MJHL History The Winnipeg and District Junior Hockey League ( WJrHL ) became official on the evening of Wednesday , December 12 , 1917 . The League was the brainchild of the newly created Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association , and started with 10 teams in 2 divisions . At the time the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was organizing a National Junior Championship . And for the 1918 - 19 season , the CAHA introduced the Memorial Cup . Two Leagues within One ( 1932 - 45 ) . Highlights < br > NHL Sponorship Era ( 1945 - 67 ) . In 1944 the Winnipeg Monarchs aligned with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League , starting an era of NHL control that would last until the late 60 ’ s . At seasons end , three teams sought to have the affiliation stopped , and when the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association refused , they withdrew . Over the course of the next few years all remaining teams affiliated : Each agreement was different , in some cases major donations to new arenas were involved . The cost was talent . In each agreement , the NHL team could select one local player to play on their eastern junior team , in some cases it was 2 . And that was per year . Andy Bathgate , considered one of Manitoba ’ s greatest players , was one of those players . Bathgate played only one game in the MJHL before moving east . The era finished like it began , different for every team . NHL sponsorship may have ended before the era . < br > Highlights < br > Modern Era ( 1967 to Present ) . It was a new era , NHL Sponsorship ceased , mandated by the NHL . And the NHL also introduced the Amateur Draft . < br > The Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association agreed to allowed three teams to enter the Western Canada Hockey League , the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Flin Flon Bombers from the MJHL , and a new team , the Ben Hatskin ' s owned Winnipeg Jets . It was the beginning of Major Junior in Manitoba . And the MAHA took back control of MJHL . Hatskin , who owned three MJHL teams , was forced to sell to local interests , as part of the agreement . The Winnipeg Warriors became the West Kildonan North Stars , the Winnipeg Rangers became the St . Boniface Saints , and the St . James Braves became the St . James Canadians . After being forced to play - off with the CMJHL in 1968 , the MJHL merged with the league for 68 - 69 , creating a North Division to house all four teams , the Selkirk Steelers , Portage Terriers , Dauphin Kings , and Kenora Muskies ( who operated out of Fort Garry the previous year ) . The existing teams created the South Division . The new MJHL was exciting ! The Dauphin Kings were the first Dynasty of the new MJHL , winning the League 3 out of 4 years , 69 , 70 , & 72 , and boasting such stars as Ron Low , Butch Goring , and Ron Chipperfield . The Kings went to game 7 of the Western Canadian Memorial Cup final in 69 , and in 72 , won 40 games , a modern day MJHL record . Charlie Simmer of the Kenora Muskies won the scoring title in 73 , the same year the Portage Terriers were crowned National Champs , winning the Centennial Cup . In 74 , the Selkirk Steelers won the National crown , giving the MJHL back to back “ Canadian Championships ” . It was players like Low , Goring , Chipperfield , Simmer , Chuck Arnason , Murray Bannerman , Paul Baxter , John Bednarski , Rick Blight , Dan Bonar , Brian Engblom , Glen Hanlon , Bob Joyce , Barry Legge , Perry Miller , Chris Oddleifson , Curt Ridley , Rick St . Croix , Blaine Stoughton , Andy Van Hellemond , and many more that gave the new MJHL it ’ s foundation . < br > Highlights < br >