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The Winnipeg Falcons
Gold Medal, Ice Hockey (Antwerp 1920)
In 1911, the Winnipeg Falcons hockey team was formed just like any other hockey team in Canada--by a group of neighbourhood boys looking for a chance to play their favourite game.
The Falcons, however, were unique in that they consisted solely of Icelandic Canadian players who, due to racial prejudice, had difficulty finding teams to play for in the Winnipeg Hockey League. Undeterred, they started their own league, the Manitoba Hockey League. With two hockey leagues in the province, a match was set to determine who would represent Manitoba in the western finals for the prestigious Allan Cup.
From the Allan Cup to the Olympic Games
The Allan Cup was the holy grail of senior amateur hockey. It had been donated by Sir H. Montagu Allan in 1908 when the Stanley Cup became the championship trophy of the professional leagues. The Falcons beat the Winnipeg Hockey League and went on to represent Manitoba at the Allan Championships.
On March 29, 1920, the Falcons again were unbeatable. They out-shot the Toronto Varsity team to become the Canadian amateur champions. The win gave the Falcons the right to represent Canada in Antwerp, Belgium, at the first Olympic hockey tournament.
Next Stop: The Olympic Winter Games
The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association paid for the team to travel aboard the Melita to Belgium. Contemporary newspapers reported that the Canadians were welcomed warmly by the Belgians and were the favourites of the European fans. Canada would play against Czechoslovakia, the United States, and Sweden in the tournament.
One of the most exciting matches of this tournament was between Canada and the United States. People lined up to see the match with only a fraction of the crowd gaining access. The game was rough, and international observers were impressed by the physicality and speed of the game. It was a hard-fought match with the Falcons winning 2-0. The Canadian team also easily beat Czechoslovakia, 15-0, and Sweden, 12-1.
In a show of excellent sportsmanship, the Falcons gave their sticks to the Swedish team as a memento. Upon their return home, they were given a hero's welcome. The newspapers referred to them as the champions of the world, a suitable title for a group of Icelandic Canadians who just wanted to play their game.
