Western Lacrosse Association
Encyclopedia
The Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) is an amateur league of men's Senior A box lacrosse
sanctioned by the Canadian Lacrosse Association
. It consists of seven teams, based in cities throughout southwestern British Columbia
. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the Major Series Lacrosse
champion for the Mann Cup
every September. The championship is hosted alternately between Ontario
and British Columbia
every year.
The calibre of lacrosse in the WLA is very high, as the majority of its players also play in the National Lacrosse League
during the winter months, while the WLA schedule runs from mid-May to August.
Maple Ridge Burrards
Victoria Shamrocks
Coquitlam Adanacs
Burnaby Lakers
Langley Thunder
Nanaimo Timbermen
Vancouver Athletic Club / Abbotsford Hotel
New Westminster Adanacs
Richmond Farmers
Vancouver Bluebirds / Home Gas
"Norvans"
Military teams
Nanaimo
Burnaby
Box lacrosse
Box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse and sometimes shortened to boxla, LAX or simply box, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada, where it is the most popular version of the game played in contrast to the traditional field lacrosse game...
sanctioned by the Canadian Lacrosse Association
Canadian Lacrosse Association
The Canadian Lacrosse Association , founded in 1867, is the governing body of lacrosse in Canada. It conducts national junior and senior championship tournaments for men and women in both field and box lacrosse...
. It consists of seven teams, based in cities throughout southwestern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the Major Series Lacrosse
Major Series Lacrosse
Major Series Lacrosse is a Senior A box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Most of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the...
champion for the Mann Cup
Mann Cup
The Mann Cup is the trophy awarded to the senior men's lacrosse champions of Canada. The championship series is played between the Western Lacrosse Association champion and the Major Series Lacrosse champion...
every September. The championship is hosted alternately between Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
every year.
The calibre of lacrosse in the WLA is very high, as the majority of its players also play in the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
during the winter months, while the WLA schedule runs from mid-May to August.
The teams
The league consists of the following teams:| Team |
| Burnaby Lakers |
| Coquitlam Adanacs Coquitlam 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 , whose champion competes against Ontario's Major Series Lacrosse champion for the Mann Cup every September.The Adanacs originally started... |
| Langley Thunder Langley Thunder The Langley Thunder are a Senior A box lacrosse club, based in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. The team competes in the 7-team Western Lacrosse Association .... |
| Maple Ridge Burrards Maple Ridge Burrards 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 .-History:... |
| Nanaimo Timbermen Nanaimo Timbermen The Nanaimo Timbermen are a Senior A box lacrosse club, based in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The team competes in the 7-team Western Lacrosse Association .... |
| New Westminster Salmonbellies 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... |
| Victoria Shamrocks Victoria Shamrocks The Victoria Shamrocks are a Senior A box lacrosse club, based in Victoria, British Columbia. The team competes in the 7-team Western Lacrosse Association .The Shamrocks have won the Mann Cup 8 times... |
League history
- box lacrosse adopted by British Columbia Amateur Lacrosse Association on May 4, 1932
- 1932-1933 Senior Box Lacrosse League (under BCALA umbrella)
- 1934-1967 Inter-City Lacrosse League (ICLL)
- 1968 National Lacrosse Association (Western Division)
- 1969–present Western Lacrosse Association
Current team history
New Westminster Salmonbellies- 1888-1931 founded on May 12, 1888; played as field lacrosse club
- 1932-1950 New Westminster Salmonbellies (merged with New Westminster Adanacs)
- 1951-1951 New Westminster Commandos
- 1952-1953 New Westminster Salmonacs
- 1954-1954 New Westminster Royals
- 1955-1958 New Westminster Salmonbellies
- 1959-1966 New Westminster O’Keefes
- 1967–present New Westminster Salmonbellies
Maple Ridge Burrards
- 1937-1937 Vancouver Burrard Olympics
- 1938-1949 Vancouver Burrards
- 1950-1950 Vancouver Burrard Westerns (merged with Richmond Farmers)
- 1951-1951 Vancouver Combines
- 1952-1958 Vancouver Pilseners
- 1959-1969 Vancouver Carlings
- 1970-1993 Vancouver Burrards (transferred to Surrey)
- 1994-1995 Surrey Burrards (transferred to Maple Ridge)
- 1996–present Maple Ridge Burrards
Victoria Shamrocks
- 1950-1982 Victoria Shamrocks
- 1983-1993 Victoria Payless
- 1994–present Victoria Shamrocks
Coquitlam Adanacs
- 1965-1967 Coquitlam Adanacs (transferred to Portland)
- 1968-1968 Portland Adanacs (transferred to Coquitlam)
- 1969–present Coquitlam Adanacs
Burnaby Lakers
- 1986-1989 Richmond Outlaws (transferred to Burnaby)
- 1990–present Burnaby Lakers
Langley Thunder
- 1994-1999 North Shore Indians (transferred to Kelowna)
- 2000-2001 Okanagan Thunder (transferred to North Vancouver)
- 2002-2003 North Shore Thunder (transferred to Langley)
- 2004–present Langley Thunder
Nanaimo Timbermen
- 2005–present Nanaimo Timbermen
Defunct teams
the Indians- 1932-1932 North Vancouver Squamish Indians
- 1935-1941 North Shore Indians (suspended operations during World War II)
- 1945-1945 Indian Arrows
- 1946-1951 North Shore Indians
- 1952-1954 PNE Indians
- 1955-1955 Mount Pleasant Indians (merged with Vancouver Pilseners)
Vancouver Athletic Club / Abbotsford Hotel
- 1932-1932 Vancouver Athletic Club (renamed Abbotsford Hotel)
- 1933-1933 Vancouver Abbotsford Hotel
New Westminster Adanacs
- 1933-1941 New Westminster Adanacs (suspended operations during World War II)
- 1945-1950 New Westminster Adanacs (merged with New Westminster Salmonbellies)
Richmond Farmers
- 1933-1934 Vancouver St. Helen’s Hotel (transferred to Richmond)
- 1935-1936 Richmond Farmers (merged with Vancouver Home Gas)
- 1937-1937 Richmond-Homes Combines
- 1938-1941 Richmond Farmers
- 1942-1942 Burrard Drydock ‘Wallaces United’
- 1943-1949 Richmond Farmers (transferred to Vancouver-Kerrisdale)
- 1950-1950 Richmond-Kerrisdale ‘Arkays’ (merged with Vancouver Burrard Westerns)
Vancouver Bluebirds / Home Gas
- 1934-1935 Vancouver Province Bluebirds
- 1936-1936 Vancouver Home Gas (merged with Richmond Farmers)
"Norvans"
- 1942-1942 North Vancouver Ship Repair Yard ‘Norvans’
Military teams
- 1943-1944 Vancouver Army
- 1944-1944 Vancouver HMCS Discovery Navy
Nanaimo
- 1951-1954 Nanaimo Native Sons
- 1955-1958 Nanaimo Timbermen
- 1959-1964 Nanaimo Labatts
- 1975-1981 Nanaimo Timbermen
Burnaby
- 1962-1962 Burnaby Norburns
See also
- LacrosseLacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
- Box lacrosseBox lacrosseBox lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse and sometimes shortened to boxla, LAX or simply box, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada, where it is the most popular version of the game played in contrast to the traditional field lacrosse game...
- British Columbia Lacrosse AssociationBritish Columbia Lacrosse AssociationBritish Columbia Lacrosse Association is a sanctioned sports body in British Columbia, Canada. Empowered by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, the BCLA controls and regulates Minor level, Junior level and Senior level Lacrosse.-Leagues:...
- Major Series LacrosseMajor Series LacrosseMajor Series Lacrosse is a Senior A box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Most of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the...
- Ontario Lacrosse AssociationOntario Lacrosse AssociationOntario Lacrosse Association is a sanctioned sports body in Ontario, Canada. Empowered by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, the OLA controls and regulates Minor level, Junior level and Senior level Lacrosse...