The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (now Hockey Canada) list of World Champions includes several teams that did not win the Allan Cup. It often came down to a matter of economics, especially in the 1930’s, when the CAHA would invite teams to represent Canada at the Worlds. Such a team was the 1931 University of Manitoba Grads. The University team had won the Allan Cup in 1928 and efforts were now being made to send the graduates to Europe in 1931. Of that Allan Cup squad, only six could make the trip and the rest of the team was made of various senior players who could give up the time. As Vince Leah said, “The Grads played 40 games in Europe, a full season for many teams, and won 38 and tied 2, a wonderful record.”
At Krynica, Poland, Canada (the Grads) was in a pool with France and Poland. Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Great Britain were in a second pool and Sweden, the U.S. and Romania in the third. Canada defeated France 9-0 and Poland 3-0 in the opening round. They beat the Czechs 2-1 and tied Sweden 0-0 to finish 1 point back of the U.S. in the round robin. In the final against the Boston team, the Grads won 2-0 to claim the World title.
ROSTER: L-R: Sammy McCallum-Defence, Gordon McKenzie-Forward, Blake Watson-Forward, Art Puttee-Goal, Frank Morris-Forward, George Hill-Forward, Ward McVey-Defence, Jack Pidcock-Forward and Guy “Weary” Williamson-Defence.
