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| Earl Ingarfield Sr., one of the greatest hockey players Lethbridge ever produced, was recently elected to the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame. Here he is with the New York Rangers, where he had his greatest success in the 1960s. Source: Library and Archives Canada https://icehockey.fandom.com/ wiki/Earl_Ingarfield,_Sr. (May be subject to copyright) |
Recently, Earl Ingarfield was elected to the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame. When I heard the news, I was reminded when I got a chance to see Earl Ingarfield – sort of.
Local hero
I used to hear about the Lethbridge Native Suns, who were a pre-cursor to the Broncos in the Western Canadian Junior Hockey League back in the 1950s.
I used to hear about the Lethbridge Native Suns, who were a pre-cursor to the Broncos in the Western Canadian Junior Hockey League back in the 1950s.
Not only did Earl Ingarfield play for the Native Suns, but he was born and raised in Lethbridge – making him a true native son.
Prolific career
Earl Ingarfield broke into the NHL in 1958 with the Rangers, staying with them until the conclusion of the 1966-1967 season. He had 122 goals and 142 assists for 264 points in 527 games.
Earl Ingarfield broke into the NHL in 1958 with the Rangers, staying with them until the conclusion of the 1966-1967 season. He had 122 goals and 142 assists for 264 points in 527 games.
The NHL expanded to 12 teams in 1967 and Ingarfield joined the Pittsburgh Penguins where he became their captain for the 1968-1969 season. He played 90 games for the Penguins, scoring 23 goals and adding 37 assists, for 60 points.
He was traded to the Oakland Seals part way through the 1968-1969 season and stayed with them to the end of the 1969-1970 season, playing in 80 games and scoring 29 goals and 39 assists for 68 points. He accompanied the team when they moved and became the California Golden Seals for the 1970-1971 season. He played in 49 games for the Seals, recording five goals and eight assists for 13 points. He retired in 1971.
His final NHL totals were 179 goals and 226 assists for 405 points in 746 games.
Earl Ingarfield would go on to become the second coach of the New York Islanders in the their expansion season of 1972-1973 season where he had a record of six wins, 22 losses and two ties. He did not return the following season.
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| Earl Ingarfield Jr., played for the Atlanta Flames and accompanied them when they moved to Calgary, playing in their first ever game, an exhibition in Lethbridge in 1980. Source: Library and Archives Canada FB page "Atlanta Flames - The Hockey Chronicle" (May be subject to copyright) |
So, Earl Ingarfield retired the same season in which I was born. So how did I see Earl Ingarfield play?
Well, in 1980 the Atlanta Flames moved north to Calgary and became the Calgary Flames. When they announced their pre-season schedule, their very first game in existence would be in Lethbridge at the Sportsplex.
Adding some added interest was that a hometown boy would suit up for the brand new Flames. His name was Earl Ingarfield – Junior.
He was born in New York obviously when his dad was playing for the Rangers. As a teenager he moved to his dad’s hometown of Lethbridge to play in the then Western Canada Junior Hockey League for Regina then three seasons with the Lethbridge Broncos.
He found his way to the Flames' organization and moved north with them for the 1980-1981 season.
When the Flames took the ice in the Lethbridge Sportsplex on Sunday, Sept. 21, 1980, Earl Ingarfield Junior was not only in the Flames’ line up but drew a round of applause from the crowd.
He did not disappoint, scoring the team’s fourth goal – and I was there to see it, with my Mom and my Dad and my sister.
Ingarfield Junior would go on to play 16 games for the Flames that year, recording two goals and three assists for five points. He would move on to Detroit part way through the season, playing in 22 games with he Red Wings, and scoring two goals and an assist for three points.
He would bounce around in the minors for six more seasons, but never again play in the NHL.
His final NHL totals, including one game in Atlanta in the 1979-1980 season, were four goals and four assists for eight points in 39 games. He also added one assist in two playoff games for the Atlanta Flames.
Parting thoughts
It was kind of a cool thing. Leading up to that game, it was my Mom who told me she had heard of Earl Ingarfield back in the 1950s, and may have even seen him play in Lethbridge. If she did, it was to hang out with someone else, because the only reason she liked hockey was because her boys did.
It was kind of a cool thing. Leading up to that game, it was my Mom who told me she had heard of Earl Ingarfield back in the 1950s, and may have even seen him play in Lethbridge. If she did, it was to hang out with someone else, because the only reason she liked hockey was because her boys did.
Still, it was neat not only seeing a kid who played his junior in Lethbridge suit up for the brand new Calgary Flames NHL team, but the son of one of Letbridge’s greatest hockey players too. And he scored a goal.
What more could you ask for.
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