Winnipeg Warriors
Encyclopedia
The Winnipeg Warriors were a junior ice hockey
team that played in the Western Hockey League
. They were founded as an expansion team in 1980, but suffered from attendance problems competing with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League
and ultimately moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
in 1984, becoming the Moose Jaw Warriors
. During their time in Winnipeg, the team played at Winnipeg Arena
.
Winnipeg's struggles at the gate were matched by the Warriors' futility on the ice, as the franchise qualified for the playoffs only once in their four years in Winnipeg: a three-game sweep at the hands of the Lethbridge Broncos
in 1983. The Warriors 1983–84 record of 9–63–0 is the second-worst 72 game mark in league history. Only the Victoria Cougars' record of 5–65–2 in 1989–90 was worse.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team that played in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. They were founded as an expansion team in 1980, but suffered from attendance problems competing with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and ultimately moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw is a city in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada on the Moose Jaw River. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Regina. Residents of Moose Jaw are known as Moose Javians. It is best known as a retirement and tourist city that serves as a hub to the hundreds of small towns...
in 1984, becoming the Moose Jaw Warriors
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League which are based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team plays its home games at Mosaic Place. The franchise moved to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg after the 1983–84 season, where they had previously been named the...
. During their time in Winnipeg, the team played at Winnipeg Arena
Winnipeg Arena
Winnipeg Arena was an indoor arena located at 1430 Maroons Road in Winnipeg, Manitoba, across the street from Canad Inns Stadium and just north of Polo Park.Built in 1955, it was owned by community-owned Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation...
.
- Division titles won: None
- Regular season titles won: None
- WHL ChampionshipsPresident's Cup (WHL)The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League . Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honour Ed Chynoweth's long service to junior hockey in Canada...
won: None - Memorial CupMemorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
Titles: None
Winnipeg's struggles at the gate were matched by the Warriors' futility on the ice, as the franchise qualified for the playoffs only once in their four years in Winnipeg: a three-game sweep at the hands of the Lethbridge Broncos
Lethbridge Broncos
The Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.-Season-by-season record:...
in 1983. The Warriors 1983–84 record of 9–63–0 is the second-worst 72 game mark in league history. Only the Victoria Cougars' record of 5–65–2 in 1989–90 was worse.
Season-by-season Record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1980–81 | 72 | 28 | 43 | 1 | 57 | 298 | 345 | 7th East | Out of playoffs |
| 1981–82 | 72 | 23 | 48 | 1 | 47 | 285 | 388 | 8th East | Out of playoffs |
| 1982–83 | 72 | 42 | 30 | 0 | 84 | 347 | 321 | 4th East | Lost in preliminary round |
| 1983–84 | 72 | 9 | 63 | 0 | 18 | 239 | 580 | 8th East | Out of playoffs |
NHL Alumni
- Darren BoykoDarren BoykoDarren Boyko is an NHL one-gamer and an Elitserien one-gamer. He played one game in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets in 1989 and one game in Elitserien for Västra Frölunda HC in 1997....
- Randy GilhenRandy GilhenRandy Gilhen is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward. He grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Gilhen started his National Hockey League career with the Hartford Whalers in 1982. He also played for the Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and...
- Mike KeaneMike KeaneMichael John Keane is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger. Undrafted, Keane played over 1100 games in the National Hockey League from 1988 until 2004, and then played five seasons for his hometown Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League until he retired in 2010...
- Mick VukotaMick VukotaMarinko M. "The Quick, Mickster" Vukota is a former NHL Right Wing. Undrafted, he signed with the New York Islanders, who were looking to add toughness and muscle to their roster, on March 2, 1987. Vukota worked his way up the system and found himself skating on NHL ice by the end of the 1987–88...
- Richard ZemlakRichard ZemlakRichard Andrew Zemlak is a retired Canadian Professional Hockey Forward who played 5 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames...