Joey Harris

Joey’s lacrosse journey began in 1970 playing minor box lacrosse at Elmwood’s Kelvin Community Centre. In 1975 he graduated to junior with the Kelvin Terriers. The team won the Manitoba Junior B Championship and went on to represent the province at the Founder’s Cup Tournament in Edmonton.

In 1977 Joey was selected to the Team Manitoba junior squad that competed in the Canada Games. Joey was drafted by the rebuilding Winnipeg Northstars senior club in 1978. Renamed the East Side Stars in 1982, Joey helped lead the club to a regular season first place finish followed by capturing the Free Press Trophy, emblematic of provincial senior box lacrosse supremacy.

Five more provincial senior boxla championships while playing for three different teams were to follow in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999 and 2000. Joey was chosen to represent the province at the Senior B President’s Cup Championship on three occasions.

In 1983 Joey turned his attention to field lacrosse, playing defense on the Manitoba Senior Men`s Team from 1983 to 2001, while representing the province at a remarkable eighteen combined Canadian Division I (3) and Division II (15) Championships. The 1985 squad won the province’s first ever national lacrosse title, claiming the Division II championship in Toronto, followed by a second consecutive gold medal in 1986 in Winnipeg. Joey was named a tournament all-star on defense in 1985 and again in 1989. A third national field title and gold medal followed in 1995 while silver medals were earned in 1990, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2001 and bronze medals in 1993 and 1997. Finally, he was named to the Team Canada squad that competed for the World Intercrosse Cup in 2003, winning the FIIC bronze medal.

Joey has also made significant contributions to lacrosse in Manitoba as an official and coach. He refereed in both Winnipeg minor box games (1985 – 1994) and the Manitoba High School Field Lacrosse League. In box lacrosse he coached the Gryphons tyke team in 2009 and 2013, and the novice squad in 2010. In field lacrosse he coached the Manitoba U19 Provincial Team in 1991 and 1992, and performed as the Manitoba Senior Men’s playing co-coach, 1995-2001.

Perhaps Joey’s most notable contributions to the game, however, are at the administrative level. In 1986 he assumed the duties of treasurer for the Manitoba Lacrosse Association. Three years later, Joey became president of the MLA, holding that position for the next decade, 1989 – 1999. In 1999 he joined the Canadian Lacrosse Association’s board of directors, soon followed by his concurrent selection to the board of the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation, where he remains involved to this day. His objective approach and strong leadership skills led to his appointment in 2001 as president of the CLA, the only Manitoban-born individual to ever hold this position. Now in his fifteenth year of dealing with lacrosse issues at the national level, Joey has also convened many Canadian championships, including five consecutive Minto Cup Junior A Championships.

Among his many accomplishments is the national field team program strategy that has led Canada to claim the gold medal in three of the last five world championships. Joey has been the recipient of many awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions to our national sport, including the CLA Volunteer of the Year (1989) and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012). Joey was previously inducted into the Manitoba Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2013 as a player with the 1985 and 1986 Canadian champions, Manitoba Senior Men’s Field Lacrosse Team.