60 32 18 - 10 212 174 74 5th MJHL Lost semi-final
2016-17 60 27 27 - 6 193 202 60 6th MJHL Lost quarter-final
2017-18 60 31 22 - 7 215 220 69 6th MJHL Lost semi-final
2018-19 60 31 22 - 7 195 182 69 6th MJHL Lost quarter-final
2019-20 60 24 29 - 7 197 126 55 8th MJHL Lost quarter-final
2020-21 6 5 0 - 1 30 10 11 2nd MJHL cancelled
2021-22 54 29 22 - 3 174 173 61 6th MJHL Lost quarter-final
2022-23 58 17 33 - 8 170 262 42 12th MJHL DNQ

Playoffs

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  • 1971 Lost quarter-final
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg Monarchs 4-games-to-2
  • 1972 Lost quarter-final
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg Monarchs 4-games-to-2
  • 1973 DNQ
  • 1974 DNQ
  • 1975 DNQ
  • 1976 Lost quarter-final
West Kildonan North Stars defeated Assiniboine Park Monarchs 4-games-to-1
  • 1977 DNQ
  • 1978 DNQ
  • 1979 DNQ
  • 1980 Lost quarter-final
St. James Canadians defeated Fort Garry Blues 4-games-to-2
  • 1981 Lost quarter-final
St. James Canadians defeated Fort Garry Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 1982 Won League, won Turnbull Cup, lost Anavet Cup
Fort Garry Blues defeated Kenora Thistles 4-games-to-none
Fort Garry Blues defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-none
Fort Garry Blues defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
Fort Garry Blues defeated Flin Flon Bombers (NJHL) 3-games-to-none TURNBULL CUP CHAMPIONS
Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) defeated Fort Garry Blues 4-games-to-2
  • 1983 Lost semi-final
Fort Garry Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none
St. Boniface Saints defeated Fort Garry Blues 4-games-to-2
  • 1984 Lost semi-final
Fort Garry Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1
Kildonan North Stars defeated Fort Garry Blues 4-games-to-2
  • 1985 Lost final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Kildonan North Stars 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1
Selkirk Steelers defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Thunder Bay Hornets 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) 4-games-to-3 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
Penticton Knights (BCJHL) defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 1987 Lost final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-none
Selkirk Steelers defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-3
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Kildonan North Stars 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Kildonan North Stars 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 1990 Lost quarter-final
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none
  • 1991 Lost final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Neepawa Natives 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1
Winkler Flyers defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none
  • 1992 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-2
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none
  • 1993 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-2
St. Boniface Saints defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 1994 Lost quarter-final
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-3
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians 4-games-to-1
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Kildonan North Stars 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-none MJHL CHAMPIONS
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) 4-games-to-2 ANAVET CUP CHAMPIONS
Third in 1995 Centennial Cup round robin (2-2) ABBOTT CUP CHAMPIONS
Gloucester Rangers (CJHL) defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-1 in semi-final
  • 1996 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-3
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none
  • 1997 Lost quarter-final
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 1998 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-3
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues
  • 1999 Lost final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-1
Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. Boniface Saints 4-games-to-3
OCN Blizzard defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none
  • 2000 Lost final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-2
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-1
OCN Blizzard defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 2001 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Winnipeg Saints 4-games-to-3
Winkler Flyers defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none
  • 2002 Lost quarter-final
St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-3
  • 2003 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-2
Southeast Blades defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 2004 Lost quarter-final
Selkirk Steelers defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-3
  • 2005 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-1
Selkirk Steelers defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-3
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-1
Winnipeg South Blues defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-none
Winnipeg South Blues defeated OCN Blizzard 4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONS
Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 2007 Lost quarter-final
Winnipeg Saints defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-3
  • 2008 Lost quarter-final
Winnipeg Saints defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 2009 DNQ
  • 2010 Lost quarter-final
Winnipeg Saints defeated Winnipeg South Blues 4-games-to-none
  • 2011 DNQ
  • 2012 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg Blues defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-none
Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-2
  • 2013 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg Blues defeated Winkler Flyers 4-games-to-2
Steinbach Pistons defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-2
Winnipeg Blues defeated Winkler Flyers 2-games-to-0
Winnipeg Blues defeated Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-1
Winnipeg Blues defeated Steinbach Pistons 4-games-to-1
Winnipeg Blues defeated Dauphin Kings 4-games-to-1 MJHL Champions
Fifth and eliminated from Western Canada Cup round robin (1-3)
  • 2015 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg Blues defeated Swan Valley Stampeders 4-games-to-0
Steinbach Pistons defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-1
  • 2016 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg Blues defeated Virden Oil Capitals 4-games-to-3
Portage Terriers defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-0
  • 2017 Lost quarter-final
OCN Blizzard defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-1
  • 2018 Lost semi-final
Winnipeg Blues defeated Portage Terriers 4-games-to-2
Steinbach Pistons defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-2
  • 2019 Lost quarter-final
Steinbach Pistons defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-2
  • 2020 Lost quarter-final
Steinbach Pistons defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-0
  • 2021 Playoffs cancelled[4]
  • 2022 Lost quarter-final
Winkler Flyers defeated Winnipeg Blues 4-games-to-2
  • 2023 DNQ

NHL alumni

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Retired numbers

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  • 3 - Grant Ledyard

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Blues head west to new rink, with new name". Winnipeg Free Press. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  2. ^ "WINNIPEG BLUES' OWNERSHIP TRANSFER APPROVED: MJHL". Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  3. ^ "MJHL Expands During COVID For This Season". The Junior Hockey News. 2020-09-08.
  4. ^ "MJHL cancels remainder for the 2020-21 season". Discover Westman. February 12, 2021.
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