Welcome To Our site! How to Read the Site:

We have tried to capture the story of the Lethbridge Maple Leafs and provide a site to post stories, documents, links and photos of their incredible journey to the Championship.

To read their great story from the beginning, scroll to the bottom of the site to part 1 and work your way up through the 34 parts (You may have to click on “older posts” at the bottom to get to part 1). Each part is in chronological order and describes a part of the journey and many contain photos (We continue to add new photos to these posts as we get them).

After part 34 we are posting current related activities, stories and photos from the Galt Museum & Archives, Lethbridge Hurricanes, City of Lethbridge and private collections, as they become available. If you have a photo or story contribution for the site we would be happy to post it. lethbridgemapleleafs@gmail.com

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Going Home as World Champions, Part 32

Empress of France II (Formerly the Duchess of Bedford)
The Lethbridge Maple Leafs Were Going Home

After their long journey to world champions they wanted to get home as soon as possible. On April 10, 1951 they started the long trip to Canada. The Lethbridge Maple Leafs boarded the Empress of France for the voyage home.
The trip home was anticlimactic and they passed the time with diversions from the other 700 passengers, conversation, games, dances and food. Tom Wood paced the decks awaiting news from home of the impending birth of a baby. They sailed into a severe 2 day storm that left many ill and delayed their trip.

Tom Kirkham, a Lethbridge business owner, sent the Leafs a wire on behalf of the citizens of Lethbridge:  Welcome home. Families will meet you at the airport in individual cars then rush to parade starting at 10:30. Civic welcome city hall at noon. Civic provincial banquet Thursday at 6:30. Dance at arena Friday night……Bring both cups, God bless you all p. 145

On the Ship Home with Trophies
Photo Coutesy James Sinclair Collection

It would be quite a homecoming!
Posted by Just Group at 5:41 AM
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)