Reaction to the folding of the National Lacrosse League was mixed Friday night as officials of the Western Lacrosse Association pondered the return of several top line players.
The professional six-team NLL dissolved yesterday “due to an insufficient number of investors for key United States and Canadian lacrosse franchises,” according to NLL commissioner Gerry Patterson.
Patterson made the announcement following a meeting of the league’s board of governors. The NLL was scheduled to begin its third year of operation.
“The Maryland (Arrows), Philadelphia (Wings) and Quebec City (Caribous) teams are in solid financial status and conducting daily business operations in preparation for the 1976 season,” Patterson said. “However, the other teams are idle due to financial hardships brought about by a variety of circumstances.
“In order to keep the league viable, new investors would have to be secured.”
Montreal Quebecois, Boston Bolts and Long Island Tomahawks were the other three members of the league. Patterson said six teams were needed to keep the league in existence, but in an all-out search “we were unable to put the necessary investors together.”
The commissioner said the governors had expressed the feeling that the proper atmosphere for investing in professional sports “is not currently present.”
The league employed 150 players. Thirty-three were from B.C., with most of the remainder from Ontario and Quebec. A dozen Americans were also used.
The WLA team which figures to benefit most by the NLL’s dissolution is the Mann Cup champion Vancouver Burrards. Eight former Burrards played in the NLL last year, and general manager Bob Parry has mixed emotions as he looked ahead to the 1976 season.
“It’s certainly unfortunate because no one likes to see a league fold,” said Parry. “But the return of these players will make the WLA more powerful than ever. I feel quite confident that the WLA will be the strongest league in Canada, and wouldn’t be surprised to see several more pro players heading west.”
Burrards hold the WLA rights to Doug Hayes, the circuit’s leading scorer last year, Dave Litzenberger, Dave Tasker, Brian Davidson, Taki Vohalis, Dave Evans, Nick Delmonico and Ted Gernaey.
“Last year the WLA existed in two good lines per team,” noted Burrards’ coach Ross McDonald, who was ecstatic when informed of the news. “With the return of these players we’ll have three good lines on every club.”
Victoria Shamrocks hold the rights to five players—Ivan Thompson, Ken Alexander, Chris Hall, Brian Thompson and Jack Kasteline. Three players foremerly [sic] with the Victoria franchise in the Western Canada Major Junior Lacrosse League were drafted into the NLL as juniors—Glen Newman, John Hamilton and Jim Lynch [CrosseCheck ed. note—Lynch was 1974 NLL Rookie of the Year with Montreal Quebecois before being traded to Philadelphia Wings during the 1975 season for Ross Jones].
“It’s possible that the WLA will hold a draft of returning juniors since they are free agents,” said Shamrocks’ general manager Norm Kowalyk. “This will have to be decided at a league meeting.”
Coquitlam Adanacs hold the rights to Dave Durante, Kevin Parsons, John Allen, Jim Rickbeil, Art Talson, Jerry Pinder and Gaylord Powless.
“It (dissolution of the NLL) certainly was a surprise to me,” said Adanacs’ president Lorne Reelie. “It’s hard to say [how] we’ll be affected at the moment.”
Nanaimo Timbermen, who struggled with a collection of senior “B” players and finished in the WLA cellar last year, have only Gordie Osinchuck returning from the pros.
(Vancouver Sun, February 14, 1976)