Toronto Maple Leafs (NLA)

The Toronto Maple Leafs were a professional box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse Association.[1] The team started out in the senior A league in 1966.[2][3] In 1968, the professional NLA was launched[4][5] and the Maple Leafs joined the league,[6] playing their home games at Maple Leaf Gardens.[1] Stafford Smythe and Harold Ballard, part owners of the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs, were two of the five founding partners of the pro club,[7] but financial difficulties forced Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to take over ownership of the club midway through the season.[1][8][9] The NLA suspended operations prior to the following season.[9][10] However, the eastern division of the NLA reconstituted itself as the Eastern Professional Lacrosse Association, in which the Maple Leafs competed in 1969.[11][12][13] By 1970 the pro league had disbanded. Toronto would be without pro box lacrosse until the arrival of the Toronto Tomahawks in 1974.[14]

References
  1. Cauz, Louis (1968-07-18). "Leafs respond with win for new coach Kapasky". The Globe and Mail.
  2. "Lacrosse Leafs ousted, future dim". The Globe and Mail. 1966-08-16.
  3. Rimstead, Paul (1966-05-10). "Name lacrosse team Maple Leafs in bid for instant recognition". The Globe and Mail.
  4. Walker, Gord (1968-03-26). "Rules rewritten as lacrosse makes new effort to go professional". The Globe and Mail.
  5. "Boxla pro-am pact result of meeting". The Globe and Mail. 1968-03-19.
  6. Hutton, Eric (1968-08-01). "Rough? Right. That's lacrosse". Maclean's.
  7. Golla, James (1968-04-09). "Big gamble by backers in lacrosse". The Globe and Mail.
  8. Fraser, Terry (1968-08-08). "TV key to lacrosse expansion". Toronto Daily Star.
  9. Fraser, Terry (1969-08-14). "Kells loses faith in sports fans". Toronto Daily Star.
  10. "Pro lacrosse league suspends operations". The Globe and Mail. 1969-03-18.
  11. "St. Kitts, Kitchener to join Leafs, Petes in eastern lacrosse". The Globe and Mail. 1969-04-01.
  12. Cauz, Louis (1969-05-09). "'Coolest spot in town': New-look boxla Leafs move to new home". The Globe and Mail.
  13. "Lacrosse Leafs win on floor, lose at gate; move out of Gardens". The Globe and Mail. 1969-07-25.
  14. Morrissey, Bob (May 15, 1974). "Ailing Quebecois ready for opener tonight". Montreal Gazette. p. 44.
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