In the thirty-fifth edition of “Legends of the Game”, we look at the career of Bram “Barney” Wilfong.
The article is from the “Legends of our Game” magazine from 1993, put together by the Committee of OLA Jr. “A” governors.
Here is the article in it’s entirety…
Bram celebrates his 40th year in lacrosse in 1993. He started playing lacrosse at the age of 4 in Peterborough before moving to Brampton at the age of 11. He started playing Junior “A” at the age of fourteen and played for 8 years. Bram played 2 years of Pro for the Toronto Tomahawks and the Boston Bolts (1974 1975). He finished out his career playing 18 years for the Brampton Major Excelsiors.
Wilfong’s coaching career includes 6 years with the Minors, 4 years as player coach with the Major’s, 5 years in Junior “A” and 2 years in Junior “B”. (winning Coach Of The Year in 1992).
Bram has reached the Eastern Canadian finals 6 times, won the Presidents Cup in 1972, Mann Cup in 1980 and has played in the Mann Cup 4 times.
From the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame…
– OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE PLAYER, EXCELLENT LONG BALL SCORER AND PLAY MAKER.
– SENIOR A & MAJOR SERIES TOTALS 475 GOALS,
446 ASSISTS FOR 921 POINTS. – PRESIDENT CUP CHAMPION 1972, MANN CUP
CHAMPION 1980.
Inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1998.
From the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame…
Bram Wilfong was a Brampton Excelsior through and through. In the Brampton-Bramalea Junior A system, from 1964-1970, Wilfong netted 247 goals and 264 assists for 511 points in 152 regular season and playoff games. This life-long Brampton star was a big playmaker and had a starred Senior career from 1970-1989 winning one Mann Cup ring in 1980. Bram played on the 1972 President’s Cup champions Senior B Brampton team.
Wilfong also spent two seasons in the original NLL for the Boston Bolts and Toronto Tomahawks in the mid 70’s.
In 389 regular season and playoff games, he scored 564 goals and 511 assists for 1075 points.
Player coach of the Senior Excelsiors for two years, and he also coached Junior ‘A’ & ‘B’ Lacrosse in Brampton for five years, winning ‘Coach of the Year’ honours in 1992.
Wilfong is a BELC Life Member.
A Brampton Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 2001.
Inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2011.
Bram passed away on June 16, 2015.
A memorial award was established by the Brampton organization in Bram’s honour…
The Bram Wilfong Memorial Award.
This is awarded to the outstanding box player by division.
Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
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