The Team
The Winnipeg Falcons hockey team was founded in 1911 with a roster of entirely Icelandic-descent players who were not able to play on the other Winnipeg teams due to racial prejudice. In their first season, 1911-1912, they finished at the bottom of their league. The next year, Konnie Johannesson and Frank Frederickson joined the team. That team turned out to be a winner in the league.
The 1913-1914 team included both Konnie and his older brother George and Frank Frederickson. Wally Byron joined as goalie for the 1914-1915 season. The 1916-1917 season saw several of the team joining the Canadian Army's 223rd Battalion in Winnipeg. By April 1917 all of those team members were on their way to the Great War in Europe.
After all the players had returned home by May 1919, the team reorganized for the 1919-1920 season. New members included Mike Goodman, Huck Woodman and Slim Halderson. The team manager was "Steamer" Maxwell and "Hebbie" Axford became Club President.
Konrad (Konnie) Johannesson was the website author's father . He joined the Canadian Army in Winnipeg in March 1916 and went overseas in April 1917. He returned from Egypt in May 1919. For the story of his life in England, Egypt and Winnipeg, go to Aviation pages.
Konnie again played for the Winnipeg Falcons in the 1919-1920 season, culminating in the team winning the Allan Cup and playing in the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. There the Falcons, soundly beating all their opponents, won the first Olympic Gold Medal in Hockey for Canada.
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