By Sam Cortes, Communications Coordinator
Ralph Lyndon (Multi-Sport Athlete)

 

Last but not least from our 2020 Induction class is Ralph Lyndon. Chosen by our veteren selection committee, Ralph was a talented multi-sport athlete who excelled in hockey, lacrosse and football. Born in 1935, it wasn’t until his early teens that Ralph really started to get recognized for his talent. 

In 1950, at the age of 15, Ralph was playing hockey with the Winnipeg Monarchs. He won a title at each level before moving on and playing one season overseas with the Harringay Racers. It was a short stay, but a successful one as he won rookie of the year. The University of North Dakota took notice, and for the next three years from 1957 to 1960, he played university hockey. In his second year there, the team won the NCAA Frozen Four Championship, where he scored a goal and tallied an assist in the final game. 

Lacrosse came easily for Ralph as well. He started playing at the bantam level in 1947 at Isaac Brock and eventually moved on to play for the Winnipeg Orioles team. He was then selected to play for the Manitoba All-Stars junior lacrosse teams, where they played in the Minto Cup final in 1954 and 1955. He was a dominant player and a prolific scorer, usually sitting near the top of the scoring charts every season he played.

Football is a team sport, but it would be hard to imagine the Daniel McIntyre Maroons only losing one game over 3 years from 1950-’52 without Ralph Lyndon. They were the Manitoba champions for 3 straight years where Ralph was an all-star and the team captain in the ‘51 and ‘52 season. Afterwards, he moved on to play junior football with the Winnipeg Rods. In his first season there, they lost the national final, but would avenge that loss the following year in 1955, becoming national champions.

After his playing days were finished, Ralph continued to be involved with sports. He coached both hockey and football for many years. Already inducted in many individual sports Hall of Fame’s, it was only a matter of time before his achievements in sport led him to be inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.