National Lacrosse League (1974–75) Explained

National Lacrosse League (1974–75)
Sport:Box lacrosse
Founded:1974
Folded:1975
Teams:6
Countries:
Champion:Quebec Caribous

The National Lacrosse League was a box lacrosse league that lasted two seasons: 1974 and 1975. It is not related to the current 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 current NLL, the majority 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 the head coach of the United States men's national soccer team.

History

The type of play during this short-early 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 Forum 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.

Teams

1The Philadelphia Wings in this league are not related to the modern Philadelphia Wings of the modern National Lacrosse League.

2The 1974 Toronto team and the 1975 Long Island team had the same name (Tomahawks), but they were separate franchises.

Champions

YearChampionRunner-UpGames
1974Rochester GriffinsPhiladelphia Wings4-2
1975Quebec Caribous Montreal Québécois4-2

1975 season

Final standings

Team
Long Island Tomahawks31170.646-80270262
Montreal Quebecois24240.500764364948
Boston Bolts22242.479873574146
Quebec Caribous22242.479872969446
Philadelphia Wings21252.458969071344
Maryland Arrows21270.4381067077042

Playoffs

Top Ten Scorers

Name Hometown Games Goals Assists Points Pen. Min. - Doug Hayes Long Island 48 104 126 230 52 - Paul Suggate Maryland 48 92 127 219 71 - John Davis Montreal 48 79 129 208 16 - Ivan Thompson Boston 46 91 116 207 45 - Dave Durante Quebec 48 89 117 206 22 - Brian Tasker Maryland 48 73 125 198 58 - John Grant, Sr. Philadelphia 47 64 134 198 52 - Terry Lloyd Philadelphia 48 113 56 169 54 - Jim J. J. Johnston Long Island 38 79 87 166 26 - Jan Magee Long Island 47 57 103 160 49 -
  • Bold indicates leader in category

See also

References

External links