NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Knighthawks Sign Lacrosse Legend Gary Gait To Two-Year Deal

Published on October 29, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Rochester Knighthawks General Manager Regy Thorpe announced today that the team has signed National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame forward Gary Gait to a two-year deal. Rochester acquired Gait in a trade from the Colorado Mammoth in exchange for forward Andrew Potter and Rochester's first-round draft picks in 2009 & 2010.

"We're extremely happy that Gary has committed two years to join our organization," said Thorpe. "We're all very excited to see his return to lacrosse and I know the players are eager to step on the same floor with him this season."

"It's exciting to be back in the game of lacrosse as a player," said Gait. "I am looking forward to an exciting year with the Rochester Knighthawks."

Gait brings unquestionably the best lacrosse in the world to the Rochester Knighthawks, winning champions at every level. Gait has won three National Lacrosse League titles (1991, 1994-95), three Major League Lacrosse titles (2001-02, 2005), three Mann Cups (1991, 1997, 1999), the Heritage Cup (2004) and the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championship (2006). He also captured three NCAA championships with the Syracuse University Orange.

The Victoria, BC, native returns to the game after retiring from the NLL in 2005 after playing 15 seasons in the NLL with the Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh CrossFire, Washington Power, and Colorado Mammoth.

In 1991 with Detroit, he was named the NLL Rookie of the Year, and later in his career he was selected the league's MVP a record six times, including five in a row (1995-99). He was also an All-Pro every season and led the NLL in points and goals seven times. He also won three league championships, leading the Turbos to the title in 1991 and the Wings to consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995. In 2006, he was selected as one of five charter members of the league's Hall of Fame. Gait ranks second in league history in goals (596), third in assists (495) and second in points (1,091).

After retiring, Gait has achieved the same success as a coach. In two seasons as the head coach of the Colorado Mammoth of the NLL, he led the Mammoth to two playoff appearances and the 2006 Champion's Cup.

His professional coaching experience also includes four seasons (2002-05) as player-coach of Major League Lacrosse's Baltimore Bayhawks. He won MLL titles in 2002 and 2005. On the international scene, he led Team Canada to the 2007 World Indoor Championship.

Before going pro, he spent four seasons at SU (1987-90) and earned All-American honors four times, including three straight first-team selections (1988-90). He was also the recipient of the Lt. Raymond Enners Award (National Player of the Year) twice (1988, 1990) and the Lt. Donald C. MacLaughlin Jr. Award (Midfielder of the Year) in 1988 and 1990.

In August 2007, Gait returned to campus as he was named the second coach in the history of the Syracuse women's lacrosse program. In his first season, he was named the Northeast Region Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), as he led the Orange to a school-record 18 wins, the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles, and the NCAA semifinals for the first time in school history. Gait made the jump to head coach after winning seven national titles as an assistant women's lacrosse coach at the University of Maryland (1995-01).

Rochester enters its 15th season of professional lacrosse on Friday, December 27th with an 8:00 p.m. game at Chicago against the Shamrox. The Knighthawks home opener is scheduled for Saturday, January 10th against Chicago at 8:05 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena.

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