Port Arthur played the Ottawa Senators for the Stanley Cup in a 1911 challenge, losing 13–4 in a one-game showdown on March 16, 1911.

Port Arthur is located in western portion of Ontario, the Bearcats found it convenient to play in the Manitoba Senior A Hockey League (MSHL, MTBSHL) at various times during its history.

[citation needed] After the 1935 Allan Cup champion Halifax Wolverines disbanded, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) chose the runner-up Bearcats to be Canada's representative at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

[3][4] The Bearcats were chosen to represent Canada at the 1940 Winter Olympics, and CAHA vice-president Frank Sargent was placed in charge of the upcoming tour of Europe.

[6] The Bearcats requested a guarantee from the CAHA against financial loss,[7] and Sargent expected a meeting to decide on the travel demands.