New Westminster Salmonbellies


Source: Salmonbellies.com
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.
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 by W.B. MacDonald, is an in-depth, illustrated book which shares stories of the players' lives, successes and heartbreaks.

Founding

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 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

Mann Cup wins

Salmonbellie Winners of the Mann Cup Most Valuable Player's Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy :

All-time box lacrosse record

SeasonTeam NameGamesWinLossesTieGFGAPointsPlayoffs
1932New Westminster Salmonbellies12381801137did not qualify
1933New Westminster Salmonbellies24186024515036defeated in Mann Cup
1934New Westminster Salmonbellies241410035629528defeated in Mann Cup
1935New Westminster Salmonbellies2442003103758did not qualify
1936New Westminster Salmonbellies241410041337128defeated in BC Provincial Finals
1937New Westminster Salmonbellies28226054338044Won Mann Cup
1938New Westminster Salmonbellies24159042137830defeated in ICLL Finals
1939New Westminster Salmonbellies241311044143226defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1940New Westminster Salmonbellies24717040841914did not qualify
1941New Westminster Salmonbellies24717036040414did not qualify
1942New Westminster Salmonbellies23158026922730defeated in Mann Cup
1943New Westminster Salmonbellies18126028622224Won Mann Cup
1944New Westminster Salmonbellies24185138025637defeated in Mann Cup
1945New Westminster Salmonbellies24915032134518did not qualify
1946New Westminster Salmonbellies24167137526933defeated in Mann Cup
1947New Westminster Salmonbellies241112134336623defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1948New Westminster Salmonbellies24915029731618did not qualify
1949New Westminster Salmonbellies16610017821312did not qualify
1950New Westminster Salmonbellies301217138445125did not qualify
1951New Westminster Commandos321913040735238defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1952New Westminster Salmonacs321913044736638defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1953New Westminster Salmonacs32626027440612did not qualify
1954New Westminster Royals32527030545810did not qualify
1955New Westminster Salmonbellies32624229537614did not qualify
1956New Westminster Salmonbellies3042602453928did not qualify
1957New Westminster Salmonbellies301515029128230defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1958New Westminster Salmonbellies301711233530036Won Mann Cup
1959New Westminster O'Keefes302010036930640Won Mann Cup
1960New Westminster O'Keefes301614029028932defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1961New Westminster O'Keefes30254135624651defeated in ICLL Finals
1962New Westminster O'Keefes322210038226344Won Mann Cup
1963New Westminster O'Keefes30219032826342defeated in ICLL Finals
1964New Westminster O'Keefes321813133629837defeated in ICLL Finals
1965New Westminster O'Keefes30219031727242Won Mann Cup
1966New Westminster Salmonbellies301315227131128defeated in ICLL Semi-Finals
1967New Westminster Salmonbellies301317028432926did not qualify
1968New Westminster Salmonbellies 381919043742638won NLA pro championship
1969New Westminster Labatt Blues 18171030610734defeated in Mann Cup
1969New Westminster Salmonbellies 291910043531538defeated in Canadian Pro championship
1970New Westminster Salmonbellies30228042332044Won Mann Cup
1971New Westminster Salmonbellies31229038429544defeated in Mann Cup
1972New Westminster Salmonbellies362511043038250Won Mann Cup
1973New Westminster Salmonbellies25718031738414did not qualify
1974New Westminster Salmonbellies24203133726441Won Mann Cup
1975New Westminster Salmonbellies24177035430534defeated in Semi-Finals
1976New Westminster Salmonbellies24149135830929Won Mann Cup
1977New Westminster Salmonbellies241212030728924defeated in Semi-Finals
1978New Westminster Salmonbellies241211134635125defeated in Semi-Finals
1979New Westminster Salmonbellies301712139637035defeated in Semi-Finals
1980New Westminster Salmonbellies241113031430622defeated in Mann Cup
1981New Westminster Salmonbellies241013126627821Won Mann Cup
1982New Westminster Salmonbellies24177029623934defeated in Mann Cup
1983New Westminster Salmonbellies241311026224926defeated in preliminary round-robin
1984New Westminster Salmonbellies24168028724832defeated in Finals
1985New Westminster Salmonbellies241113022621422defeated Mann Cup
1986New Westminster Salmonbellies241410022519928Won Mann Cup
1987New Westminster Salmonbellies24204030620940defeated in Mann Cup
1988New Westminster Salmonbellies24168022420932defeated in Finals
1989New Westminster Salmonbellies24213028219242Won Mann Cup
1990New Westminster Salmonbellies24177022318034defeated in Semi-Finals
1991New Westminster Salmonbellies24159023019630Won Mann Cup
1992New Westminster Salmonbellies24177025518134defeated in Mann Cup
1993New Westminster Salmonbellies24177025819234defeated in Semi-Finals
1994New Westminster Salmonbellies20164022316432defeated in Mann Cup
1995New Westminster Salmonbellies25212227418644defeated in Mann Cup
1996New Westminster Salmonbellies20109118718321defeated in Semi-Finals
1997New Westminster Salmonbellies20910117417919did not qualify
1998New Westminster Salmonbellies25619019626612did not qualify
1999New Westminster Salmonbellies251113122022523defeated in Semi-Finals
2000New Westminster Salmonbellies25159132226931defeated in Semi-Finals
2001New Westminster Salmonbellies20109122220121defeated in Semi-Finals
2002New Westminster Salmonbellies20109125324721defeated in Semi-Finals
2003New Westminster Salmonbellies20613122926313did not qualify
2004New Westminster Salmonbellies20812020322516did not qualify
2005New Westminster Salmonbellies17106121518821defeated in Semi-Finals
2006New Westminster Salmonbellies18126024618124defeated in Finals
2007New Westminster Salmonbellies18152121716731defeated in Finals
2008New Westminster Salmonbellies18171019111934defeated in Mann Cup
2009New Westminster Salmonbellies18133218014128defeated in Mann Cup
2010New Westminster Salmonbellies18135018215626defeated in Mann Cup
2011New Westminster Salmonbellies18115216513724defeated in Finals
Total81 seasons2,0391,1528543326,64222,4472,337