© 2012, Christian Cassidy. UPDATED 2026!
The clubhouse for Orioles Community Club, now Valour Community Centre - Orioles Site, turns 75 in 2026! To celebrate, I've gone back to this 2012 blog series and made updates to links, images and information as there is a lot more archival material available online today.
November 23, 1938, Winnipeg Tribune
The origins of Orioles Community Club date back to the 1930s, a time when fielding sports teams and in some cases organising leagues was left up to churches, social service groups, and privately-run sports clubs or athletic associations. Through the decade, the West End was well-represented in various lacrosse/boxla, cricket, and hockey leagues with teams such as the Rangers, Argos, and Elks.
The first newspaper mention of “West End Orioles” was ain a November 1938 notice that it was holdings for two bantam hockey teams at their clubhouse on Burnell Street.
The organisation that fielded the Orioles was a private sports club known as the West End Orioles Athletic Association. It was formed that year with Charles William "Pop" Regelous as its president.
November 14, 1939, Winnipeg Free Press
Regelous was born in 1898 in Sydney, Manitoba, and served in the First World War before settling in Winnipeg and starting a 20-year career with Crane Supply. He was a long-time amateur sports supporter in the city, especially in curling and hockey, before starting the association.
The name is likely taken from the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, though not the MLB franchise we know today. Baltimore has had three baseball teams by that name, and one of them played in the International League from 1916 - 1953. That league was covered regularly in local newspapers through wire stories, including the Orioles' playoff runs in 1936 and 1937.
Not a lot is known about the makeup of the athletic association, but there were other Regelous family members involved. Doug, Pop's son, was captain of the younger Bantam B team and Pop's brother, Tom was a manager/coach.
Both Orioles bantam hockey teams played well in their inaugural year, and lacrosse teams were organised in the spring.
Canada Bread in 1915, (Courtesy R. McInnes)
Home base for the West End Orioles was Canada Bread Field, located north of its large bakery on Burnell Street. From 1926 to 1939, this was home to the Winnipeg Commercial Diamond Ball League, which claimed to be the country's largest corporate baseball league with 17 teams.
In the winter, Orioles flooded a rink and used a pair of old box cars as a clubhouse and warming shack. Improvements were made to the site in its early years, such as overhead lighting, which allowed for evening games and public skates, and its own water source to make flooding easier.
The upgrades allowed Orioles to add more teams in the midget and intermediate leagues, and the club was on its way to becoming a hockey powerhouse.
The name is likely taken from the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, though not the MLB franchise we know today. Baltimore has had three baseball teams by that name, and one of them played in the International League from 1916 - 1953. That league was covered regularly in local newspapers through wire stories, including the Orioles' playoff runs in 1936 and 1937.
Not a lot is known about the makeup of the athletic association, but there were other Regelous family members involved. Doug, Pop's son, was captain of the younger Bantam B team and Pop's brother, Tom was a manager/coach.
Both Orioles bantam hockey teams played well in their inaugural year, and lacrosse teams were organised in the spring.
Canada Bread in 1915, (Courtesy R. McInnes)
Home base for the West End Orioles was Canada Bread Field, located north of its large bakery on Burnell Street. From 1926 to 1939, this was home to the Winnipeg Commercial Diamond Ball League, which claimed to be the country's largest corporate baseball league with 17 teams.
In the winter, Orioles flooded a rink and used a pair of old box cars as a clubhouse and warming shack. Improvements were made to the site in its early years, such as overhead lighting, which allowed for evening games and public skates, and its own water source to make flooding easier.
The upgrades allowed Orioles to add more teams in the midget and intermediate leagues, and the club was on its way to becoming a hockey powerhouse.
On the coaching front, Horace "Hoss" Nicholson was brought aboard for the 1939 - 40 hockey season.
Nicholson, an electrician for the City of Winnipeg, quickly gained the respect of those in local hockey circles. Winnipeg Free Press sports columnist Ken McKenzie wrote that Hoss was: "... without a doubt the most enthusiastic coach in the loop. Every time his team scores, or does anything which he particularly likes, Hoss will throw his hat high in the air with jubilation. Hoss uses up more energy in a single game than does any of his players. He seems to have put his pep and enthusiasm into his players and it is seen in their spirited play." (Winnipeg Free Press, January 10, 1942).
Orioles won its first of many championships, the provincial Intermediate League title, under Hoss. Its Bantam A team finished in third place.
Nicholson, an electrician for the City of Winnipeg, quickly gained the respect of those in local hockey circles. Winnipeg Free Press sports columnist Ken McKenzie wrote that Hoss was: "... without a doubt the most enthusiastic coach in the loop. Every time his team scores, or does anything which he particularly likes, Hoss will throw his hat high in the air with jubilation. Hoss uses up more energy in a single game than does any of his players. He seems to have put his pep and enthusiasm into his players and it is seen in their spirited play." (Winnipeg Free Press, January 10, 1942).
Orioles won its first of many championships, the provincial Intermediate League title, under Hoss. Its Bantam A team finished in third place.
In 1941, the club added a midget team to its lineup and barely a month into its inaugural season, it was in third place in the league. The Winnipeg Free Press' Ken McKenzie wrote that they were "...the surprise team of the season..." and were "...playing the most aggressive, inspired hockey in the midget league for some time."
April 4, 1942, Winnipeg Tribune
Sadly, the man who started the club and served as president since its inception would not get to enjoy many of its successes.
Regelous was re-elected club president for a fifth year in November 1941, but sports columnist Vince Leah noted weeks later that, "Charlie Regelous is still a very sick man and we've heard nothing about (the future of) West End Orioles." Another sports page noted that Regelous spent the winter "flat out on his back".
Regelous died on April 3, 1942, at the age of 44. Four days later, 500 people, many from the local amateur sports community, attended his funeral at St. Matthews Church.
Vince Leah wrote, "Charlie was a fellow who went to bats for the kids to the extent of sacrificing time, money and energy in copious quantitates. The West End Oriole club was one of the best minor outfits in the city, thanks to Charlie."
The club's hockey program resumed the following year. Nicholson told reporters that it was Regelous' wish "that the kids stay together."
Regelous was re-elected club president for a fifth year in November 1941, but sports columnist Vince Leah noted weeks later that, "Charlie Regelous is still a very sick man and we've heard nothing about (the future of) West End Orioles." Another sports page noted that Regelous spent the winter "flat out on his back".
Regelous died on April 3, 1942, at the age of 44. Four days later, 500 people, many from the local amateur sports community, attended his funeral at St. Matthews Church.
Vince Leah wrote, "Charlie was a fellow who went to bats for the kids to the extent of sacrificing time, money and energy in copious quantitates. The West End Oriole club was one of the best minor outfits in the city, thanks to Charlie."
The club's hockey program resumed the following year. Nicholson told reporters that it was Regelous' wish "that the kids stay together."
Wartime Orioles
As the team struggled with the illness and death of its founder, dozens of its members past and present dealt with their own life and death situations in the Second World War.
In February 1940, the club held a dance in honour of ten current Orioles members who had enlisted. At least two former players, Pilot Officer David Wilson and Sgt William Duthie, did not come home. Sargent Alan Hackett did, but with severe injuries.
The war created a crisis for most sports teams and leagues in the city. Many downsized or even suspended play due to a lack of men.
Eager for new blood, hockey teams from as far away as New York and Hamilton came to Winnipeg to sign up players. The problem became so bad that in 1944, officials from the various leagues and clubs met at the Amphitheatre to discuss the matter. They decided to reject the vast majority of out-of-town transfer requests, including a couple involving Orioles players.
In February 1940, the club held a dance in honour of ten current Orioles members who had enlisted. At least two former players, Pilot Officer David Wilson and Sgt William Duthie, did not come home. Sargent Alan Hackett did, but with severe injuries.
The war created a crisis for most sports teams and leagues in the city. Many downsized or even suspended play due to a lack of men.
Eager for new blood, hockey teams from as far away as New York and Hamilton came to Winnipeg to sign up players. The problem became so bad that in 1944, officials from the various leagues and clubs met at the Amphitheatre to discuss the matter. They decided to reject the vast majority of out-of-town transfer requests, including a couple involving Orioles players.
1940s Orioles
Despite the player shortages and their boxcar clubhouse being severely damaged by fire in December 1943, the West End Orioles continued to field lacrosse and hockey teams. There were even newspaper mentions of soccer and baseball teams fielded under the Orioles banner.
It was hockey where Orioles continued to have its most success.
In the 1942-43 season, Hoss Nicholson coached both the St. James Canadians to the juvenile hockey championship and the West End Orioles to the midget hockey championship. In the 1943-44 season, Orioles won the Bantam A championship.
The 1944-45 season was a banner year for the club. Of the four teams entered into local hockey leagues (Midget, Bantam A, Bantam B and Juveniles), three of them won provincial championships. The Juveniles, who finished their season with a 20-1-1 record, went on to Moose Jaw in April 1945 and took the Western Canadian Juvenile hockey crown
With such an impressive record, Hoss Nicholson was wooed away from amateur hockey. He was already doing double duty with the Orioles and St. James Canadians, and in the 1946-1947 season, he coached the Brandon Elks.
In subsequent years, Nicholson was a coach/manager of the Winnipeg Monarchs and Winnipeg Canadians, then had a career in scouting for the Boston Bruins and New Westminster Bruins.
Nicholson died on May 29, 1984, at the age of 68.
Stan Evans
In spring 1945, Stan Evans began an ambitious relationship with the club.
Evans ran Stan Evans' Style Shop, a men's clothing store, in the Avenue Building on Portage Avenue and was an avid sportsman who sponsored many local teams and leagues. before his involvement with the West End Orioles, he sponsored a provincial softball team named Stan Evans and co-created a small senior hockey league in which his Stan Evans' Stylists played.
At the West End Orioles' banquet dinner in spring 1945, club president Russ Ball announced that Evans was the new financial sponsor of the club.
That summer, its lacrosse and soccer teams played under the name Stan Evans Orioles. The same went for its slate of hockey teams.
That summer, its lacrosse and soccer teams played under the name Stan Evans Orioles. The same went for its slate of hockey teams.
Stan Evans Orioles
Admitting that he had little experience running hockey teams, Evans said that he would bring back Hoss Nicholson (he didn't) and hired Art Barnett and Jimmy Kennedy as co-coaches. The latter had helmed championship teams with the Winnipeg Monarchs organization. Bill Webber, also from the Monarchs, became the club's manager.
Evans made it clear that the Stan Evans Orioles were looking for championships: “We are going out for titles in all divisions this coming season. This is no fly-by-night club. We have formed and we are in the game to stay.” (Winnipeg Free Press, August 27, 1945.)
After the War, sports leagues bounced back, and Evans reached beyond the traditional leagues that the West End Orioles had played in. There was a Stan Evans Orioles in the Commercial Hockey League and in the senior hockey league.
Evans then set his sights on Junior hockey. After pursuing the St. James Canadians for a couple of months, Evans managed to trigger a merger between them and one of the Orioles new junior clubs. In October 1945, he was president of the newly christened St. James Orioles that would be operated arms-length from the club.
Despite his deep pockets and ambitious plans, the only title won by any Stan Evans Orioles team, summer or winter sports, was the 1945 - 46 senior hockey team. They were city champions, but bowed out in the playoffs for the Western Canadian championship.
October 10, 1946, Winnipeg Tribune
There was another summer of Stan Evans Orioles baseball and lacrosse, then just as the 1946 - 47 hockey season was set to begin, Evans and his sponsorship abruptly ended. At an October 1946 meeting, Al Crockett, who had served as secretary under Evans, became the new president.
It's hard to tell what happened with the "Stan Evans experiment." There wasn't any media coverage of the withdrawal other than the above story noting the change in presidents and reversion to the West End Orioles name. Evans also pulled his sponsorship from the arms-length St. James Orioles and the Stan Evans soccer team.
It likely had to do with Evens' health. He died in 1948 at the age of 47, and his obituary noted that he had been ill for some time with a heart ailment.
Late 1940s Orioles
With the cash injection and prominent coaches gone, it was time for Orioles to rebuild.
Romeo Rivers was appointed head coach in October 1947, and the Orioles put five teams on the ice: Midget, Juvenile, Intermediate and two Bantams. That year, they captured the Midget and Juvenile championships.
Romeo Rivers was appointed head coach in October 1947, and the Orioles put five teams on the ice: Midget, Juvenile, Intermediate and two Bantams. That year, they captured the Midget and Juvenile championships.
There was more off-ice drama to come that would put an end to Orioles as a private athletic club.
A new clubhouse and location that Evans promised for Orioles didn't happen before his departure. That was unfortunate, as it was announced in 1947 that he Canada Brad Field site, by that time owned by the city, was sold to the Valour Road Memorial Legion for a new hall and curling club.
Orioles was allowed to play out the 1947 - 48 hockey season.
Orioles was allowed to play out the 1947 - 48 hockey season.
Good to read of this! The person who had my house on Ingersoll built in 1930, a Mr Webster with the Winnipeg Fire Department, would have an up close look of all these developments!
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