‘This is where it all happened’: Winnipeg mural honours three-time Stanley Cup champs

A new mural in Winnipeg honours the Stanley Cup-winning Winnipeg Victorias hockey team.

A new mural is paying tribute to a legendary Winnipeg hockey team, steps away from where history was made.

“The Winnipeg Victorias were the first significant team that put Winnipeg on the map,” said Jordy Douglas, the president of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum.

The mural depicting the Winnipeg Victorias now graces the wall of a downtown building on Main Street near McDermott Avenue.

“This is where it all happened,” Douglas said while standing in front of the mural.

“The original McIntyre (Rink) is right over your shoulder here in this parkade. (It’s) where they won the Stanley Cup back in 1896.”

The Victorias would go on to win two more cups, one in 1901 and one in 1902.

Dave Benson said he was proud to see his grandfather on the wall. His grandfather, John Robinson Benson, is pictured in the top right corner of the back row.

“This is outstanding. It’s beyond imagination,” said Dave Benson. “My grandpa passed away before I ever had a chance to meet him, but we got stories through my dad.”

Artist Jen Mosienko said the mural was three years in the making. It was erected in honour of the 130^th anniversary of Winnipeg’s first Stanley Cup win.

“It was the first time that I ever heard that Manitoba had three Stanley Cups,” Mosienko said.

Douglas said there’s room on the wall for the Winnipeg Jets to put up their picture when they win the cup. The team has never won in either iteration of the Winnipeg franchise.