Lethbridge Maple Leafs

The Lethbridge Maple Leafs were, at times, a senior, intermediate, and junior team in Lethbridge, Alberta.

After winning the Alberta and Western Canada Intermediate championships in 1936-37, the Maple Leafs sought entry into the Alberta Senior League. Turned down, they played in the West Kootenay League for one season before being admitted into the Alberta League. They proceeded to win that league title three out of four seasons. The Leafs disbanded during World War II.

After the war they were invited to join the Western Canada Senior Hockey League (WCSHL) in 1945 but the city turned it down. They were afraid that the local junior team would suffer. The Maple Leafs did join the WCSHL in 1946 but folded after two seasons. Lethbridge was too small to compete with the league's much larger cities.

They turned to intermediate play and won the 1949-50 Western Canada Intermediate Playoffs. That win led to their being Canada's representative in the 1951 World Championship after an European exhibition tour.

They are, perhaps, best known for winning that championship. The story of the 1951 Lethbridge Maple Leafs journey to world amateur champions is being researched and results posted as part of the 60th Anniversary of the gold medal victory in Paris, France at www.lethbridgemapleleafs.com

=Senior Team=

Western Canada Senior Hockey League (1946-49)


=Intermediate Team=

The Maple Leafs won the provincial titles in 1936-37 and 1949-50, In both these years they won the Western Canada title as well,

Their 1949-50 title led to them being chosen as Canada's representative in the 1951 World Championship. Prior to that competition they went on a European tour. They then won the World Championship.

The team continued to compete into the late 1950's.

=Junior Team=

A team called the Maple Leafs lost the semi final in the 1934-35 Alberta Junior Playoffs.