Experience the fun: Join New Westminster Salmonbellies' game-day team

by Paul Horn

From the New Westminster Record

By Theresa McManus

Volunteer with the New Westminster Senior A Salmonbellies – no lacrosse experience needed!”

Time to spare? If you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity, the New Westminster Senior A Salmonbellies’ club could use you on Thursday nights at Queen’s Park Arena. photo Record files

You don’t need to know how to play lacrosse to join the New Westminster Senior A Salmonbellies game-day team.

Pat Downey, who is on the club’s board of directors and is in charge of game-day operations, said volunteers are always needed for the team’s Thursday night games at Queen’s Park Arena.

“I need people to welcome everybody to the games, take tickets, stamp their hands, sell beer, serve beer, sell 50/50 tickets, sell tickets to come into the game, anything like that,” she said.

While volunteers must be 19 or older to serve beer, roles can be found for younger folks as well.


“I can take teenagers – they could help stamp hands, take tickets, anything like that,” Downey said.

Is it fun to volunteer for the New Westminster Senior Salmonbellies?

“It’s so much fun,” Downey said.

The Senior A Salmonbellies are celebrating their 135th year in 2023 and are hoping to make it to the Mann Cup, the Canadian senior men’s box lacrosse championship, which sees the western and eastern championship teams vie for the cup. This year’s Mann Cup will be played in the west and hosted by the Western Lacrosse Association championship-winning team.

The Salmonbellies hope they’ll be the team hosting this year’s Mann Cup championships.

“If we are going to go to the Mann Cup this year, than we’re going to need a lot of help,” Downey said. “So they may as well get their training in now at home games, right?”

The Salmonbellies will take to the wooden floor at Queen’s Park Arena for nine home games on Thursday nights during the 2023 regular season: May 25 – Nanaimo Timbermen; June 1 – Coquitlam Adanacs; June 8 – Maple Ridge Burrards; June 15 – Nanaimo Timbermen; June 22 – Burnaby Lakers; June 29 – Langley Thunder; July 6 – Langley Thunder; July 20 – Victoria Shamrocks; July 27 – Maple Ridge Burrards.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the New Westminster Senior Salmonbellies, contact Downey via the team’s website at www.salmonbellies.com/staff.