Les Norman (lacrosse)

Leslie D. "Les" Norman (December 2, 1939 in Sexsmith, Alberta – December 2010) was a Canadian retired professional and amateur box lacrosse goaltender. A long time member of the New Westminster Salmonbellies franchise, Norman was a winner of three Mann Cups as a Canadian Lacrosse Champion, the 1968 National Lacrosse Association professional championship,[2] and the 1965 Mann Cup's most valuable player.[3] Norman was also the first goaltender to post a shutout in a Western Lacrosse Association (then ICLL) game.[4] Les Norman was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1989.[5]

Les Norman
BornDecember 2, 1939
Sexsmith, Alberta
DiedDecember 2010
NationalityCanadian
PositionGoaltender
ICLL teamNew Westminster Salmonbellies
Nanaimo Labatts
Pro career1958–1971
Career highlights

Mann Cup: 1959, 1962, 1965
NLA Championship: 1968
Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy: 1965
Commission Trophy: 1961
McDonald Trophy: 1962
Baily Trophy: 1959
Nicholson Trophy: 1961, 1962, 1965[1]

Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, 1989

Career

In 1958, Norman played for both the Senior and Junior teams in New Westminster. In the 1959 season, he was chosen to replace legend Bunny Joseph. By the end of the season, Norman was named a First Team All-Star and Rookie of the Year of the ICLL. He capped off the season by leading the O'Keefes to a 4-games-to-none Mann Cup victory over the Peterborough Mercurys. The Mercurys's legendary goaltender Moon Wootton proclaimed after the series, "That guy Norman is some goalie. He'll be getting the name I've had for some years."[4][6]

In 1962, Norman, now a veteran of the team, helped the O'Keefes to a second ICLL championship and another 4-games-to-none sweep in a Mann Cup final, this time against the Brampton Ramblers. On May 3, 1962, he led the O'Keefes to a 27-save shutout over the Victoria Shamrocks, the first shutout in ICLL/WLA history.[4]

In 1965, Norman would lead the O'Keefes to a third league title. Norman would claim his third and final Mann Cup in seven games over the Brooklin Merchants and win the Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy as the Mann Cup's most valuable player.[3][7][8]

In 1968, Norman went professional when his Salmonbellies joined the Western Division of the National Lacrosse Association. Despite being passed over for all major awards and all-star teams and a third-place finish in the West, Norman would lead the Salmonbellies to a seven-game victory over the Vancouver Carlings and a six-game victory to knock-off the first place and Joe Comeau-less Portland Adanacs to win the West. The Salmonbellies would meet Gaylord Powless the Detroit Olympias in the NLA final and beat them 4-games-to-2.[2]

After playing nine games in a second NLA season, Norman left lacrosse. He would return for the 1971 season and then retire. He was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1989.[5] He died in December 2010 after a short battle with brain cancer.[9]

Statistics

Source: Wamper's Bible of Lacrosse[10] and Stan Shillington's "Who's Who in Lacrosse 1933–2013: Goaltending Records".[11]

SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPPIMSv%Team GAA
1958New WestminsterICLL201100.63010.00
-New WestminsterP/O100000.718-
1959New WestminsterICLL1801100.73610.20
-New WestminsterP/O900000.780-
1960New WestminsterICLL2700070.7509.63
-NWM/NanaimoP/O601120.761-
1961New WestminsterICLL2803320.7918.20
-New WestminsterP/O500000.677-
1962New WestminsterICLL3003320.7898.22
-New WestminsterP/O1602220.797-
1963New WestminsterICLL28011160.7508.77
-New WestminsterP/O8000100.695-
1964New WestminsterICLL19022110.7719.31
-New WestminsterP/O702200.753-
1965New WestminsterICLL270.763
-New WestminsterP/O120.774
1966New WestminsterICLL260.732
-New WestminsterP/O20.714
1967New WestminsterICLL230.709
1968New WestminsterNLA320.762
-New WestminsterP/O160.741
1969New WestminsterNLA80.737
1970Did Not Participate
1971New WestminsterWLA140.792
-New WestminsterP/O40.767

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-03-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "newstats/1968nllproWEST". wampsbibleoflacrosse.com. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  3. "Mann Cup - Past Champions and MVPs". tsn.ca. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  4. "British Columbia Lacrosse Association". bclaregistration.com. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  5. "Home". canadianlacrossehalloffame.org. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  6. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-03-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "newstats/manncup". wampsbibleoflacrosse.com. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  8. "Canadian Lacrosse Association | Most Valuable Players | Pointstreak Sites". cla.pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  9. "Steve Forsythe says Colorado has Mammoth expectations, Rock confirm McNulty & Queener cuts, plus the links | IL Indoor.com". ilindoor.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  10. Bible of Lacrosse - statistics
  11. Stan Shillington's "Who's Who in Lacrosse" by Stan Shillington Western Lacrosse Association. 2013.
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