New Westminster Salmonbellies

New Westminster Salmonbellies
New Westminster Salmonbellies
Founded	1888
Home arena	Queen's Park Arena
Based in	New Westminster
Colours	Red, White, Blue
League	Western Lacrosse Association
Head Coach	Steve Goodwin
General Manager	Dan Richardson
Retired Numbers	5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19

The New Westminster Salmonbellies are a Men's Senior 'A' lacrosse team located in New Westminster, BC. Their home arena is Queen's Park Arena. They compete as part of the Western Lacrosse Association and have won the Mann Cup 24 times, most recently in 1991. The 1968-1972 teams were collectively inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2004.

The New Westminster lacrosse club was founded on May 12, 1888 but did not play their first home game in the Royal City until June 8, 1889, a 3-1 loss to Vancouver.

"All lacrosse players are requested to meet on the cricket grounds this evening for the purpose of forming a lacrosse club." - New Westminster Daily British Columbian, Friday, May 11, 1888

On Saturday evening a meeting of lacrosse players was held and a club formed. Mr. Glover was appointed chairman pro tem and Mr. Lewis permanent secretary and treasurer. A committee was formed to draft rules and by-laws, and perform other duties in connection with the organization of the club. Practises [sic] will be held every Wednesday and Friday evening for the present, and it is to be hoped that every lover of the game will join the club and assist in making it a success in every way. It is the intention to try and arrange a match with Vancouver on July 1st. - New Westminster Daily British Columbian, Monday, May 14, 1888

They won their first Mann Cup in 1915. Prior to 1932, they played as a field lacrosse team but in May 1932 box lacrosse was adopted for the senior league in British Columbia - and the Salmonbellies have been a box lacrosse team since then. The Salmonbellies have won the Mann Cup more than any other lacrosse team. They have won at least one Mann Cup in every decade since the inception of the trophy, except for the 2000s.

Salmonbellie Alumni Paul Parnell, Wayne Goss, Eric Cowieson, Jack Bionda, Cliff Sepka and Geordie Dean have all had their numbers retired by the team. There are more Salmonbellies alumni in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame than from any other team.

The Salmonbellie name arose from a taunt given by an opposing team's fan during an early game. The fan called the New West team "salmonbellies" referring to the fact that salmon was considered a lowly food at the time. But the players liked the name, concluding that the belly was the prime portion on the fish, so the name was adopted and has stuck for over a century. Curiously, the name is never spelled with a "y" even when one writes about an individual "Salmonbellie."

Salmonbellies vs. the World: The Story of Lacrosse's Most Famous Team & Their Greatest Opponents (Caitlin Press, 2013) by W.B. MacDonald, is an in-depth, illustrated book which shares stories of the players' lives, successes and heartbreaks.

Mann Cup Wins

• 1915-17
• 1920-25
• 1927
• 1937
• 1943
• 1958
• 1959
• 1962
• 1965
• 1970
• 1972
• 1974
• 1976
• 1981
• 1986
• 1989
• 1991

Mann Cup MVPs

Salmonbellie Winners of the Mann Cup Most Valuable Player's Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy (Major/Senior A):

• 1943 Bill Wilkes
• 1944 Ike Hildebrand
• 1958 Norm McKay
• 1959 Jack Bionda (New Westminster O'Keefes)
• 1962 Jack Bionda (New Westminster O'Keefes)
• 1965 Les Norman
• 1970 Paul Parnell
• 1972 Paul Parnell
• 1974 Ken Winzoski
• 1976 Dave Durante
• 1981 Wayne Goss
• 1986 Geordie Dean
• 1987 Eric Cowieson (jointly held with Jim Meredith of the Brooklyn Redmen)
• 1989 Ben Hieltjes
• 1991 Geordie Dean

All-Time Field Lacrosse Record

New Westminster Salmonbellies (Senior Amateur Field Lacrosse 1888-1931)
Season	Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS	PLAYOFFS
1888	New Westminster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	did not play any games in 1888
1889	New Westminster	4	1	2	1	7	9	-	played challenge games in 1889
1890	New Westminster	4	4	0	0	13	4	8	Provincial Champions
1891	New Westminster	4	2	2	0	11	8	4
1892	New Westminster	8	3	5	0	24	21	6
1893	New Westminster	6	1	5	0	13	23	2
1894	New Westminster	8	6	2	0	30	19	12	Provincial Champions
1895	New Westminster	8	5	3	0	17	14	10	Provincial Champions
1896	New Westminster	8	1	6	1	16	28	2
1897	New Westminster	8	4	3	1	23	22	8	Provincial Champions
1898	New Westminster	8	5	2	1	24	11	11	Provincial Champions
1899	New Westminster	8	7	1	0	34	9	14	Provincial Champions
1900	New Westminster Salmonbellies	4	4	0	0	20	4	8	Provincial Champions
1901	New Westminster Salmonbellies	9	8	0	1	83	12	17	Provincial Champions
1902	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	7	1	0	85	14	14	Provincial Champions
1903	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	5	2	1	52	25	11
1904	New Westminster Salmonbellies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	did not compete
1905	New Westminster Salmonbellies	12	10	2	0	130	36	20	Provincial Champions
1906	New Westminster Salmonbellies	9	8	1	0	80	35	16	Provincial Champions
1907	New Westminster Salmonbellies	7	6	1	0	60	35	12	Provincial Champions
1908	New Westminster Salmonbellies	7	7	0	0	88	14	14	won Minto Cup
1909	New Westminster Salmonbellies	5	4	1	0	44	29	8
1910	New Westminster Salmonbellies	6	1	5	0	31	43	2
1911	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	3	5	0	30	55	6
1912	New Westminster Salmonbellies	12	4	7	1	35	70	9
1913	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	4	4	0	53	43	8
1914	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	4	4	0	53	34	8
1915	New Westminster Salmonbellies	6	5	1	0	46	11	10	won Mann Cup
1916	suspended operations	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	retained Mann Cup; no challenges
1917	suspended operations	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	retained Mann Cup; no challenges
1918	New Westminster Salmonbellies	6	0	4	2	12	30	2
1919	New Westminster Salmonbellies	7	3	4	0	49	51	6
1920	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	6	0	2	49	28	14	won Mann Cup
1921	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	6	1	1	40	23	13	won Mann Cup
1922	New Westminster Salmonbellies	12	7	4	1	47	25	15	won Mann Cup
1923	New Westminster Salmonbellies	12	9	1	2	79	23	20	won Mann Cup
1924	New Westminster Salmonbellies	13	9	2	2	60	27	20	won Mann Cup
1925	New Westminster Salmonbellies	14	9	5	0	65	51	18	won Mann Cup
1926	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	5	3	0	33	25	10
1927	New Westminster Salmonbellies	12	10	1	1	79	23	21	won Mann Cup
1928	New Westminster Salmonbellies	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	no league play
1929	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	6	2	0	48	25	12
1930	New Westminster Salmonbellies	11	8	2	1	63	27	17
1931	New Westminster Salmonbellies	14	11	1	2	91	41	24
New Westminster Salmonbellies (Professional Field Lacrosse 1909-1924)
Season	Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS	PLAYOFFS
1909	New Westminster Salmonbellies	10	7	3	0	69	65	14	won Minto Cup
1910	New Westminster Salmonbellies	11	8	3	0	52	38	16	won Minto Cup
1911	New Westminster Salmonbellies	10	5	5	0	45	47	10
1912	New Westminster Salmonbellies	16	12	4	0	77	58	24	won Minto Cup
1913	New Westminster Salmonbellies	7	5	2	0	47	32	10	won Minto Cup
1914	New Westminster Salmonbellies	6	3	3	0	36	33	6	won Minto Cup
1915	New Westminster Salmonbellies	11	7	4	0	91	68	14	won Minto Cup
1916	suspended operations	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1917	suspended operations	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1918	New Westminster Salmonbellies	8	2	6	0	50	61	4
1919	New Westminster Salmonbellies	12	7	5	0	44	39	14	won Minto Cup
1920	New Westminster Salmonbellies	14	7	6	1	83	71	15
1921	New Westminster Salmonbellies	18	10	8	0	117	103	20	won Minto Cup
1922	New Westminster Salmonbellies	16	9	7	0	70	84	18	won Minto Cup
1923	New Westminster Salmonbellies	15	8	7	0	84	69	16	won Minto Cup
1924	New Westminster Salmonbellies	4	2	1	1	22	12	5	won Minto Cup

All-Time Box Lacrosse Record

Season	Team Name	Games	Win	Losses	Tie	GF	GA	Points	Playoffs
1932	New Westminster Salmonbellies	12	3	8	1	80	113	7	did not qualify
1933	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	18	6	0	245	150	36	defeated in Mann Cup
1934	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	14	10	0	356	295	28	defeated in Mann Cup
1935	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	4	20	0	310	375	8	did not qualify
1936	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	14	10	0	413	371	28	defeated in BC Provincial Finals
1937	New Westminster Salmonbellies	28	22	6	0	543	380	44	Won Mann Cup
1938	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	15	9	0	421	378	30	defeated in ICLL Finals
1939	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	13	11	0	441	432	26	defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1940	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	7	17	0	408	419	14	did not qualify
1941	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	7	17	0	360	404	14	did not qualify
1942	New Westminster Salmonbellies	23	15	8	0	269	227	30	defeated in Mann Cup
1943	New Westminster Salmonbellies	18	12	6	0	286	222	24	Won Mann Cup
1944	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	18	5	1	380	256	37	defeated in Mann Cup
1945	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	9	15	0	321	345	18	did not qualify
1946	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	16	7	1	375	269	33	defeated in Mann Cup
1947	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	11	12	1	343	366	23	defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1948	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	9	15	0	297	316	18	did not qualify
1949	New Westminster Salmonbellies	16	6	10	0	178	213	12	did not qualify
1950	New Westminster Salmonbellies	30	12	17	1	384	451	25	did not qualify
1951	New Westminster Commandos	32	19	13	0	407	352	38	defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1952	New Westminster Salmonacs	32	19	13	0	447	366	38	defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1953	New Westminster Salmonacs	32	6	26	0	274	406	12	did not qualify
1954	New Westminster Royals	32	5	27	0	305	458	10	did not qualify
1955	New Westminster Salmonbellies	32	6	24	2	295	376	14	did not qualify
1956	New Westminster Salmonbellies	30	4	26	0	245	392	8	did not qualify
1957	New Westminster Salmonbellies	30	15	15	0	291	282	30	defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1958	New Westminster Salmonbellies	30	17	11	2	335	300	36	Won Mann Cup
1959	New Westminster O'Keefes	30	20	10	0	369	306	40	Won Mann Cup
1960	New Westminster O'Keefes	30	16	14	0	290	289	32	defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1961	New Westminster O'Keefes	30	25	4	1	356	246	51	defeated in ICLL Finals
1962	New Westminster O'Keefes	32	22	10	0	382	263	44	Won Mann Cup
1963	New Westminster O'Keefes	30	21	9	0	328	263	42	defeated in ICLL Finals
1964	New Westminster O'Keefes	32	18	13	1	336	298	37	defeated in ICLL Finals
1965	New Westminster O'Keefes	30	21	9	0	317	272	42	Won Mann Cup
1966	New Westminster O’Keefes	30	13	15	2	271	311	28	defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1967	New Westminster Salmonbellies	30	13	17	0	284	329	26	did not qualify
1968	New Westminster Salmonbellies (NLA)	38	19	19	0	437	426	38	won NLA pro championship
1969	New Westminster Labatt Blues (Snr A)	18	17	1	0	306	107	34	defeated in Mann Cup
1969	New Westminster Salmonbellies (WLA Pro)	29	19	10	0	435	315	38	defeated in Canadian Pro championship
1970	New Westminster Salmonbellies	30	22	8	0	423	320	44	Won Mann Cup
1971	New Westminster Salmonbellies	31	22	9	0	384	295	44	defeated in Mann Cup
1972	New Westminster Salmonbellies	36	25	11	0	430	382	50	Won Mann Cup
1973	New Westminster Salmonbellies	25	7	18	0	317	384	14	did not qualify
1974	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	20	3	1	337	264	41	Won Mann Cup
1975	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	17	7	0	354	305	34	defeated in Semi-Finals
1976	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	14	9	1	358	309	29	Won Mann Cup
1977	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	12	12	0	307	289	24	defeated in Semi-Finals
1978	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	12	11	1	346	351	25	defeated in Semi-Finals
1979	New Westminster Salmonbellies	30	17	12	1	396	370	35	defeated in Semi-Finals
1980	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	11	13	0	314	306	22	defeated in Mann Cup
1981	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	10	13	1	266	278	21	Won Mann Cup
1982	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	17	7	0	296	239	34	defeated in Mann Cup
1983	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	13	11	0	262	249	26	defeated in preliminary round-robin
1984	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	16	8	0	287	248	32	defeated in Finals
1985	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	11	13	0	226	214	22	defeated Mann Cup
1986	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	14	10	0	225	199	28	Won Mann Cup
1987	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	20	4	0	306	209	40	defeated in Mann Cup
1988	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	16	8	0	224	209	32	defeated in Finals
1989	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	21	3	0	282	192	42	Won Mann Cup
1990	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	17	7	0	223	180	34	defeated in Semi-Finals
1991	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	15	9	0	230	196	30	Won Mann Cup
1992	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	17	7	0	255	181	34	defeated in Mann Cup
1993	New Westminster Salmonbellies	24	17	7	0	258	192	34	defeated in Semi-Finals
1994	New Westminster Salmonbellies	20	16	4	0	223	164	32	defeated in Mann Cup
1995	New Westminster Salmonbellies	25	21	2	2	274	186	44	defeated in Mann Cup
1996	New Westminster Salmonbellies	20	10	9	1	187	183	21	defeated in Semi-Finals
1997	New Westminster Salmonbellies	20	9	10	1	174	179	19	did not qualify
1998	New Westminster Salmonbellies	25	6	19	0	196	266	12	did not qualify
1999	New Westminster Salmonbellies	25	11	13	1	220	225	23	defeated in Semi-Finals
2000	New Westminster Salmonbellies	25	15	9	1	322	269	31	defeated in Semi-Finals
2001	New Westminster Salmonbellies	20	10	9	1	222	201	21	defeated in Semi-Finals
2002	New Westminster Salmonbellies	20	10	9	1	253	247	21	defeated in Semi-Finals
2003	New Westminster Salmonbellies	20	6	13	1	229	263	13	did not qualify
2004	New Westminster Salmonbellies	20	8	12	0	203	225	16	did not qualify
2005	New Westminster Salmonbellies	17	10	6	1	215	188	21	defeated in Semi-Finals
2006	New Westminster Salmonbellies	18	12	6	0	246	181	24	defeated in Finals
2007	New Westminster Salmonbellies	18	15	2	1	217	167	31	defeated in Finals
2008	New Westminster Salmonbellies	18	17	1	0	191	119	34	defeated in Mann Cup
2009	New Westminster Salmonbellies	18	13	3	2	180	141	28	defeated in Mann Cup
2010	New Westminster Salmonbellies	18	13	5	0	182	156	26	defeated in Mann Cup
2011	New Westminster Salmonbellies	18	11	5	2	165	137	24	defeated in Finals
Total	81 seasons	2,039	1,152	854	33	26,642	22,447	2,337

External links

• Salmonbellies Official Website
• Historical Photo of match between New Westminster and Tecumseh, 1919
• Salmonbellies Team Photo, 1908
• Salmonbellies Team Photo, c.1910
• Lacrosse Game in New Westminster, 1900s