The Nanaimo Timbermen have a long and successful tradition of excellence in lacrosse. Through the years Nanaimo's teams have won several championships and some of the game's greatest players have worn the Nanaimo jersey with pride. Lacrosse legends such as Jack Bionda, Irwin "Spud" Morelli, Fred Fulla, Brian "Barney" Evans, Mac Maude, and Kevin Shires have all played for the Timbermen over the years, thrilling Nanaimo's rabid lacrosse fans.
The Timbermen history began decades ago, in 1951, when they entered the league as the Nanaimo Native Sons. In 1955, Nanaimo's beloved team changed their name to the familiar Nanaimo Timbermen (however, they were called the Nanaimo Labatts for five seasons). The Nanaimo Timbermen franchise has been successful at both the Senior A and Senior B levels, winning many league and provincial championships. In 1956, the Nanaimo Timbermen defeated the Peterborough Trailermen four games to one, to capture their first and only Mann cup to date. In 1966 the Nanaimo Luckies, captured their first President's cup championship, and then again in 1969, traveling all the way across Canada, where they defeated the Kahnawake Mohawks for their second President's cup in four years.
Fast forward to 1989 where the Nanaimo Timbermen won the league, hosted the President's Cup for the only time in team history, and won a silver medal, where Mac Maude was honoured with being named the tournament Most Valuable Player. Nanaimo continued their excellence in 1991 and 1992, winning both the league and provincial titles. In 1992, they earned heartbreaking silver at the President's Cup championship. The Timbermen continued their winning ways in 2002 and 2003, winning the provincial championships and competing in the President's Cup, in Edmonton Alberta, where they came home with a bronze medal, and again the following year in Owen Sound Ontario, with a fourth place finish.
The rich history of players from earlier years has continued throughout the Timbermen's existence, with former players now in the National Lacrosse League. Players like Chad Culp, Tyler Heavenor, Jamie Roy, Dave Marshall, Ryder Bateman, Shawn Zettle, Noah Talbot, etc. Nanaimo Timbermen players also own many West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association records, including points in an 18 game regular season held by Kevin Shires with 97 points in 1993. Shires also owns the most points in a 21 game schedule with 126 in the 1991 season. Four former Timbermen own the most goals in a single season record: 18 game schedule belongs to Kevin Shires with 50, 20 game schedule belonging to Chuck Martin with 61, 21 game schedule belonging to Ken Morrison with 60, and finally a 24 game schedule belongs to Wayne Baker with 45. That season, Wayne Baker came over from North Shore to help the Timbermen in their pursuit for the 1989 Presidents cup being held in Nanaimo. The record for most assists in a single season belongs to Ken King with 78 assists in a 20 game regular season.
The Timbermen also own a bit of hardware for regular season player recognitions. Dave Marshall is the only player in league history to have won the Defender of the year three times in his career, accomplishing the feat in 1992, 1993, and 1998. Chad Culp pulled off the hat trick of awards in his one and only season in Nanaimo, winning the league's rookie of the year, Top point producer, and also being the leagues most valuable player, all accomplished in the 2004 season. Bob Heyes, the great goalie, has won the league's goalie of the year award twice, and Kevin Shires, Ken King, and Chad Culp have the honour of being the only Timbermen to win the league scoring trophy.
Throughout the years, the Nanaimo Timbermen have established themselves as a league leader in every statistical category available, both as an entire team and as individuals themselves. The Timbermen want to continue this tradition of excellence for many more years to come, and as the saying goes: Nanaimo Timbermen continuing the winning tradition!
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