National Lacrosse League (1974–75)
SportBox lacrosse
Founded1974
Ceased1975
No. of teams6
Countries United States
 Canada
Last
champion(s)		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

Year Champion Runner-Up Games
1974 Rochester Griffins Philadelphia Wings 4-2
1975 Quebec Caribous Montreal Québécois 4-2

1975 season

Final standings

Team W L T PCT GB GF GA P
Long Island Tomahawks 31 17 0 .646 - 802 702 62
Montreal Quebecois 24 24 0 .500 7 643 649 48
Boston Bolts 22 24 2 .479 8 735 741 46
Quebec Caribous 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

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Long Island 2
4 Quebec 4
4 Quebec 4
2 Montreal 2
2 Montreal 4
3 Boston 3

Top Ten Scorers

Name Hometown Games Goals Assists Points Pen. Min.
Doug HayesLong Island4810412623052
Paul SuggateMaryland489212721971
John DavisMontreal487912920816
Ivan ThompsonBoston469111620745
Dave DuranteQuebec488911720622
Brian TaskerMaryland487312519858
John Grant, Sr.Philadelphia476413419852
Terry LloydPhiladelphia481135616954
Jim J. J. JohnstonLong Island38798716626
Jan MageeLong Island475710316049
*Bold indicates leader in category

See also

References

  • "1974 and 1975 NLL Pro Stats". Power's Bible of Lacrosse. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  • "National Lacrosse League History". Major League Sports Almanac. Archived from the original on 2009-10-27. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
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