Junior hockey in Selkirk dates back to 1918, with the Selkirk Fishermen as original members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Selkirk Steelers were founded in 1966 they captured a league title in their first season and won the Centennial Cup as national Junior “A” champions in 1973–74. The team has remained a strong presence in junior hockey.
Junior hockey in Selkirk dates to at least 1918, when the Manitoba Junior Hockey League was first founded. The Selkirk Fishermen were one of the original members of the league.
There are four levels of Junior hockey in the Canadian System. 1-Major Junior, 2-Junior “A”, 3-Junior “B”, 4- Junior “C”. Junior hockey is a league for elite youth players, ages 16-20.
The Selkirk Steelers Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club was founded just prior to the 1966-67 season. The team played out of the Selkirk Arena from inception until the Selkirk Recreation Complex was completed in 1992. The team name was most likely inspired by the Rolling Mills in Selkirk. That season the Steelers joined the Central Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Steelers won the Central Manitoba Junior Hockey League title during their first season!
A Merger of Leagues
In 1968, the Central Manitoba Junior Hockey League merged with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. From that point forward, the Steelers have been members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, which is part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
Big Victories
The 1973-74 season was the Selkirk Steelers’ most successful season! The Steelers won the Manitoba Junior Hockey League title. Then they went on to defeat Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert Raiders in a seven-game series! The Steelers were awarded the ANAVET Cup as the best Junior Hockey League team in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The Steelers went on to compete for the Abbott Cup against the Kelowna Buckaroos from the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. The Abbott Cup is the trophy awarded to the winning team in the Western Canada Junior Hockey league. The Steelers defeated the Kelowna Buckaroos 4-games-to-3.
After winning the Abbott Cup, the Steelers competed in the National Junior “A” Championship against the Smiths Falls Bears of the Central Junior “A” Hockey League for the Centennial Cup. The Steelers won the game 1-0, finally scoring with just over two minutes left on the clock. This game was the only time the Steelers have won the National Championship.
The Steelers next best season came in 2007. After winning the 2007 Manitoba Junior Hockey League Championship, the Steelers faced the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The Steelers once again, won the ANAVET cup!
A Series of Losses
The Steelers played at the National Junior “A” Championship for the Royal Bank Cup. Their first game was against Canada’s top ranked team, the Aurora Tigers of the Ontario Junior “A” Hockey League. The Steelers lost 4-2. The Steelers’ second game was against Canada’s second ranked team, the Camrose Kodiaks from the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The Steelers lost this game 3-1. In their third game of the tournament, the Steelers played the host team, the Prince George Spruce Kings. The Spruce Kings won against the Steelers 2-1. The Steelers final game was against the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Junior “A” Hockey League. The Steelers lost against the Lumber Kings 4-2. With a 0-4 record, the Steelers didn’t move forward in the Royal Bank Cup.
Several Selkirk Steelers Alumni have gone on to play in the National Hockey League. In 1974, the Steelers were inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in the team category. The Steelers were inducted into the Manitoba Sport Hall of Fame in 2014.
Championship Wins
| Turnbull Cup – Manitoba Junior Hockey League | 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2004, 2007 |
| ANAVET Cup – Manitoba and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League | 1974, 1975, 2007 |
| Abbott Cup – Western Canada Junior Hickey League | 1974 |
| Centennial Cup / Royal Bank Cup – Canada Junior Hockey | 1974 |
The Selkirk Steelers Collection
Click images to enlarge
Steelers Logo, 1966-1998, Selkirk Steelers
Sources
Steelers History and Championships | Selkirk Steelers
Selkirk’s Story (hockeycanada.ca)
1973/74 SELKIRK STEELERS | Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (mbhockeyhalloffame.ca)
Single – Honoured Member | Honoured Members (sportmanitoba.ca)
