MLL Alumni Spotlight: Gary Gait
December 9, 2019 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release
Boston, MA- Everywhere Gary Gait played, he was unstoppable. Whether it was setting the all-time scoring record at Syracuse University, to being named NLL's MVP six separate times, or being the first player-coach to win a Championship in MLL, Gary Gait has done it all. Here is a look back at Gary Gait's legendary career.
Early Life:
Gait grew up in Canada before playing his collegiate lacrosse at Syracuse University. Gait played there with his twin brother Paul. While at Syracuse, Gait was named a USILA All-American four times including three times as a First Team All-American. Gait led the Orange to three National Championships and was named NCAA Player of the Year in 1988 and 1990. Gait left Syracuse as the school's all-time leading goal scorer, scoring 192 goals in four years.
Gary Gait Indoor Career
Gait began his professional career in 1991, ten years before MLL was founded, with the Detroit Turbos of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (later known as the NLL). Gait would play two years with his brother in the "Motor City." The pair won a championship in 1991 and Gary was named MILL Rookie of the Year.
Gait would then go onto play five years with the Philadelphia Wings. He won two titles with them (1994 & 1995). It was in Philly where Gait began a streak of five straight MILL/NLL MVP seasons. Gait was named MVP in every season from 1995-1999.
Gait would go onto play ten more seasons in the NLL with four different franchises. He won another MVP award in 2003 with the Colorado Mammoth. Gait eclipsed over 635 goals and 1,165 points in just under 200 career games in the MILL and NLL.
Gary GaitÃÂ MLL Career
Gait played in MLL's inaugural season in 2001 with the Long Island Lizards. At age 34, Gait scored 30 goals that year helping the Lizards win the first MLL Championship over the Baltimore Bayhawks 15-11.
Following the 2001 season, Gait moved to the Baltimore Bayhawks where he would spend the next four seasons as a player-coach. In 2005, Gait scored six goals in the Championship game en route to becoming the first player-coach to win an MLL title. Gait was also named MLL MVP in 2005, sharing the award with Mark Millon.
Gait retired following the 2005 season before returning briefly in 2009 to play for the Toronto Nationals in their inaugural season.
In his MLL career, Gait scored 162 goals and accumulated 226 points in 63 career regular season games.
Gait was named a member of the MLL All-Decade Team in 2011, and was elected into both the Canadian and United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Gary Gait changed the game with his "behind-the-back goals" and patented "Air Gait" jump goals, and it's why he is considered one of the greatest players in lacrosse history.
In an interview with Bud Poliquin for Syracuse.com, Gait discussed his legacy:
"Am I the greatest lacrosse player ever?" Gary repeated on a mid-winter afternoon in his Manley Field House office. "Oh, God. I don't know. Everybody has their own opinion. That's a question for everyone who wants to sit back and think about such things. That's not for me to decide."
"Look," he said, and a bit uncomfortably, "there are different players, different styles, different eras, different equipment. So, who's to say? What I will tell you, though, is that I've enjoyed the long, long career I've had."
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