Raiders Jr. Hockey Club History

The Seven Oaks Minor Hockey Association was concerned that there was no junior hockey team in our area for graduating juvenile hockey players who wanted to further their education and still participate in the sport that they enjoyed. 

As Chairman of the Seven Oaks Minor Hockey Association, David Levine contacted the President of the Manitoba Major Hockey League. During the 1975-76 hockey season he was invited to attend many games and discussion about the feasibility of joining the league ensued. 

A meeting was held with graduation juvenile hockey players in our area as well as others who had graduated in the previous couple of years, to see if there was enough interest from the prospective players. The players were enthusiastic about the idea. 

On September 7, 1977, the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League granted a franchise to the Seven Oaks Raiders Inc. 

In order to generate funding to equip the team and pay for other expenses, the Seven Oaks Raiders ran a hockey tournament at the West Kildonan Arena. 

The Seven Oaks Raiders Inc. commenced playing in the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League in October 1977. 

Many volunteers were responsible for the early success of the team; David & Donna Levine, Jim & Jenny Blundell, John Hykawy, Ted Sisetski, Steve Pich, Ed Parfeniuk, and Fred Martens.