With the 2026 Winter Olympic Games now underway in Milan and Cortina, Manitobans — and Gimli residents in particular — are reflecting on the legacy of a team that became the first Olympic gold medallists in men’s ice hockey.
The 1920 Winnipeg Falcons were honoured at the Feb. 4 Winnipeg Jets vs Montreal Canadiens game deemed Falcons/New Iceland 150 Tribute Night at Canada Life Centre. Family members of three different 1920 Falcons players were in attendance for the special evening
The 1920 Winnipeg Falcons were the first team to represent Canada in men’s ice hockey, competing at the Antwerp 1920 Summer Games.
The roster was made up of Canadian-Icelanders Allan Woodman, Konrad Johannesson, Hallie Halderson, Mike Goodman, Chris Fridfinnson, Bobby Benson, Frank Frederickson and Walter Byron, who helped found the team in the early 1900s.
Before defeating fellow hockey powerhouses Czechoslovakia, the United States and Sweden to capture Olympic gold, the entire team had enlisted in the First World War. Teammates Frank Thorsteinson and George Cumbers were among the war’s casualties.
Following the team’s return in 1919, the eight-player squad returned to the ice for the Allan Cup and Olympic competition, with several players later going on to National Hockey League careers.
In the 106 years since, Canada has added another eight Olympic men’s hockey gold medals to its record, with hopes of adding another in the coming days.
Before Canadians turned their attention to Italy in 2026, the 1920 Falcons were honoured Feb. 4 during a Winnipeg Jets–Montreal Canadiens game, designated Falcons/New Iceland 150 Tribute Night at Canada Life Centre.
Family members of three different Falcons players were in attendance for the special evening.
“It was very gratifying. I had no idea what kind of numbers to expect,” said Rod Palson, a local Icelander who attended the event. “I didn’t know if we’d expect five people or 105 people, so I think kind of in the middle is where we were. What’s really neat about it is that virtually every person who came into that room was wearing either an Icelandic wool sweater or some form of Falcons jersey or shirt or something like that.”
Palson and fellow Icelander George Sigurdson originally approached True North Sports + Entertainment, which organized the Falcons/New Iceland 150 Tribute Night.
Events included an in-arena video tribute, a pre-game gathering in the concourse, and a national anthem performance by local Icelander Sol James Heitha Forsyth, accompanied by Jets regular SoulBear.
Those attending the tribute were seated together during the game, many wearing Falcons apparel or Icelandic attire.
Palson said the evening served as an important history lesson for those unfamiliar with the Falcons’ accomplishments and the 150th anniversary of New Iceland.
“Lots of my friends who are hockey fans and know an awful lot about hockey, they’re not aware of the Falcons, and it’s a very, very significant part of hockey history,” said Palson. “I just feel like between what happened last night and what took place in the days leading up, which I did probably about eight or ten media interviews, I think we significantly turned the dial up in terms of the awareness of who the Falcons were, what they did, and the significance of the Icelandic culture in Manitoba.”
