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Nicknames	Bellies
Sport	Box Lacrosse
Founded	12 May 1888; 137 years ago (12 May 1888)
Current League	Western Lacrosse Association
Home Arena	Queen's Park Arena
City	New Westminster, British Columbia
Team Colours	Red, White, Blue
Coach	Jason Bishop
History	New Westminster Lacrosse Club 1888-1899 New Westminster Salmonbellies 1900-1950 New Westminster Commandos 1951 New Westminster Salmonacs 1952-1953 New Westminster Royals 1954 New Westminster Salmonbellies 1955-1958 New Westminster O'Keefes 1959-1965 New Westminster Salmonbellies 1966-68 New Westminster Labatt Blues 1969 New Westminster 1969-present
Mann Cups	24
Minto Cups	11[a]
League championships (box lacrosse)	35
Provincial championships (field lacrosse)	21 (professional) 11 (amateur)

Olympic medal record
Men'sLacrosse
	1928 Amsterdam[b]	Team

49°12′53″N122°54′21″W / 49.21472°N 122.90583°W /49.21472; -122.90583

TheNew Westminster Salmonbellies are a Men's Senior 'A'lacrosse team located inNew Westminster, BC. Their home arena isQueen's Park Arena. They compete as part of theWestern Lacrosse Association and have won theMann Cup 24 times, most recently in 1991. The 1968–1972 teams were collectively inducted into theCanadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2004.

They won their first Mann Cup in 1915. Prior to 1932, they played as a field lacrosse team but in May 1932 box lacrosse was adopted for the senior league in British Columbia - and the Salmonbellies have been a box lacrosse team since then. The Salmonbellies have won the Mann Cup more than any other lacrosse team. They had won at least one Mann Cup in every decade since the inception of the trophy, before the 2000s.

In 1928, the New Westminster Salmonbellies were selected to representCanada infield lacrosse at the1928 Olympic Games inAmsterdam, as they were the defending Mann Cup champions. After a 3–6 loss to the United States (represented by theJohns Hopkins University team) and a 9–5 victory over Great Britain, all three teams were tied in thestandings and were each awarded gold medals.^[1]

Salmonbellie Alumni Paul Parnell, Wayne Goss, Eric Cowieson,Jack Bionda, Cliff Sepka, Dave Durante and Geordie Dean have all had their numbers retired by the team. There are more Salmonbellies alumni in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame than from any other team.

The Salmonbellie name arose from a taunt given by an opposing team's fan during an early game. The fan called the New West team "salmonbellies" referring to the fact that salmon was considered a lowly food at the time. But the players liked the name, concluding that the belly was the prime portion on the fish, so the name was adopted and has stuck for over a century. The name is never spelled with a "y" even when one writes about an individual "Salmonbellie."^[2]

Salmonbellies vs. the World: The Story of Lacrosse's Most Famous Team & Their Greatest Opponents (Caitlin Press, 2013) by W.B. MacDonald, is an in-depth, illustrated book which shares stories of the players' lives, successes and heartbreaks.

The New Westminster lacrosse club was founded on May 12, 1888, but did not play their first home game in the Royal City until June 8, 1889, a 3–1 loss to Vancouver.

It was stated in the May 11, 1888, issue of the New WestminsterDaily British Columbian newspaper that "All lacrosse players are requested to meet on thecricket grounds this evening for the purpose of forming a lacrosse club."^[3]

On May 14, 1888, theDaily British Columbian informed that "On Saturday evening a meeting of lacrosse players was held and a club formed. Mr. Glover was appointed chairman pro tem and Mr. Lewis permanent secretary and treasurer. A committee was formed to draft rules and by-laws, and perform other duties in connection with the organization of the club. Practises [sic] will be held every Wednesday and Friday evening for the present, and it is to be hoped that every lover of the game will join the club and assist in making it a success in every way. It is the intention to try and arrange a match with Vancouver on July 1st."^[4]

Western Lacrosse Association

• Champions (23): 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2023, 2025

National Lacrosse Association (West Division)

• Champions (1):1968

Inter-City Lacrosse League

• Champions (10): 1934, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1965

BCALA Senior Box Lacrosse League

• Champions (1): 1933

Mann Cup

• Champions (24): 1915, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1937, 1943, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1989, 1991
• Runner-up: 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1969, 1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2023, 2025

Minto Cup

• Champions (11): 1908, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1921, 1922, 1924
• Runner-up: 1902, 1911, 1920

National Lacrosse Association

• Champions (1):1968

Summer Olympics

• Champions (1):1928^[b]

Salmonbellie winners of theMike Kelly Memorial Trophy (Major/Senior A):

• 1943 Bill Wilkes
• 1944Ike Hildebrand
• 1958 Norm McKay
• 1959Jack Bionda (New Westminster O'Keefes)
• 1962Jack Bionda (New Westminster O'Keefes)
• 1965Les Norman
• 1970 Paul Parnell
• 1972 Paul Parnell
• 1974 Ken Winzoski
• 1976 Dave Durante
• 1981 Wayne Goss
• 1986 Geordie Dean
• 1987 Eric Cowieson (jointly held with Jim Meredith of the Brooklyn Redmen)
• 1989 Ben Hieltjes
• 1991Geordie Dean

[1]

• Salmonbellies Official Website
• Historical Photo of match between New Westminster and Tecumseh, 1919
• Salmonbellies Team Photo, 1908
• Salmonbellies Team Photo, c.1910
• Lacrosse Game in New Westminster, 1900s

• New Westminster Salmonbellies
• Western Lacrosse Association teams
• Sports clubs and teams in New Westminster
• Lacrosse clubs established in 1888
• 1888 establishments in British Columbia

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