What About Bob?

What About Bob?

Earlier we posted comments from Tom Woods about Bob Kirkparick's key role in helping the Lethbridge Maple Leafs win the series against Melville Millionairres and earn the rite to represent Canada. What about Bob?

Bob Kirkpatrick as a New York Ranger -is the 10th  from front
(Click on picture to enlarge)

Bob Kirkpatrick (Dec. 1, 1915 – Feb. 20, 1988) was a 5’ 10”, 165 lb. centre who shot left.  He had  quick acceleration and could change gears depending on the game. Kirkpatrick won an Allan Cup with the Prince Albert Mintos in 1935-36. From there he played in Britain, at Earl's Court with the Rangers for one year.

Kirkpatrick returned to Canada to play senior hockey in Lethbridge, and after a making New York Ranger farm team,  the New York Rovers, he was called up to the  New York Rangers for the '42-'43 season. Due to injuries, the rookie Kirkpratick was moved to the top line with Bryan Hextall and Lynn Patrick.  He had 12 goals and 12 assists in 49 games. The Rangers did not make the playoffs and Kirkpatrick, like many other hockey players, joined the war.



He played 2 years while stationed in Winnipeg, then to St. Paul, Minnesota and then back with the  Lethbridge Maple Leafs, retiring in 1949. He briefly came out of retirement in the fall of 1950 to help the Lethbridge Maple Leafs win the the rite to represent Canada in the 1951 World Amateur Championships in Paris, France.  However, now at the end of his career, Bob retired and did not accompany the team to Europe. View his career stats here