It’s a walk down memory lane for Richmond’s rich history in the sport when the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame announced it’s 2018 induction class.
Among those to be honoured is Jason Wulder and Dan Mattinson in the player and builder’s categories respectively. Both were prominent figures when the Richmond Outlaws were part of the Western Lacrosse Association and B.C. Junior “A” Lacrosse League in the 1990s.
Wulder, 47, was a member of a powerhouse Outlaws junior “A” squad that made back-to-back appearances in the Minto Cup championship series.
The first run to the national final in 1989 came after Richmond went 11-13 in the regular season then knocked off Burnaby and Coquitlam to win the B.C. title. The Outlaws then fell 4-1 to Peterborough in the Minto Cup. Wilder finished second in team playoff scoring that year with 14 points in four games.
Richmond was a force to be reckoned with a season later, going 21-4 in league play and repeating as league champs. The Minto Cup bid ended with a heartbreaking deciding game loss to St. Catherines.
Wulder produced 17 points in the playoffs and his teammates included top 10 league scorers Leo Paquin, Brad Dickson and John Kilbride.
Wulder went on to play 17 seasons in the WLA, highlighted by winning the Mann Cup in 2001 with the Coquitlam Adanacs. He also enjoyed a decade long run in the National Lacrosse League, including five with the Calgary Roughnecks, winning the NLL championship 2004.
Mattinson was the first-ever coach of the WLA Outlaws. He made his mark in the junior “A” level winning six B.C. championships and three Minto Cup titles with the Burnaby Lakers.
The WLA Outlaws played out of Minoru Arenas from 1986 to 1989 before the franchise transferred to Burnaby.
The Junior Outlaws eventually folded following a the 1993 season after a couple of tough seasons that saw the franchise compile a combined record of
5-45.
Wulder and Mattinson will be honoured at the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction banquet and ceremonies on Saturday, Oct. 27 in New Westminster.
