Manitoba Hockey Association

The Manitoba Hockey Association (MHA) was an early men's senior ice hockey league playing around 1900 in Manitoba, Canada. The league started as an elite amateur league in 1892, became professional in 1905, had a professional and an amateur league in 1908–09 and only an amateur league from 1909 until 1923. Two teams from the league have won the Stanley Cup, the Winnipeg Victorias and the Kenora Thistles. Three other teams from the league have challenged for the Stanley Cup: Brandon Wheat Cities, Winnipeg Maple Leafs, and the Winnipeg Rowing Club. Other teams have won the Allan Cup: Winnipeg Hockey Club, Winnipeg Falcons, Winnipeg Monarchs and Winnipeg Victorias.

It also was known as the Manitoba Hockey League and Manitoba Professional Hockey League in following years.

Founding
The Manitoba Hockey Association was formed on November 11, 1892 to organize ice hockey play in Manitoba.

Manitoba & Northwestern Hockey Association
In 1904, it would absorb the Manitoba & Northwestern Hockey Association league, and include the Rat Portage/Kenora Thistles team from the province of Ontario. Kenora, ON was originally named Rat Portage.

Manitoba Professional Hockey League (MPHL)
In 1905, the league started to have professional players, and renamed itself the Manitoba Professional Hockey League (MPHL). This lasted until the end of the 1908–09 season, when several teams folded.

Manitoba Hockey League (MHL)
Starting in the 1908–09 season, the Manitoba Hockey League (MHL) was started as an amateur senior-level league. The teams from this league were eligible for the new Allan Cup.

Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association
With the founding of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in 1914, the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association was formed to administer amateur ice hockey in Manitoba, except for the senior-level MHL. The MHL continued to be administered by the Manitoba Hockey Association.

Teams
† Stanley Cup winner.

Manitoba Professional Hockey League
‡ Stanley Cup winner. † Brandon and Kenora only played one game in 1907–08 season before ceasing play.

Manitoba Hockey League
In parallel with the MPHL, the MHA started the MHL amateur senior league in 1908–09. The Winnipeg Falcons, which entered the league in 1915, would win the 1920 championship, then win the Allan Cup national championship. As Allan Cup winners, the Falcons were selected to represent Canada at the 1920 Summer Olympics, where the team would win the first Olympic gold medal for ice hockey.

Notes: WAHL = Winnipeg Amateur Hockey League, MMHL = Manitoba Military Hockey League

‡ Allan Cup winners. † Olympic champions.