NLL Colorado Mammoth

Gait Celebrates Birthday with New NLL Record

Published on April 5, 2003 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


Calgary – Colorado Mammoth team captain Gary Gait celebrated his 36th birthday by becoming the National Lacrosse League's all-time scoring leader – again – setting a new record Saturday for most goals in a single season.

Gait's 58th goal of the season broke the NLL's previous 57-goal record – set by Gait in 1997. Gait scored four in goals in a 14-11 Mammoth road win that puts the Mammoth back on top of the NLL's Eastern Division – in a tie with the Philadelphia Wings.

The Mammoth's Ben Prepchuk was the night's scoring leader, though, with five goals and three assists.

The win over the Calgary Roughnecks puts the Mammoth at 8-7 for the season putting the team in playoff contention as either the Eastern Division champions, or as a wild card team based on point standings.

Prepchuk started the Mammoth scoring with a diving goal that was soon answered by the Roughnecks' Tracey Kelusky on a goal from his own rebound. The 1-1 score remained for half of the first quarter. Del Halladay scored his 30th goal of the season on an assist from Ted Dowling. The quarter ended 3-1 with another goal from Prepchuk.

Gait opened the second quarter scoring his 55th goal of the season. Mammoth goalie Erik Miller sent a lob downfield to Prepchuk to score. More than a quarter had passed before Brian Langtry scored his 25th Mammoth goal of the season. Gait scored again – his 56th goal of the year. Tyson Leies scored for Calgary, answered by the Mammoth's John Gallant.

A penalty called on the Mammoth's Jamie Hanford for interfering with the Roughnecks goalie was followed by yet another goal from Prepchuk. The last goal of the quarter saw Gait scoring the National Lacrosse League record for most goals in a season. The Mammoth led 10-3 at the half.

Interviewed at half-time of the game, Gait gave credit for his record-tying performance to his team. "This is a team sport," Gait said. "You don't get to 57 without all the guys on the team." But the Roughnecks began a comeback with Kaleb Toth scoring. Prepchuk added his fifth goal of the night for the Mammoth. The Roughnecks pulled their goalie and Prepchuk was called for slashing. Still, Langtry scored on an assist from Al Truant.

The night's highlight came a few seconds later as Gait broke the NLL's season scoring record with a behind-the-back shot into the net from Prepchuk. The move and resulting goal were met by cheers in Calgary and by a packed house at Pepsi Center's Blue Sky Grill where Mammoth fans had gathered to watch the game via satellite.

Calgary finished the quarter with three goals in a row, one each from Lewis Ratcliff, Leies and Toth. A second too-many-men-on-the-field penalty against the Mammoth expired while the quarter ended 13-7.

Calgary Roughnecks captain Tracey Keluskey began fourth quarter scoring in front of 13,139 fans at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The Mammoth's John Rosa scored a short-handed goal. Leies scored again for the Drillers – his hat trick for the night, followed by Calgary's Neil Doddridge. Ratcliff scored once more for the Roughnecks capping a 7-1 run that still left the Mammoth in the lead.

"This team has a lot to be proud of tonight," said head coach Jamie Batley. "This is the way the game should be played."

The Mammoth plays its final game of the regular season Saturday in Toronto.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 5, 2003


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