National Lacrosse Association

The National Lacrosse Association was a professional box lacrosse league that operated in 1968-1969 with teams from both the United States and Canada.

This article is about the defunct professional box lacrosse league. For the national governing body of lacrosse in Canada, see Canadian Lacrosse Association.
National Lacrosse Association
SportBox lacrosse
Founded1968
Ceased1969
No. of teams8
Countries United States and  Canada
Last
champion(s)		New Westminster Salmonbellies

Due to poor attendance, the league folded in March 1969.[1] After the folding, two teams (the Maple Leafs and Peterborough Lakers) joined the ill-fated Eastern Professional Lacrosse League which went defunct after one season. The NLA was the first attempt at a professional box lacrosse league in history. After cessation in 1969, the next popular pro lacrosse league would be the National Lacrosse League (1974-75).

History

The National Lacrosse Association was founded in 1968 by entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the game's exciting aspects. Most of the teams in the NLA were amateur-level teams from Canada that decided to make their teams professional.

Some organizations drew considerable crowds and had games televised[2] while other teams struggled to bring in even a couple hundred fans. Players' salaries averaged between $3000 and $4000 per year.[3]

In the league's one and only season, The New Westminster Salmonbellies emerged as the champions by beating the Detroit Olympics four games to two.

Teams

EASTERN DIVISION

WESTERN DIVISION

1968 Season
Division Team Wins Losses GF GA Points
EAST Detroit Olympics 24 14 511 441 48
EAST Peterborough Lakers 21 17 478 397 42
EAST Montreal Canadians 14 24 410 514 28
EAST Toronto Maple Leafs 13 25 375 452 26
WEST Portland Adanacs 24 14 413 365 48
WEST Vancouver Carlings 22 16 410 379 44
WEST New Westminster Salmonbellies 19 19 437 426 38
WEST Victoria Shamrocks 15 23 337 397 30

Source[4]

Playoffs

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
1 Detroit Olympics
 
1 Detroit Olympics 4 games
4 Peterborough Lakers 0 games
4 Peterborough Lakers 4 games
6 Montreal Canadians 3 games
1 Detroit Olympics 2 games
5 New Westminster Salmonbellies 4 games
2 Portland Adanacs
 
2 Portland Adanacs 2 games
5 New Westminster Salmonbellies 4 games
3 Vancouver Carlings 3 games
5 New Westminster Salmonbellies 4 games

References
  1. Fisher, Donald (2002). Lacrosse: A History of the Game. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 278.
  2. Lewis, Wendy (2008). Lacrosse Warrior: The Life of Mohawk Lacrosse Champion Gaylord Powless. Toronto: James Lorimer. p. 82.
  3. "ROUGH? RIGHT. THAT'S LACROSSE | Maclean's | AUGUST 1968". Maclean's | The Complete Archive. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  4. "1968 National Lacrosse League". wampsbibleoflacrosse.com. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
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