The
second Manitoban team to capture the prestigious Memorial Cup as junior champions
of Canada was the 1922-23 University of Manitoba Juniors. The squad suffered
only one loss in its league play that season, its first game against the Winnipeg
Tammany Tigers and their soon-to-be-legendary goalie Chuck Gardiner (inducted
in 1989). They qualified for the Abbott Cup with a victory over Brandon and
won the Western championship 10-7 in a two game, total-goal series against
the Calgary Canadians. The University students travelled to Fort William to
meet the home-side Cubs in another two game series that would send the victor
to the Memorial Cup finals in Toronto. After a 3-3 tie in game one, the U of
M roared back with a 6-1 victory the next night.
On Mar. 22nd, the University of Manitoba Juniors met the Kitchener Colts at the Arena Gardens in Toronto and dominated game one by a score of 7-3. Four nights later they again won 7-3 giving them the series by a 14-6 aggregate. Captain Murray Murdoch led the team scoring 9 of their 14 goals in the 1923 finals. Murdoch would go on to enjoy an 11-year NHL career with the New York Rangers, winning Stanley Cups in 1928 and 1931.
ROSTER: Bottom Row L-R: J.A. Wise-Forward, C.E. Williams-Sub Forward, C.S. Doupe-Sub Goal, F. Robertson-Sub Defence, R.E. Moulden-Forward. Middle Row L-R: A.I. Chapman-Defence, B.H. Watson-Forward, J.M. Murdoch-Capt. & Centre, A.T. Puttee-Goal, J. Mitchell-Forward, A. Johnson-Defence. Top Row L-R: S.B. Field-Sec’y/Treas., R.L. Bruce-Mgr., H. Andrews-Pres., Hal Moulden-Coach, Walter Robertson-Trainer.
