Lacrosse 100: One Hundred Years of Lacrosse in BC

Patricia Pickard is Vice-Dean of Professional Schools and an assistant
professor in the School of Human Movement at Laurentian University.

The Mann Cup, New Wes, John Ferguson, Boxla, Salmonbellies, Parnell: all
are symbols of British Columbia lacrosse, and all are highlighted in
this book, a brief historical celebration of the centennial of B.C.
lacrosse, dedicated to the province’s lacrosse players. The book
includes a brief history of lacrosse, describing “baggataway” (an
early version of the game, played by Canadian Indian tribes), the
funding of modern lacrosse by Montrealer Dr. George Beers, the rise of
field lacrosse in British Columbia, and finally the development of box
lacrosse (boxla).

The book’s main emphasis is on the great B.C. lacrosse teams. It
highlights the New Westminster Salmonbellies as the symbol of lacrosse
in Canada, and focuses on some elite boxla stars, including Paul
Parnell, Kevin Alexander, and Jack Bionda, and on lacrosse players like
Les Canadiens’ John Ferguson, who were great all-round athletes. His
personal stories of the players and teams are interesting, particularly
the one of Harry Smith, who left B.C. lacrosse to become Jay
Silverheels!

However, the main theme is really the highs and lows of B.C.
lacrosse—for example the 1930s and ’40s glory giving way to
distractions such as television, baseball, and golf. Today, aficionados
feel that only with the Mann Cup (the National Senior “A”
championship) and the Minto Cup (the National Junior “A”
championship) does the game receive its just reward.

Although Dheensaw tries to tell us how different the game is from
hockey, he cannot stop making comparisons, starting with his lament that
the two bills to make lacrosse Canada’s national sport were never
approved. Really, his differences are similarities: dedication,
excitement, “stealing” players from other clubs, luring players by
bigger salaries, importing players from Ontario, a family orientation,
and love of the game.

A nice tribute to the 100th anniversary of this “national” game in
British Columbia.