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Down Memory Lane - North Shore Indians 1936 Down Memory Lane Articles - by Stan Shillington 
Andy Paull was possessed by a dream to put together the greatest all-native box lacrosse team in Canada. Born on a small island near Squamish, B.C., Andy began honing his coaching and managerial skills in 1921 with a group of youngsters, many of whom went on to star on senior and box lacrosse clubs. Then, in 1935, the dream began shaping into reality. The three-year-old Inter-City Lacrosse League expanded to a five-team loop with the birth of the Andy Paull-led Squamish Indians. Andy plucked Louis Lewis, brothers Moses and Stan Joseph and the Baker clan of Ray, Dom and Henry (Hawkeye) from the New Westminster Salmonbellies' roster. To this solid nucleus he added another Baker brother, Frank, and cousin Simon, along with Hubie Smith, Joe and Fred Johnston, Harry Newman, Bert Ettershank, Gord James, Gus Band, Fred August and Easterner Stanley "Stu" Bomberry. Success on the floor and at the box office was immediate. Sporting while jerseys emblazoned with a huge Indian head, the players displayed incredible stick skills to the delight of ever-growing crowds. Ray Baker led the league in goals (62) and points (89) as the team marched to a third-place finish with 14 wins and 10 losses; however, the 'Bellies, with the heart cut out of its squad, managed a mere four victories. 'Bellies President Fred Hume was determined to get back in the winning column in 1936, wooing Easter superstars Bill Wilson, Ed Downey, Bill Wilkes, Bill Hulliss and Pete Anthony to the Royal City. But handy Andy wasn't sitting idly by - he also reached out to entice Cece VanEvery, Jack Squires, Russell Smith and Stu Bomberry's brother, Oscar, to join his club, now called the North Shore Indians. Noted sports columnist Jim Coleman once wrote that the Indians became "the greatest drawing card in the history of lacrosse". Sellout crowds of over 10,000 packed the West's largest indoor sports facility, the Vancouver Arena at Denman and Georgia. Fire destroyed the arena on August 20, 1936, but the crowds still flocked to the albeit smaller forum. Andy was now living his dream. Salmonbellies were a powerhouse; Richmond boasted future Hall-of-Famers John Cavallin, Bill Morphett and Bill Dickinson; Adanacs had Ken Matheson, Gord Saunders and Rann Matthison, and Homes had John Dale, Clary Jenion and Walt Lee. But it was the Indians who commanded top spot at Season's end with 16 wins and 8 losses. With season's play at an end, it was on to the playoffs and the provincial title. North Shore swooped to victory, beating Salmonbellies three straight - 13-12, 18-7 and 14-9. In these formative years of box lacrosse, the Mann Cup was a challenge trophy. North Shore hopped on the train bound for Ontario but made the required "challenge" stops September 26 in Calgary, a 19-5 win, and September 28 in Winnipeg, a 16-5 win. The Indians arrived in Toronto, travel-weary but happy to have made it to the famous Maple Leaf Gardens and the national championship. Orillia, the two-time defending champion, captured the series opener 10-8 on October 2 but, with three days rest, North Shore came back with an 8-6 victory. The Westerners fought valiantly in the third game October 7 but were edged 11-9. Orillia ended the series October 9 with a resounding 20-9 decision. The four-game series drew 30,782 paid attendance. North Shore had lost the Mann Cup but had gained countless fans. The team continued to operate for five more years before the Second World War forced North Shore to suspend operations. Andy Paull found another vehicle to serve his people - in 1944, he was elected president of the North American Indian Brotherhood. Andy, along with Harry Newman and brothers Ray and Henry Baker, were subsequently inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. And the memory of that 1936 team still lingers - Andy Paull had put together the most powerful and most popular all-Indian team in the history of Canadian box lacrosse. 1936 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
GP G A PTS PIM
Russell Smith 22 60 13 73 53
Oscar Bomberry 24 43 18 61 50
Jack Squires 23 45 13 58 16
Cece VanEvery 24 26 28 54 70
Stu Bomberry 23 31 18 49 32
Hubie Smith 22 33 15 48 83
Ray Baker 20 24 11 35 45
Louis Lewis 20 25 9 34 42
Dom Baker 22 20 12 32 31
Harry Newman 20 14 10 24 8
Joe Johnston 21 17 4 21 6
Moses Joseph 19 16 3 19 24
Stan Joseph 21 5 4 9 38
Gilbert Thomas 15 4 2 6 0
Henry Baker 18 0 0 0 0
Simon Baker 1 0 0 0 0
Ralph Band 1 0 0 0 2
Gord James 2 0 0 0 4
Fred Johnston 1 0 0 0 0
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