Joe Comeau

“The Quiet Man” 

Known as “The Quiet Man”, (as he let his play speak for him), Joe Comeau won a Minto Cup with the New Westminster Salmonbellies in 1960 (the team had a record of 21-1).  Comeau went onto win four Mann Cup championships (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976). In addition, Comeau received six first all-star team selections and four most valuable player awards.

Comeau was not initially a goalie. After playing four seasons of minor lacrosse as a defenseman, Joe decided to become a goalie. After winning four provincial championships, Comeau began playing for the Junior “A” New Westminster Salmonbellies where Joe helped the Junior ‘Bellies win the 1960 Minto Cup with a 21-1 record.

By 1962, Joe Comeau played for both the New Westminster Salmonbellies of the Interprovincial Lacrosse League and Port Coquitlam of the Senior “B” League. Comeau backstopped Port Coquitlam to a provincial championship. By 1964, he was a full-time goalie with the Salmonbellies, although he did play with the Coquitlam Adanacs for a period, he returned to the Salmonbellies.

Comeau won the Mann Cup in 1971 and 1973. He subsequently retired from lacrosse. In 1974, he returned and won yet another league title and Mann Cup and retired again. Late in the 1976 season, his Salmonbellies were struggling and Joe came out of retirement to turn their season around, win the league and a fourth Mann Cup. Comeau then retired for a third and final time.

Joe Comeau was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983. The Salmonbellies team of which he was an integral part was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2004.

Statistics

Source: Wamper's Bible of Lacrosse