Part 1 A Life in Lacrosse-Bob Hanna The Player

(Written by Rad Joseph)

A Life in Lacrosse

Part 1

Bob Hanna – The Player

Bob Hanna

Detroit Olympics - 1968

 National Lacrosse Association 

Robert Elgin Hanna was born in 1934 in Fergus, Ontario. Bob will tell you – “Fergus, is where I learned the game playing all of my minor lacrosse there”. His life in lacrosse began at age 6 and proceeded over the next 75 years or so. He had two careers in lacrosse; one as a player and the second as a coach. Here, in Part 1, we learn about the career of Bob Hanna as a player.

In the 1949 season, although statistics are limited, Bob played a handful of games at the Intermediate level in Newmarket. Over the course of 15 additional seasons, he played with Mimico, Scarborough, Long Branch, Port Credit and Brooklin. In addition, Bob played with Detroit (1968) in the National Lacrosse Association and he signed with Kitchener (1969) in the Eastern Canada Professional Lacrosse Association, but an injured knee resulted in Bob missing most of the season. With these various teams - Bob Hanna played a career total of 228 games, scoring 210 goals, along with 168 assists for a total of 378 points, while accumulating 885 penalty minutes.

Brooklin Senior Lacrosse Club

Eastern Canadian Champions 1964

Back row: H. Benson, Cliff Gordon, Art Bradley, Bob Vesey, William Vipond, Luther Vipond, Charlie Richardson, Red McClelland, Walt Hains, Jerry Gray, Art Morton.
Centre row: Mike Gray, Doug Vipond, Ken Crawford, Grant Hefferman, Ken Ruttan, Bob Hanna (#3), T. Cullen, Donny Bruce, Jerry Burroughs, Don Vipond, R. Madgett, R. Allen.
Front row: Peter Vipond, Elmer Tran, P. Henderson, C. Ludlow, Glen Lotton, Pat Baker, L. Campbell, Ken Lotton, Don Craggs.

Likely known best for playing with Brooklin – initially the “Hillcrests” in 1964, changing to the “Merchants” in 1965 and changing to the “Redmen” in 1966. During his four seasons with Brooklin, Bob Hanna played 143 regular and playoff games scoring 106 goals, 106 assists for a total of 212 points. Brooklin played in three Mann Cups (1964, 1965, 1967) with Hanna being a Mann Cup finalist for three of four consecutive years. Unfortunately, Brooklin failed to win the Mann Cup in any of those series. Bob was known as a physical player and this is reflected as he racked up 454 penalty minutes which has him placed tenth in the all-time top penalty minutes for Brooklin players. Of note, in 1967 - Bob was winner of the Merv McKenzie Trophy as the Best Defensive Player in Senior “A” lacrosse.

Bob Hanna was inducted in the Builder category into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the Player category in 1997 and the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the Builder category in 1997. In addition, he was awarded the Mr. Lacrosse (Thomas “Tip” Teather Award) in 2011 for outstanding service to the sport of lacrosse. Furthermore, Bob Hanna was honoured by the Ontario Lacrosse Association being designated a Life Member in 2013.

The following question and answer interview session pertains to the career of Bob Hanna – the Player.

1. What does lacrosse mean to you? 

It means dedication, fun and hard work at times. It’s been a large part of my life since I was 6 years old when I got my first lacrosse stick, costing $5. Lacrosse seems to get into your blood and never leaves. Just a great sport!

2. What was the number one factor that motivated you in lacrosse? 

The magic some players could do with a stick and ball made the game very exciting and fun.

3. Which person taught you the most in regard to lacrosse? 

Easy, Jim Bishop (although we did occasionally disagree)

4. How would you describe or assess Bob Hanna the lacrosse player?What were his strengths? What were his weaknesses? 

Some of my best strengths where I was a team player, dedicated to winning and hated to lose. I was a big guy. My main weakness was that I was not a fast runner, but I was not the slowest.

5. How do you think your teammates would describe Bob Hanna as a player? 

Easy to get along with. Expects everyone to do their best. He was a leader and hard-working player.

6. How do you think opposition players would describe Bob Hanna as a player? 

With a sly smile, Bob responded - Strangely many did not like me. I didn’t understand that, maybe because of my size and I was intimidating (accompanied by a huge laugh).

7. As a player, who is the most skilled team(s) you played with? 

Original Green Gael Junior “A”, Port Credit Sailors Senior “A” and Brooklin Senior “A” Redmen.

8. Who is the best player(s) you ever played with? 

Several including Dave “Porky” Russell, Bobby Allan (Mann Cup pickup), Ken Crawford (great draw man, very good all over the floor) and Glen Lotton.

9. Who is the teammate player(s) you respected the most? 

Most players I played with; each one had their own special talents. But in particular, Pat Baker (great goalie) and Gaylord Powless (excellent overall player).

10. The one player you would definitely want on your team? 

Bobby Allan

11. Who is the most skilled team(s) you played against? 

Peterborough Senior “A” and New Westminster Senior “A”.

12. Who is the best player(s) you ever played against? 

Gaylord Powless, Jack Bionda, Bobby Allan and Johnny Davis

13. Who is the opposition player(s) you respected the most? 

Jack Bionda (magician with a stick), Bobby Allan (good all over the floor)

14. The one player you hated playing against? 

Gordie Thompson with Brampton. We usually had a scrap or two every time we played.

15. The toughest series – win or lose – you ever experienced? 

The first time I played in the Mann Cup (1964). On home floor, up 3 to 1, we lost the series to Vancouver.

16. Name Bob Hanna’s personal All-Star team (as a player) 

Pat Baker (goalie), Lou Nichol, Jack Bionda, Bobby Allan, Johnny Davis and Gaylord Powless.

17.  Final Question - Any regrets over the years as a player?

Yes, not winning a Mann Cup championship. I played in three.

BOB HANNA – Career Player Statistics

BORN: APRIL 18, 1934                                    RETIRED

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REGULAR SEASON                        PLAYOFFS

--------------                        --------

YEAR     TEAM     LEAGUE     GP  GO  ASS  PTS  PIM  -  GP GO ASS PTS PIM

---- ------------ ------     --  --  ---  ---  ---  -  -- -- --- --- ---

1949 NEWMARKET    INTER      XX   4    0    4   XX  -  STATS UNAVAILABLE

1953 MIMICO       SENIOR A    3   4    2    6    0  -     DID NOT PLAY

1955 SCARBOROUGH  INTER      STATS UNAVAILABLE      -   6  9   2  11  12

1957 MIMICO       SENIOR B   STATS UNAVAILABLE      -  XX 16   5  21  XX

1958 MIMICO       SENIOR A    8  16    5   21   15  -     DID NO PLAY

1959 LONG BRANCH  SENIOR A   14   9    0    9   72  -   5  1   0   1  11

1960 NEWMARKET    SENIOR B   XX   5    5   10   XX  -  XX  6   7  13  XX

1961 PORT CREDIT  SENIOR A   17  18    5   23   34  -  13  7   1   8  29

1962 PORT CREDIT  SENIOR A   20  15   14   29   81  -   6  0   2   2  28

1963 PORT CREDIT  SENIOR A   20  18    7   25   66  -  10  4   2   6  38

1964 BROOKLIN     SENIOR A   20  17   15   32   55  -  20  8   4  12  66

1965 BROOKLIN     SENIOR A   20  23   21   44   66  -  18  8   9  17  20

1966 BROOKLIN     SENIOR A   20  18   22   40   53  -   7  4   1   5  10

1967 BROOKLIN     SENIOR A   20  17   26   43   56  -  18 11   8  19  65

1968 DETROIT      NLA PRO    26  11   22   33  118  -     DID NOT PLAY

1969 KITCHENER    EPLA PRO    3   2    2    4    2  -     DID NOT PLAY

---- ------------ ---------- -- ---  ---  ---  ---  -  -- -- --- --- ---

PRO/MAJOR/SENIOR TOTALS   191 167  141  308  618  -  97 43  27  70 267

SENIOR B/INTERM  TOTALS     0   9    5   14    0  -  6  31  14  45  12