New Westminster Salmonbellies

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.

New Westminster Salmonbellies
Founded1888
Home arenaQueen's Park Arena
Based inNew Westminster
ColoursRed, White, Blue
LeagueWestern Lacrosse Association
Head CoachRory McDade
General ManagerRay Porcellato
PresidentPaul Horn
Retired Numbers5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19
Guiding PrinciplesDiscipline ~ Family ~ Excellence
Source: Salmonbellies.com [1]

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.

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 [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

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)
SeasonTeamGPWLTGFGAPTSPLAYOFFS
1888New Westminster0000000did not play any games in 1888
1889New Westminster412179-played challenge games in 1889
1890New Westminster44001348Provincial Champions
1891New Westminster42201184 
1892New Westminster835024216 
1893New Westminster615013232 
1894New Westminster8620301912Provincial Champions
1895New Westminster8530171410Provincial Champions
1896New Westminster816116282 
1897New Westminster843123228Provincial Champions
1898New Westminster8521241111Provincial Champions
1899New Westminster871034914Provincial Champions
1900New Westminster Salmonbellies44002048Provincial Champions
1901New Westminster Salmonbellies9801831217Provincial Champions
1902New Westminster Salmonbellies8710851414Provincial Champions
1903New Westminster Salmonbellies8521522511 
1904New Westminster Salmonbellies0000000did not compete
1905New Westminster Salmonbellies1210201303620Provincial Champions
1906New Westminster Salmonbellies9810803516Provincial Champions
1907New Westminster Salmonbellies7610603512Provincial Champions
1908New Westminster Salmonbellies7700881414won Minto Cup
1909New Westminster Salmonbellies541044298 
1910New Westminster Salmonbellies615031432 
1911New Westminster Salmonbellies835030556 
1912New Westminster Salmonbellies1247135709 
1913New Westminster Salmonbellies844053438 
1914New Westminster Salmonbellies844053348 
1915New Westminster Salmonbellies6510461110won Mann Cup
1916suspended operations-------retained Mann Cup; no challenges
1917suspended operations-------retained Mann Cup; no challenges
1918New Westminster Salmonbellies604212302 
1919New Westminster Salmonbellies734049516 
1920New Westminster Salmonbellies8602492814won Mann Cup
1921New Westminster Salmonbellies8611402313won Mann Cup
1922New Westminster Salmonbellies12741472515won Mann Cup
1923New Westminster Salmonbellies12912792320won Mann Cup
1924New Westminster Salmonbellies13922602720won Mann Cup
1925New Westminster Salmonbellies14950655118won Mann Cup
1926New Westminster Salmonbellies8530332510 
1927New Westminster Salmonbellies121011792321won Mann Cup
1928New Westminster Salmonbellies-------no league play
1929New Westminster Salmonbellies8620482512 
1930New Westminster Salmonbellies11821632717 
1931New Westminster Salmonbellies141112914124 
New Westminster Salmonbellies (Professional Field Lacrosse 1909-1924)
SeasonTeamGPWLTGFGAPTSPLAYOFFS
1909New Westminster Salmonbellies10730696514won Minto Cup
1910New Westminster Salmonbellies11830523816won Minto Cup
1911New Westminster Salmonbellies10550454710 
1912New Westminster Salmonbellies161240775824won Minto Cup
1913New Westminster Salmonbellies7520473210won Minto Cup
1914New Westminster Salmonbellies633036336won Minto Cup
1915New Westminster Salmonbellies11740916814won Minto Cup
1916suspended operations------- 
1917suspended operations------- 
1918New Westminster Salmonbellies826050614 
1919New Westminster Salmonbellies12750443914won Minto Cup
1920New Westminster Salmonbellies14761837115 
1921New Westminster Salmonbellies18108011710320won Minto Cup
1922New Westminster Salmonbellies16970708418won Minto Cup
1923New Westminster Salmonbellies15870846916won Minto Cup
1924New Westminster Salmonbellies421122125won Minto Cup

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 (NLA)381919043742638won NLA pro championship
1969New Westminster Labatt Blues (Snr A)18171030610734defeated in Mann Cup
1969New Westminster Salmonbellies (WLA Pro)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 
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References
  1. salmonbellies.com
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