Kyle Clifford is Coming Home

Thursday, 6 February 2020 10:59

Kyle Clifford grew up a Maple Leafs fan in his hometown of Ayr and now he will get to wear the Blue and White after a trade last night with the Kings.

AYR - The Toronto Maple Leafs just got a little more local.

Last night they acquired goaltender Jack Campbell and forward Kyle Clifford from the L.A Kings, for Trevor Moore and draft picks.

Clifford is from Ayr Ontario and actually brought the cup to the small village in 2012. He was also a teammate of Jake Muzzin, who of course is from Woodstock. Clifford's parents still live in Ayr, and his father John actually works in the Town of Ingersoll. His mom Debbie Clifford says they were surprised by the news last night.

"We were shocked and then very excited, the family is going to be close to home and then you start think about the move, our grandchildren and his wife, the boys having to say goodbye to all their friends at school, so that is going to be a big transition for them and my heart goes out to them and his wife for that, but to have him home, as a family it's great and we are looking forward to watching more 7:00 pm games, as opposed to having to wake up for the 10:30 pm games."

Clifford says the family has always been Leaf fans and nobody was a bigger fan than Kyle.

"That little boy inside of him is probably quite thrilled, saying wow, I am going to be playing for the Toronto Maple Leaf, but he was a true King as well, so I'm sure his emotions are little mixed right now, but when he steps on the ice, he's going to be a Maple Leaf."

The family is excited to be cheering for the Leafs and are hoping to maybe attend more games now that he will be playing in Southern Ontario.

Clifford grew up in Ayr, and started playing the game when he was three years old with Ayr Minor hockey before moving to the Cambridge Hawks program in his novice year and came up through the Cambridge Hawks minor hockey. Clifford played his junior career in Barrie with the Colts and only spent one year in the AHL before making the Kings roster.