The Winnipeg Braves were founded in 1956 and affiliated with the Winnipeg Warriors (minor pro) of the Western Hockey League (minor pro). The Braves played regular season games at Winnipeg's Olympic Rink and won 2 Turnbull Cup Championships as Manitoba Junior Champions (1959 and 1965).
The 1958-59, Braves won the Abbott Cup as Western Canadian Junior ‘A’ Champions, and were the last team from Winnipeg to win the Memorial Cup as National Champions. Under the leadership of manager Bill Addison and coach Bill Allum, the Braves defeated the Peterborough Petes coached by 25-year-old Scotty Bowman. In the championship series, the Petes won the first game 5-4, and the Braves came back to win four straight games 5-2, 5-2, 5-3 and 6-2. The final game of the series was played in Brandon, Manitoba due to the Shrine Circus appearing at Winnipeg Arena. The team included future NHL'ers Ted Green and Ernie Wakely.
Roster: Pat Angers, Don Atamanchuk, Al Baty, Gary Bergman, Ernie Bradawaski, Rene Brunel, Ted Green, Howie Hughes, Allan Ingimundson, Ken King, Ted Knight, Jerry Kruk, Laurie Langrell, Wayne Larkin, Al LeBlanc, Bob Leiter, Doug Monro, Zenon Moroz, Lew Mueller, John Rodger, Paul Sexsmith, John Sutherland, Bob Wales, Wayne Winstone, Ernie Wakely, J. D. (Jack) Perrin Jr. (President), Bill Addison (Manager), Bill Allum (Coach), Jim Drury (Trainer).
The Memorial Cup Championship team was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2003, and inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in the team category.
Prior to the 1966-67 season, the team moved to St. James and changed its name to the St. James Braves.
During the summer of 1967, a community-minded sports group purchased the St. James Braves from Ben Hatskin. The team relocated to the brand new St. James Civic Centre, where they played as the St. James Canadians.
The Canadians won the Turnbull Cup three times (1968, 1996, 1997) throughout their 35 years in the MJHL. They played until the end of the 2002-03 season, and after a one year absence, formally ceased operations.
Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
1971 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated
Winnipeg Monarchs 4-games-to-2St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-none1972 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated
Winnipeg Monarchs 4-games-to-2West Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11973 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated West
Kildonan North Stars 9-points-to-7St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-none1974 Lost Quarter-finalSt. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-21975 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints
4-games-to-noneWest Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-21976 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints
4-games-to-1West Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-31977 Lost Quarter-finalKildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11978 Lost Quarter-finalKenora Thistles defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11979 Lost Quarter-finalSt. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11980 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated Fort Garry Blues
4-games-to-2Kildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-21981 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated Fort Garry Blues
4-games-to-1St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11982 Lost Quarter-finalSt. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-21983 Lost Quarter-finalFort Garry Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-none1984 Lost Quarter-finalFort Garry Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11985 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated
Thunder Bay Hornets 4-games-to-2Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11986 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints
4-games-to-3Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-none1987 Lost Quarter-finalWinnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-none1988 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints
4-games-to-1Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-21989 Lost Quarter-finalWinnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11990 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues
4-games-to-noneKildonan North Stars defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-31991 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated St. Boniface Saints
4-games-to-3Winnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11992 Lost Final, Hosted and Eliminated in 1992 Centennial Cup round robinSt. James Canadians defeated Neepawa Natives
4-games-to-1St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues
4-games-to-noneWinkler Flyers defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-1Fifth and eliminated in
1992 Centennial Cup round robin (1-3)
1993 Lost Quarter-finalWinnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-21994 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated Southeast Blades
4-games-to-1St. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11995 Lost Quarter-finalWinnipeg South Blues defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-21996 Won League, Lost Anavet CupSt. James Canadians defeated
Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-3St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues
4-games-to-noneSt. James Canadians defeated Neepawa Natives
4-games-to-3 MJHL CHAMPIONSMelfort Mustangs (SJHL) defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-none1997 Won League, Lost Anavet CupSt. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues
4-games-to-1St. James Canadians defeated
Selkirk Steelers 4-games-to-noneSt. James Canadians defeated OCN Blizzard
4-games-to-1 MJHL CHAMPIONSWeyburn Red Wings (SJHL) defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11998 Lost FinalSt. James Canadians defeated Selkirk Steelers
4-games-to-2St. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues
Winkler Flyers defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-11999 Lost Quarter-finalSt. Boniface Saints defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-22000 Lost Quarter-finalWinkler Flyers defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-32001 DNQ2002 Lost Semi-finalSt. James Canadians defeated Winnipeg South Blues
4-games-to-3Winkler Flyers defeated St. James Canadians
4-games-to-none2003 DNQ