[Ed. note: Morely Kells, an advertising executive with some hockey accounts, started the Toronto Maple Leafs Senior Amateur box lacrosse team in 1966. In short order, he had dreams of a professional box lacrosse circuit. To that end, he scheduled a game against the Oshawa Green Gaels, and invited some NHL executives to the match. Bruce Norris, owner of the Detroit Red Wings, attended the game and liked what he saw. The National Lacrosse Association began the next year. This is a press account of the exhibition.]
If only the Red Wings could handle the Maple Leafs as easily.
The Detroit Hornets ripped the Toronto Maple Leafs, 15-8, Wednesday night at Olympia—not in hockey, but in lacrosse before 2,182 fans.
Ross Jones scored five goals and contributed two assists as Detroit surprisingly pummeled the Maple Leafs. Toronto is a Senior A team in the Ontario Lacrosse Association while Detroit, alias Oshawa Green Gales [sic] is a Junior A team.
(Detroit Free Press, August 31, 1967)