Manitoba Bisons Explained

Manitoba Bisons
University:University of Manitoba
Association:U Sports
Conference:Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Director:Gene Muller
Location:Winnipeg, Manitoba
Stadium:Princess Auto Stadium
Arena:Max Bell Centre
Arena2:Investors Group Athletic Centre
Othersite Label:Other stadiums
Othersite:University Stadium (Winnipeg)
Mascot:Billy the Bison
Nickname:Bisons
Colour1:Brown
Colour2:Gold
Hex1:562E18
Hex2:B6985E
Pageurl:http://gobisons.ca
Fightsong:"Brown and Gold"

The Manitoba Bisons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The football team plays their games at Princess Auto Stadium. The soccer team play their home games at the University of Manitoba Soccer Fields while the track and field teams use the University Stadium as their home track. The University has 18 different teams in 10 sports: basketball, curling, cross country running, Canadian football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, swimming, track & field, and volleyball.

Varsity sports

Ice hockey

Men's ice hockey

The Bisons iced a junior ice hockey team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Bisons won four consecutive Turnbull Cups as Manitoba junior champions in 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925.

The 1923 Bisons team won the Allan Cup, Memorial Cup and Abbott Cup, and were inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. The roster included J.A. Wise (Forward), C.E. Williams (Sub Forward), C.S. Doupe (Sub Goal), F. Robertson (Sub Defence), R.E. Moulden (Forward), A.I. Chapman (Defence), Blake Watson (Forward), Murray Murdoch (Captain & Centre), A.T. Puttee (Goal), J. Mitchell (Forward), A. Johnson (Defence), S.B. Field (Secretary/Treasurer), R.L. Bruce (Manager), H. Andrews (President), Hal Moulden (Coach), Walter Robertson (Trainer).

The school's senior ice hockey team won the 1931 World Ice Hockey Championships playing as the University of Manitoba Grads, and were inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in the team category. The roster included Sammy McCallum, Gordon MacKenzie, Blake Watson, Art Puttee, Frank Morris, George Hill, Ward McVey, Jack Pidcock, Guy "Weary" Williamson.

In December 1934, the university appealed to W. A. Fry and the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada regarding a decision by the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) which did not require university students be released from a private club team to play for the school team.[1] Fry agreed with the university, stating that students are under the jurisdiction of the school unless released by the school to play for a club team. He also stated that AAU of C rulings should be respected by affiliated organizations, such as the MAHA.[2]

The 1965 Bisons won the David Johnston University Cup as the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union champions, and were also inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

NHL alumni

List of National Hockey League alumni of the Bisons:

Other notable people

Women's ice hockey

See main article: Manitoba Bisons women's ice hockey.

Football

See main article: Manitoba Bisons football.

The Bisons football program includes one of only four U Sports football teams to have won back-to-back Vanier Cup championships, having won in 1969 and 1970. In total, the Bisons have won three Vanier Cup national championships and 11 Hardy Trophy conference championships.

Notable players

Soccer

Manitoba Bisons ladies team plays in Canada West’s Universities Athletic Association.

Notable alumni

Awards and honours

Athletes of the Year

Year Female Athlete Sport Male Athlete Sport
2008-09Stacey Corfield Hockey Quin FergusonTrack and Field
2009-10Soccer Steve Christie Hockey
2011-12 Addie MilesHockey Dane Pischke Volleyball
2012-13 Rachel Cockrell Volleyball Blair Macaulay Hockey
2013-14Brittany Habing VolleyballAnthony Coombs Football
2014-15 Rachel Cockrell Volleyball Al-Haji Mansaray Track and Field
2016-17Lauryn Keen Hockey Devren DearVolleyball
2017-18 Venla Hovi[9] Ice hockey Justus Alleyn Basketball
2018-19Kelsey WogSwimmingSimon Bérubé Track and Field
2019-20[10] SwimmingRashawn BrowneBasketball

Canada West Hall of Fame

Notes and References

  1. News: Varsity Will Appeal Case to Amateur Body. December 10, 1934. Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. 10.
  2. News: Fry States Rulings Must Be Respected. December 12, 1934. Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. 12.
  3. Web site: U of M's Golden Knights. Reid. Chris. 2018-05-11. UM Today. 2018-08-24.
  4. News: Has Control of Allan Cup Games. March 3, 1917. The Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. 25.
  5. Web site: Former Manitoba Bison David Onyemata nonetheless turning heads in NFL – Winnipeg . Startribunemag . Global News . 26 November 2016.
  6. Web site: After helping her home country, India national team star Dalima Chhibber back with Bisons soccer in 2022. Manitoba Bisons Soccer (University of Manitoba). gobisons.ca. 29 August 2022. 3 September 2022. Mike. Still. Braedan. Willis. Winnipeg, Manitoba. en-CA. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/3YjEF. 3 September 2022.
  7. Web site: Bisons Walkway of Honour. University of Manitoba Athletics.
  8. News: Kelsey Wog wins 2020 U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year. umanitoba.ca/. 2020-06-26. 2021-07-23. en.
  9. News: Venla Hovi and Justus Alleyn selected as the 2017-18 Bison Sports Athletes of the Year. gobisons.ca/. March 24, 2018. May 13, 2021. en.
  10. News: 2020 Brown and Gold Awards. gobisons.ca/. 2020-03-27. 2021-07-24. en.
  11. News: Coleen Dufresne WBB Coach. canadawesthalloffame.org/. 2019-10-31. 2021-07-23. en.
  12. News: Desiree Scott (WSOC Student-athlete). canadawesthalloffame.org/. 2019-09-03. 2021-08-25. en.