Lee Carlyle
April 30, 1953 – January 11, 2024
Lee Carlyle began playing lacrosse with the North Glenora Blues in the summer of 1970. In many ways, Lee epitomized what it meant to be a member of the Blues organization – hard-working, dedicated, and deeply committed to the game as a player and a referee. Lee joined the Junior Blues the year after their participation in the 1969 Canada Summer Games and was warmly welcomed by coach John Tayler with whom he developed a strong and lasting friendship. Lee appreciated his teammates greatly and the shared experiences that continued to build the foundation of the North Glenora Blues and the game of lacrosse across the province.
Later, he continued his playing career as a member of the St. Albert Golden Jets and Edmonton Fullers which won the 1975 President’s Cup. Lee made a significant move in 1978 when he took up officiating with the support of former Blues player, the late Jim McFall Jr. Little did Lee know at the time that he would be blowing his whistle for years to come and become a highly respected official at the local, provincial, national, and international level. He officiated at numerous competitions and events including the 1978 Commonwealth Games (Edmonton), the 1989 North American Indigenous Games (Edmonton), and the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships (Halifax). Lee served as Referee-in-Chief of the Alberta Lacrosse Association from 1982-1986. He also coached with the West Edmonton Blues from 1992-1994.
I had the pleasure of spending an hour with Lee during the filming of ‘A Ball and a Stick’. Throughout our time together, Lee’s love and passion for the game clearly stood out. At the same time, Lee expressed the tremendous value that he found in the friendships that evolved through the game including those formed during the 1970 season. These friendships and deep connections lasted over fifty years.
Jim Burke, former Blues player and coach, remembers Lee with great fondness as a player and referee:
“Throughout the year, we developed a saying ‘Give the ball to Leroy!’. This was partly because when you threw him the ball, it was like going into a black hole – it seldom came back. However, he had a kind of a Gumby body – he could absorb checks, roll around them, and get in on the net. He was a good finisher on his line.”
Losing a member of the Blues community is hard. But in thinking about Lee’s contribution to the game of lacrosse as a player and a referee, he clearly grasped the concept instilled into Blues culture of ‘giving back’. Lee served the game well and will be missed by his teammates, friends, and colleagues who are part of the North Glenora Blues.
Jim Tayler
January 30th, 2024