They were big names in South Winnipeg but they were not known nationally until the 1945-46 Winnipeg Monarchs stepped onto the ice at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, to play for the Memorial Cup and the junior hockey championship of Canada. They had heard Foster Hewitt broadcast NHL games but now he was doing their games and they were nervous until the puck dropped. Proceeding to the finals, the Monarchs were often shorthanded due to university exams or work commitment. They lost the first game against Brandon Elks, Port Arthur Flyers and Edmonton Canadians but each time came back to win the series decisively.

Then it was on to Toronto to face the powerful St. Michael’s Majors. Five St. Mikes stars, Red Kelly, Tod Sloan, Fleming Mackell, Ed Sandford and Ed Harrison later had solid NHL careers. Winnipeg won the opener 3-2 with St. Mikes taking the next two games 5-3 and 7-3. Harry Taylor had two goals and an assist to lead the Monarchs to a 4-3 win that tied the series. Then it was the smooth-skating Sloan’s turn to star. He had 5 goals in a 7-4 Toronto victory. Clint Albright, who missed game five with a skate cut on his leg, returned to chalk up a goal and an assist in a 4-2 Monarch victory, forcing a seventh game.

The capacity of the Gardens was listed as 12,627 but 15,000 bodies squeezed into the rink for the deciding contest. After two periods the teams were deadlocked 2-2. Speedy George Robertson scored twice in the final period in a 4-2 Winnipeg victory. Sloan scored 11 goals in the series for St. Mikes while Taylor had 5 goals and 8 assists, Robertson 6 goals and 4 assists and Red McRae, 4 goals and 5 assists for the Canadian champion Monarchs.

TEAM ROSTER: Clint Albright, Ted Chitty, Jack Gibson, Eddie Marchant, George Robertson, Harry Taylor, Hy Beatty, Dunc Daniels, Tank Kummerfield, Laurie May, Tom Rockey , Bill Tindall, AI Buchanan, Gord Fashoway, Don “Red” McRae, Cam Millar, Gord Scott, Pat Lyon - General Manager, Walter Monson - Coach, Ed Haverstock - Trainer.