With the exception of one match played as a representative of Canada at the 1920 Summer Olympic ice hockey tournament, Chris Fridfinnson spent the entirety of his short senior career in the Manitoba Hockey League. He was a member of the Winnipeg Falcons as early as 1915, but spent World War I suiting up for the patriotically named Winnipeg Vimy, as well as the Winnipeg Monarchs. After the conflict he rejoined the Falcons and, with them, captured the 1920 Allan Cup, given annually to the senior men’s amateur ice hockey champions in Canada. It was this victory that allowed the Falcons to represent Canada at the 1920 Olympics, where they brought home the first ever gold medal in the sport. Following the tournament, Fridfinnson remained with the Falcons until 1922, when ill health caused him to retire from active competition. He later took up coaching, spending one season with the Edmonton Enarcos of the Edmonton Junior Hockey League (1929-1930) and two with the University of Alberta (1930-1932). When he died at the age of only 40, in 1938, he was the first of the 1920 champions to be lost.
Canada