Kenora Thistles, 1940

Missing hockey? Well, at least one MUSE staff member certainly is! Here’s a highlight from our archives:

80 years ago this week, the Kenora Thistles Junior “A” team defeated the Winnipeg Monarchs to become champions of the Manitoba Junior South Division. The Thistles returned home by train     and were greeted by the fanfare of the Legion Band, and a crowd of hundreds of joyful Kenoraites.

The Thistles would make a truly historic run in 1940, capturing the Western Canada Junior Hockey Championship, before reaching the Memorial Cup finals.

Four members of this legendary squad are pictured here — Pinky Melnyck, Frank Hanton, Roy White, and the goalie, Charlie Rayner. The newspaper clipping is from March 22, 1940.