2021 Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee Press Release
New Westminster, BC - The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame is proud to announce its 2021 class of inductees, which includes players Derek Malawsky, Eric Perroni, Lyle Robinson, Bob Watson, veteran Chuck Li, builders Pierre Filion and Steve Govett, along with the New Westminster Salmonbellies Sr. A (1980-1989).
These new inductees bring the total number honoured in lacrosse's national shrine to 550 - 162 Builders, 332 Players and 56 Veterans (those who played in 1985 or before). There are also 24 teams inducted under the Team category.
The formal induction banquet and ceremonies are scheduled for November.
Honoured in the Player Category:
Derek Malawsky
Derek Played his Junior A lacrosse with Coquitlam from 1991 -1994 then moved on to a Sr A career that saw stints with New Westminster (1995 -1997), Buffalo (1998), North Shore (1999), Okanagan (2000-2001) and Victoria (2002 - 2006). In addition to his Sr A Career he played in the NLL for Ontario (1998), Buffalo (2000 - 2001), Rochester (2002 - 2004), San Jose (2005 - 2006), Arizona (2007), Portland (2008 - 2009), and Colorado (2010). He was a member of Team Canada in 2002. Derek was a member of the Mann Cup winning teams with Victoria (2003 & 2005) and finalists (2002, 2004, 2006) and NLL Finalist/runner up with Rochester (2003), Arizona (2007) and Portland (2008). Derek was a WLA 1st Team All-Star in 2000 and 2001, winning the Denny Huddleston Memorial Trophy as WLA Top Scorer in 2000.
Eric Perroni
Eric Played 6 years with Whitby Jr A, a member of their 1980, 1984 and 1985 Minto Cup teams. This was followed by 15 Years with Brooklin Redmen, winning Mann Cups in 1987, 1988, 1990 and 2000. In 1994 he won the Merv McKenzie Trophy as Most Valuable Defensive Player in OLA Major Series Lacrosse. Eric was one of the top defensive players in both leagues that he played.
Lyle Robinson
Lyle won Minto Cup Junior ‘A’ National Championships with the Burnaby Cablevision Team in 1978 and 1979. He finished out his junior career being named Captain to the1980 team before being the Number 1 draft pick for the New Westminster Salmonbellies. In his. career with the Salmonbellies, from 1980-1989 he participated in 6 Mann Cup appearances with 3 man cup wins in 1981, 1986, and 1989. In 1986 Lyle was named Assistant Captain of the Salmonbellies, a role he kept until his retirement. Lyle was one of the most feared defenders to play in the Western Lacrosse Association but was also capable at the other end with clutch goals and the ability to spring others into the clear through intelligent blocks and pursuit of loose balls.
Bob Watson
Bob Watson played 19 seasons of OLA based lacrosse Including 4 in Junior B including two Founders Cup wins with Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, and a season In Jr A with the Kitchener Braves. In 13 Seasons of Major Series Lacrosse, he was a member of one Mann Cup with the Brampton Excelsiors in 2002. In the National Lacrosse League Bob played 15 seasons winning the NLL Champions Cup 6 terms. A top-notch caliber goaltender, Bob was a pleasure to watch play. Among his lengthy list of awards are NLL Goal tender of the Year (2001, 2008), NLL Champions Cup Most Valuable Player (2001, 2003, 2011), and Induction into the NLL Hall of Fame (Class of 2011).
Honoured in the Veteran Category:
Chuck Li
Chuck played with the Oshawa Jr. A team in 1968 and 1969. In 1969, as a member of the Minto Cup winning Oshawa Green Gaels, he was the leading scorer for the team, 2nd in league scoring and leading playmaker in the league and Winner of the OLA Jr A Ken Ross Trophy for Ability and Sportsmanship.
In Senior A Lacrosse he played with Brooklin (1970 - 1971) and Windsor (1972). He also played with NLA team Detroit (1968) and NLL teams Toronto Tomahawks (1974), where he led the league in shooting percentage, and Boston Bolts (1975). Chuck Li’s Oshawa Green Gaels Team is an inductee of the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame and Chuck has been inducted into the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame and Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Honoured in the Builder Category:
Pierre Filion
From 1964 - 1979 Pierre Coached teams from the Bantam to Senior Lacrosse. He took on the role of Technical Director, and lone staff, for the Québec Lacrosse Federation 1975 and was responsible for administrative, technical, and organizational provincial duties. He also convened Provincial Lacrosse Championships in Québec. Pierre also served as consultant to 3 professional lacrosse teams in Québec, Montreal Québecois (1974 - 1975), Québec Cariboo (1974 - 1975) and Montreal Express (2001 - 2002). From 1976 - 1986 he was a member of the Canadian Lacrosse Associations’ Executive Committee. Other roles with the CLA included Chair of Women’s Sector (1976-1987) and Chair of Inter-lacrosse Sector (1984 - 1990). In 1987 he organized the Inter Crosse World Games, an annual non-political competition where players from National Delegations are divided by “luck of the draw” into “non-national” teams for game play. In 1990 he was recognized by Pierre de Coubertin International Fair Play Committee for the creation of the Inter Crosse World Games for his contribution towards cooperation and Peace Through Sports. Between 1982 - 1984 he was the first Canadian to introduce lacrosse in France, Belgium, Italy, Ivory Coast, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, Poland, Holland, Hungary and Haiti.
Steve Govett
Steve’s playing career included the Burnaby Cablevision Jr. A (1984 - 1988), Coquitlam Adanacs Sr. A, (1989-91), Radford University (1990 - 1993), and the Philadelphia Wings (1994 - 1998), and Team Canada (1994, 1998). He became the Philadelphia Wings General Manager in 1989 and then took the roles of Executive Vice President and General Manager of Washington Power (1999 - 2002). From 2002 - 2017 Steve was Colorado Mammoth President and General Manager and subsequently became the President of the NLL’s 11th Franchise, the San Diego Seals. He has also served as Chairman of the National lacrosse League Board of Governors, and been Member of NLL committees including Executive Committee, Competition Committee, Expansion Committee, Labor Relations Committee, and Hall of Fame Committee. Steve has served as General manager of the Canadian Men’s Field Lacrosse National Team in 2006,2007, 2014,2018, and announced for 2022. He also served as Team Canada Indoor General Manager in 2007. Steve Govett was elected to the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 2016) for his contributions as Builder and to the Radford University Hall of Fame (2016).
Honoured in the Team Category:
New Westminster Salmonbellies Sr. A (1980-1989)
In the ten year period of 1980 -1989 the Salmonbellies competed in 7 Mann Cup Championships, winning the Canadian Championship 3 times (1981, 1986, 1989). Above all else, the Salmonbellies had an outstanding cohort of players, the core of which were with the team during much of this 10 year stretch. In fact, 11 of the players who are in the 1980 team picture are in the 1989 team picture and 18 members of these teams have been Inducted as Honoured Members of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Consistent and elite level commitment at the Club Executive Level filtered down to the coaching staff and players and from these teams 10 members went on to coach at the minor level and 18 members coached at the elite level after their playing careers.
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For additional information on the inductees or the induction banquet, please visit the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame website at www.clhof.org.
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About the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame
The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, chartered in 1964, Honours Players, Builders and Teams through an Annual Induction Process. Induction of new members is made to preserve the memory of stars of yesteryear, but the Hall is more than a repository of names and photos of our greatest players, builders and teams; it is also the keeper of our national summer sport's history. The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame honours the tradition of lacrosse from its very roots, with displays honouring the First Nations through exhibits showing the game's transition into modern life.
For more information, please contact:
David Soul
Executive Director
Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame
Email: dhcsoul@clhof.org
Phone: 778-237-3601
