Hockey

Long, cold winters have made hockey the most popular Canadian winter sport. Hockey, as well, is the only truly Canadian sport as it has its origins here. The game was played in Lethbridge from nearly the first winter and is played to this day by amateurs and professionals alike. Lethbridge's love of hockey is seen in the many local ice rinks, all of which are used to their capacity throughout the winter.

Lethbridge's first hockey team was the Lethbridge Hockey Club which was formed in the city on December 12, 1908. The team played in a league with Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek, and Coleman. They won their first game ever by a score of 9-3 against Coleman. Judging by the score it was a good thing that the game only lasted one period. The game was stopped when it rained and the ice turned to slush.

P19910055001-GA Hockey sweater that was worn by the Lethbridge Maple Leafs

That first organized hockey game in Lethbridge was a sign of things to come. The city's winter weather was just too nice to play the game. To play the game regularly Lethbridge would have to wait until 1921 and the construction of its first covered arena in 1921.

Lethbridge hockey teams have enjoyed their share of glory, perhaps their greatest moment came in March of 1951 when the Lethbridge Maple Leafs won the world amateur hockey championships in Paris, France. The Leafs defeated the Swedish national team in front of 15 000 French fans to gain their place in history. The Lethbridge team was made up of local senior and junior hockey players, all of whom were amateurs holding down jobs in addition to their hockey playing. In the spring of 1950 the team won the Western Canadian Intermediate championship, then left Lethbridge for a six month exhibition tour of Europe ending in the victory at Paris. The team returned from Europe in April of 1951 to a heroes welcome, having placed Lethbridge in Canadian and International sporting history.

P19739333000-GA The trophy won by the 1951 Lethbridge Maple Leafs.

Professional hockey too has a long history in Lethbridge. The city's first professional team was the Native Sons which was formed in the 40's and its name was a dedication to the men then serving in the war. In the 60's the Lethbridge Sugar Kings hockey team was formed and played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, followed in the 70's by the Lethbridge Longhorns. After construction of the Lethbridge Canada Games Sportsplex in 1974, Lethbridge finally had a good enough facility to get a major junior hockey team. In 1975, Lethbridge brought the Western Hockey League Swift Current Bronco's to town. The Bronco's enjoyed many successful years in Lethbridge, while here they made it to the Memorial Cup finals and had players such as Bryan Trottier and Brian Sutter who went on to play in the National Hockey League. The team left the city to return to Swift Current in the early eighties and were replaced by the Lethbridge Hurricanes who play in the city today.