KYLE CORBETT
Pro Lacrosse Editor
The score—14-8 in favor of the Quebecois over the Toronto Tomahawks—was incidental to the “happening” on the $25,000 green floor at the Montreal Forum on the night of Wednesday, May 15, 1974.
The evening in the cavernous Forum held special meaning for the 9,120 spectators—including a bunch of flag-waving curlers—as they heralded the start of the National Lacrosse League and a new era as lacrosse turned major league.
It was a night of firsts.
Montreal seemed an appropriate place to hold such a game—the birth of a sport, or maybe we should say the rebirth of a sport. Only in Montreal could such enthusiasm be generated.
In the weeks preceding the opening, both the English and the very influential French-Canadian press had given the Quebecois outstanding coverage and the spectators turned out.
In the past, pro lacrosse had very little drawing power, but the National Lacrosse League had a lot to offer, including famous Canadian sports names—such as John Ferguson.
Montrealers wanted to see their Quebecois, because their Fergie—the man who had thrilled them as the muscleman of the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens—was deeply involved with the Quebecois as its general manager. Later Fergie was to take over the coaching duties as well, when Bill Bradley, a very tough customer, decided to join the playing ranks in an effort to bolster the sagging club.
So on opening night, 9,120 Montrealers turned out as well as media, including newspapermen from Toronto, to help usher in the NLL.
All afternoon the radio stations blared the message for fans to get to the Forum, and then finally it was game time.
However, in starting anything new, ceremonies are needed—and the National Lacrosse League provided this in style.
While the spectators cheered, three beautiful women in white gowns escorted the NLL brass to the centre of the rink—men such as league president Spence Lyons, Toronto Tomahawks’ owner Bruce Norris, Tommies’ coach and general manager Jim Bishop and Montreal vice-president Nelson Stoll.
However, the NLL public relations people were astute enough to know that there’s nothing Montrealers love more than their National Hockey League Canadiens.
So it wasn’t surprising that the loudest cheers were for Le Gros Bill—Jean Beliveau, vice-president of the Habs, and the team captain, Henri Richard, and outstanding defenceman Pierre Bouchard.
Beliveau revealed later that he wasn’t connected with the NLL in any capacity, but had turned up as a favor to Fergie. So it pays to have friends when one is starting a new venture.
After the introduction of both sides and the ceremonial faceoff which Richard won against Beliveau while Ferguson refereed, it was time to start.
With only 13 seconds gone in the game, Montreal superstar and one of the greatest lacrosse artists to play in Canada, John Davis quickly swept down the side of the rink and planted the first official league ball behind a bewildered Tommies’ netminder Ron Thomas.
It was a continual night of frustration for Thomas as Davis was devastating. The former Peterborough Lakers’ forward who claimed the top scoring and MVP awards for eight years, constantly hounded the Toronto defence and broke through the umbrella placed in front of Thomas.
At the other end, Ernie Mitchell was a tower of strength in the Quebecois’ goal.
During the contest, Davis, Gord Floyd, Dave Litzenberger and Gord Osinchuk had two goals while Rob McCarthy was the high scorer for Montreal with three. Pidgie Norton, Bill Langley and Ron Liscombe had singles.
Bram Wilfong led the Tommies’ attack with three while Brian Wilson had two. Duffy McCarthy, who also plays hockey in the Detroit Red Wings’ organization, Brian Thompson and Jim Hinkson had one apiece.
However, although Montreal held a wide margin in the opening period, Toronto showed sparks of life in the second and third and had the Quebecois’ fans slightly nervous including the aforementioned curlers from the Caledonia Club, who waved a banner which had We Support The Quebecois emblazoned on it.
Bradley and Ferguson and the entourage of players were all smiles after the contest, but the Tomahawks and Jim Bishop had to be content knowing their club would improve after the dismal opener. In fact, in the past month or so that has happened.
But for that one auspicious night—May 15—in the Montreal Forum when the National Lacrosse League was born, Fergie summed it up best, when he bubbled: “This is magnificent, this [is] magnificent.”
It was just that!