The National Lacrosse Association was a professional
box lacrosse
Box lacrosse, also known as boxla, box, or indoor lacrosse, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada in the 1930s, where it is more popular than field lacrosse. Lacrosse is Canada's official ...
league that operated in 1968-1969 with teams from both the United States and Canada.
Due to poor attendance, the league folded in March 1969. 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)
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is a men's professional box lacrosse league in North America. The league is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The NLL currently has fifteen teams: ten in the United Stat ...
.
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 while other teams struggled to bring in even a couple hundred fans. Players' salaries averaged between $3000 and $4000 per year.
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
*
Detroit Olympics
The Detroit Olympics were a minor league hockey team located in Detroit, Michigan that was a member of the Canadian Professional Hockey League 1927-29 and the International Hockey League 1929-36. The team played all of their home games at the D ...
*
Montreal Canadians
* Peterborough Lakers
*
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
WESTERN DIVISION
*
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 re ...
*
Portland Adanacs
The Coquitlam Adanacs are a Canadian box lacrosse team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The Adanacs play in B.C.'s seven team Western Lacrosse Association (WLA), whose champion competes against Ontario's Major Series Lacrosse champion for the ...
*
Vancouver Carlings
The Maple Ridge Burrards are a Senior A box lacrosse club, based in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. The team competes in the 7-team Western Lacrosse Association
The Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) is a men's Senior A box lacrosse san ...
*
Victoria Shamrocks
The Victoria Shamrocks are a Senior A box lacrosse team, based in Victoria, British Columbia. The team competes in the 7-team Western Lacrosse Association (WLA).
The Shamrocks entered the former Inter-City Lacrosse League, which is now the WLA, i ...
1968 Season
Source
Playoffs
{{8TeamBracket
, RD1-seed1 =1
, RD1-team1 =Detroit Olympics
, RD1-score1 =
, RD1-seed2 =
, RD1-team2 =
, RD1-score2 =
, RD1-seed3 =4
, RD1-team3 =Peterborough Lakers
, RD1-score3 =4 games
, RD1-seed4 =6
, RD1-team4 =Montreal Canadians
, RD1-score4 =3 games
, RD1-seed5 =2
, RD1-team5 =Portland Adanacs
, RD1-score5 =
, RD1-seed6 =
, RD1-team6 =
, RD1-score6 =
, RD1-seed7 =3
, RD1-team7 =Vancouver Carlings
, RD1-score7 =3 games
, RD1-seed8 =5
, RD1-team8 =New Westminster Salmonbellies
, RD1-score8 =4 games
, RD2-seed1 =1
, RD2-team1 =Detroit Olympics
, RD2-score1 =4 games
, RD2-seed2 =4
, RD2-team2 =Peterborough Lakers
, RD2-score2 =0 games
, RD2-seed3 =2
, RD2-team3 =Portland Adanacs
, RD2-score3 =2 games
, RD2-seed4 =5
, RD2-team4 =New Westminster Salmonbellies
, RD2-score4 =4 games
, RD3-seed1 =1
, RD3-team1 =Detroit Olympics
, RD3-score1 =2 games
, RD3-seed2 =5
, RD3-team2 =New Westminster Salmonbellies
, RD3-score2 =4 games
References
Lacrosse leagues in Canada
Lacrosse leagues in the United States
Professional sports leagues in Canada
Professional sports leagues in the United States
1968 establishments in North America
1969 disestablishments in North America
Sports leagues established in 1968
Sports leagues disestablished in 1969