Manitoba Bisons


The Manitoba Bisons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The football team plays at Princess Auto Stadium, the soccer team plays at the outdoor soccer field on campus, track and field teams use University Stadium, and the volleyball and basketball teams play at Investors Group Athletic Centre. 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

Men's sportsWomen's sports
BasketballBasketball
Cross countryCross country
FootballIce hockey
GolfGolf
Ice hockeySoccer
SwimmingSwimming
Track and fieldTrack and field
VolleyballVolleyball

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 in 2023. The roster included J.A. Wise, C.E. Williams, C.S. Doupe, F. Robertson, R.E. Moulden, A.I. Chapman, Blake Watson, Murray Murdoch, A.T. Puttee, J. Mitchell, A. Johnson, S.B. Field, R.L. Bruce, H. Andrews, Hal Moulden, Walter Robertson.
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 which did not require university students be released from a private club team to play for the school team. 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.
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:

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

  • Randy Ambrosie
  • Gavin Cobb
  • Anthony Coombs
  • Nic Demski
  • Darnell Edwards
  • Brock Gowanlock
  • Geoff Gray
  • Israel Idonije
  • Kienan LaFrance
  • D. J. Lalama
  • Wade Miller
  • David Onyemata
  • Don Oramasionwu
  • Landon Rice
  • Shai Ross
  • Eddie Steele
  • Zack Williams
;Notes

Soccer

Manitoba Bisons women's team plays in Canada West.

Basketball

Manitoba Bisons men's and women's teams play in Canada West.

Notable alumni

Canada West Hall of Fame

  • Coleen Dufresne, Basketball Coach, 2019 Inductee
  • Desiree Scott, Soccer, 2019 Inductee