National Lacrosse League (1974-75)
Encyclopedia
The National Lacrosse League was a box lacrosse
league that lasted two seasons: 1974 and 1975. It is not related to the modern National Lacrosse League
.
Originally conceived by hockey owners as a means to fill their arenas in the summer months, the league was not very successful, with only Philadelphia and Montreal drawing sizeable crowds. The league folded in 1976 after the demise of several franchises and the inability of the Montreal franchise to play home games in 1976 because of the Summer Olympics.
Like the modern NLL (as well as the NHL), the league was dominated by Canadian players—approximately 60% of the league's players were from Canada.
Besides featuring NHL players such as Rick Dudley
(Rochester) and Doug Favell
(Philadelphia), the league also included Bruce Arena
(Montreal)—who went on to greater fame as a United States soccer coach.
for boxing. After the 1975 season, there would not be another professional lacrosse league in North America
until the birth of the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League
in January 1987.
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...
league that lasted two seasons: 1974 and 1975. It is not related to the modern 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...
.
Originally conceived by hockey owners as a means to fill their arenas in the summer months, the league was not very successful, with only Philadelphia and Montreal drawing sizeable crowds. The league folded in 1976 after the demise of several franchises and the inability of the Montreal franchise to play home games in 1976 because of the Summer Olympics.
Like the modern NLL (as well as the NHL), the league was dominated by Canadian players—approximately 60% of the league's players were from Canada.
Besides featuring NHL players such as Rick Dudley
Rick Dudley
Richard Clarence Dudley is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. Dudley was previously the general manager of several hockey teams. Dudley played in the World Hockey Association and in the National Hockey League. Dudley has also served as a head coach in the National...
(Rochester) and Doug Favell
Doug Favell
Douglas Robert Favell is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, most notably for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. He was also a box lacrosse player.-Playing career:...
(Philadelphia), the league also included Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
(Montreal)—who went on to greater fame as a United States soccer coach.
History
The type of play during this short lived era of the NLL was a faster paced game, played more like an NHL style as opposed to the basketball style of the current league. Equipment differences include no face guards and wooden sticks. The 1976 season was cancelled due to three of the six teams going bankrupt and the Montreal team having to go two months without a home game because the 1976 Olympics would be using the Montreal ForumMontreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
for boxing. After the 1975 season, there would not be another professional lacrosse league in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
until the birth of the Eagle Pro Box 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...
in January 1987.
Teams
- Maryland Arrows (1974-1975)
- Montreal QuebecoisMontreal QuebecoisThe Montreal Quebecois was a team part of the original National Lacrosse League. They played their home games at the Montreal Forum. The roster included Major League Soccer coach Bruce Arena....
(1974-1975) - Philadelphia WingsPhiladelphia Wings (1974-75)The Philadelphia Wings was one of six teams from the original National Lacrosse League. This team mimicked Philadelphia's NHL counterpart, the Flyers with its "Broad Street Bullies" style of play. The Wings played at the home of the Flyers, the Spectrum, and played their first game in that arena on...
(1974-1975) 1 - Rochester Griffins (1974)/Long Island Tomahawks (1975) 2
- Syracuse Stingers (1974)/Quebec CaribousQuebec CaribousThe Quebec Caribous were a member of the National Lacrosse League of 1974-75. The franchise was originally the Syracuse Stingers who were founded in 1974 with the creation of the league. They played their first and only season in Quebec in 1975 and were the league champions...
(1975) - Toronto TomahawksToronto TomahawksThe Toronto Tomahawks were a team in the original National Lacrosse League. The Tomahawks played their home games at Maple Leaf Gardens during the league's first season in 1974 and compiled a 17-23 record. This placed them fifth out of six teams in the NLL and out of the playoffs...
(1974) 2/Boston BoltsBoston Bolts (lacrosse)The Boston Bolts were a member of the National Lacrosse League which is unrelated to the modern National Lacrosse League. The franchise was originally known as the Toronto Tomahawks who were founded in 1974 with the creation of the league. They played their first and only season in Boston in 1975...
(1975)
- 1The Philadelphia Wings in this league is not related to the modern Philadelphia WingsPhiladelphia WingsThe Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
of the modern National Lacrosse LeagueNational Lacrosse LeagueThe 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...
. - 2The 1974 Toronto team and the 1975 Long Island team had the same name (Tomahawks), but they were separate franchises.
Champions
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Rochester Griffins | Philadelphia Wings | 4-2 |
| 1975 | Quebec Caribous | Montreal Québécois | 4-2 |
Final standings
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Island Tomahawks | 31 | 17 | 0 | .646 | - | 802 | 702 | 62 |
| Montreal Quebecois Montreal Quebecois The Montreal Quebecois was a team part of the original National Lacrosse League. They played their home games at the Montreal Forum. The roster included Major League Soccer coach Bruce Arena.... |
24 | 24 | 0 | .500 | 7 | 643 | 649 | 48 |
| Boston Bolts Boston Bolts (lacrosse) The Boston Bolts were a member of the National Lacrosse League which is unrelated to the modern National Lacrosse League. The franchise was originally known as the Toronto Tomahawks who were founded in 1974 with the creation of the league. They played their first and only season in Boston in 1975... |
22 | 24 | 2 | .479 | 8 | 735 | 741 | 46 |
| Quebec Caribous Quebec Caribous The Quebec Caribous were a member of the National Lacrosse League of 1974-75. The franchise was originally the Syracuse Stingers who were founded in 1974 with the creation of the league. They played their first and only season in Quebec in 1975 and were the league champions... |
22 | 24 | 2 | .479 | 8 | 729 | 694 | 46 |
| Philadelphia Wings | 21 | 25 | 2 | .458 | 9 | 690 | 713 | 44 |
| Maryland Arrows | 21 | 27 | 0 | .438 | 10 | 670 | 770 | 42 |
Playoffs
Top Ten Scorers
| Name | Hometown | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | >- | Long Island | 48 | 104 | 126 | 230 | >- | Maryland | 48 | 92 | 127 | 219 | 71 >- | John Davis |
Montreal | 48 | 79 | 129 | 208 | >- | Boston | 46 | 91 | 116 | 207 | >- | Quebec | 48 | 89 | 117 | 206 | >- | Maryland | 48 | 73 | 125 | 198 | >- | Philadelphia | 47 | 64 | 134 | 198 | >- | Philadelphia | 48 | 113 | 56 | 169 | >- | Long Island | 38 | 79 | 87 | 166 | >- | Long Island | 47 | 57 | 103 | 160 | >- |
|---|
External links
- 1974–1975 National Lacrosse League film page at Lax-TV.com