Paul Gait
Encyclopedia
Paul Gait is widely regarded as one of the best lacrosse
players of all time and is the current Vice President of the Rochester Knighthawks
of the National Lacrosse League
. Gait, along with his twin brother Gary Gait
, had outstanding playing careers at Syracuse University
, in the National Lacrosse League
, Major League Lacrosse
, the Western Lacrosse Association
, and at the international level for the Canadian National Team.
played NCAA lacrosse at Syracuse University
as midfielders, where they set numerous records from 1987 to 1990 and popularized innovative moves such as behind-the-back passing and scoring. One of the best NCAA players of all time, Paul helped lead Syracuse to three national championships and was selected as a First Team All-Americans by the USILA three times, in 1988, 1989, and 1990. Paul was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1989 NCAA Division I Lacrosse Championship Tournament.
After college, he played with his brother for the storied amateur Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
in the 1990s.
have both starred at all levels of professional lacrosse, including the National Lacrosse League
, the Western Lacrosse Association
, Major League Lacrosse
, and at the international level for the Canadian National Team. The twins were named Co-MVPs
of the Mann Cup
in 1999, when they played for the Victoria Shamrocks
. Paul initially retired from play following the 2002 NLL season
but then returned during the 2005 NLL season
to play for the Colorado Mammoth
with his brother. He played four games totaling nine points and then retired again after the 2005 season. Paul is sixth all time on the NLL points total list with 712 points in 13 seasons.
In 2005, both Gait brothers were inducted into the United States Lacrosse National Hall of Fame
. The following year, in 2006, both brothers were among the five charter members to be voted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame
.
In 1996, the Gait brothers started GBLax (now deBeer/Gait Lacrosse), their own line of lacrosse equipment, centered in Syracuse, New York
.
Paul was named the head coach of the Rochester Knighthawks
on December 26, 2008.
Paul along with his twin brother Gary Gait
will be inducted into their home province's highest honour in 2011. The British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame will place the legendary brothers into its Hall on September 13, 2011 in a ceremony in Vancouver, BC.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
players of all time and is the current Vice President of the Rochester Knighthawks
Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997...
of the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
. Gait, along with his twin brother Gary Gait
Gary Gait
Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the...
, had outstanding playing careers at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, in the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
, Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
, the Western Lacrosse Association
Western Lacrosse Association
The Western Lacrosse Association is an amateur league of men's Senior A box lacrosse sanctioned by the Canadian Lacrosse Association. It consists of seven teams, based in cities throughout southwestern British Columbia. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the...
, and at the international level for the Canadian National Team.
College career
Paul and his twin brother GaryGary Gait
Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the...
played NCAA lacrosse at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
as midfielders, where they set numerous records from 1987 to 1990 and popularized innovative moves such as behind-the-back passing and scoring. One of the best NCAA players of all time, Paul helped lead Syracuse to three national championships and was selected as a First Team All-Americans by the USILA three times, in 1988, 1989, and 1990. Paul was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1989 NCAA Division I Lacrosse Championship Tournament.
After college, he played with his brother for the storied amateur Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
The Mount Washington Lacrosse Club is an amateur field lacrosse club based in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the most successful and well-known lacrosse clubs in history, which at one point dominated the sport at both the collegiate and club level. The team is sometimes referred to by the...
in the 1990s.
Professional career
Paul and GaryGary Gait
Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the...
have both starred at all levels of professional lacrosse, including the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
, the Western Lacrosse Association
Western Lacrosse Association
The Western Lacrosse Association is an amateur league of men's Senior A box lacrosse sanctioned by the Canadian Lacrosse Association. It consists of seven teams, based in cities throughout southwestern British Columbia. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the...
, Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
, and at the international level for the Canadian National Team. The twins were named Co-MVPs
Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy
The Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player in Mann Cup competition. The Mann Cup is the senior men's lacrosse championship of Canada. The championship series is played between the Western Lacrosse Association champion and the Major Series Lacrosse champion....
of the Mann Cup
Mann Cup
The Mann Cup is the trophy awarded to the senior men's lacrosse champions of Canada. The championship series is played between the Western Lacrosse Association champion and the Major Series Lacrosse champion...
in 1999, when they played for the Victoria Shamrocks
Victoria Shamrocks
The Victoria Shamrocks are a Senior A box lacrosse club, based in Victoria, British Columbia. The team competes in the 7-team Western Lacrosse Association .The Shamrocks have won the Mann Cup 8 times...
. Paul initially retired from play following the 2002 NLL season
2002 NLL season
-All Star Game:The 2002 All-Star Game was held on April 21 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, where the North team beat the South 14-10. The MVP was Toronto's Steve Toll, who scored three goals. At the time, this also marked Paul Gait's final professional lacrosse game, as he...
but then returned during the 2005 NLL season
2005 NLL season
The 2005 National Lacrosse League season began on January 1, 2005 and concluded with the championship game on May 14. The Toronto Rock won their fifth NLL championship, defeating the Arizona Sting 19-13 in Toronto....
to play for the Colorado Mammoth
Colorado Mammoth
The Colorado Mammoth are a member of the National Lacrosse League. They have played at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, United States, since the 2003 season....
with his brother. He played four games totaling nine points and then retired again after the 2005 season. Paul is sixth all time on the NLL points total list with 712 points in 13 seasons.
In 2005, both Gait brothers were inducted into the United States Lacrosse National Hall of Fame
Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame
The US Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame, located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, is operated by US Lacrosse...
. The following year, in 2006, both brothers were among the five charter members to be voted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame
National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame
The National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame was established on June 16, 2005. The National Lacrosse League has 7 teams in the United States and 3 in Canada...
.
In 1996, the Gait brothers started GBLax (now deBeer/Gait Lacrosse), their own line of lacrosse equipment, centered in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Paul was named the head coach of the Rochester Knighthawks
Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play in Rochester, New York at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Knighthawks were previously members of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1995 to 1997...
on December 26, 2008.
Major League Lacrosse
| Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | G | 2ptG | A | Pts | LB | PIM | GP | G | 2ptG | A | Pts | LB | PIM | ||
| 2001 | Long Island | 6 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 0.0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 0.0 | ||
| 2002 | Boston | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| MLL Totals | 9 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 10 | 0.0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 0.0 | |||
NLL
| Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | LB | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | LB | PIM | ||
| 1991 | Detroit | 10 | 47 | 19 | 66 | 63 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1992 | Detroit | 7 | 33 | 20 | 53 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1993 | Philadelphia | 8 | 28 | 13 | 41 | 65 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 4 | ||
| 1994 | Philadelphia | 8 | 31 | 13 | 44 | 58 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 28 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | Rochester | 8 | 23 | 13 | 36 | 39 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 1996 | Rochester | 9 | 24 | 21 | 45 | 64 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 1997 | Rochester | 10 | 40 | 25 | 65 | 58 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 1998 | Syracuse | 11 | 28 | 23 | 51 | 46 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1999 | Syracuse | 12 | 37 | 37 | 74 | 62 | 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2000 | Syracuse | 4 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2001 | Washington | 14 | 27 | 25 | 52 | 52 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2002 | Washington | 16 | 54 | 60 | 114 | 107 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2005 | Colorado | 4 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Totals | 128 | 410 | 302 | 712 | 734 | 88 | 15 | 52 | 38 | 90 | 90 | 10 | |||
Syracuse University
| Season | GP | G | A | Pts | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 14 | -- | |
| 1988 | 14 | 47 | 19 | 66 | -- | |
| 1989 | 14 | 38 | 29 | 67 | -- | |
| 1990 | 15 | 31 | 34 | 65 | -- | |
| Totals | 58 | 127 | 85 | 212 | 4.45 |
Awards
NLL Weekly and Monthly Awards:- Player of the Week (1994–2001) 7 times
- Overall Player of the Week (2002-) twice
- Offensive Player of the Week (2002-) 3 times
- Player of the Month 5 times
Paul along with his twin brother Gary Gait
Gary Gait
Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the...
will be inducted into their home province's highest honour in 2011. The British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame will place the legendary brothers into its Hall on September 13, 2011 in a ceremony in Vancouver, BC.
See also
- Syracuse Orange men's lacrosseSyracuse Orange men's lacrosseThe Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference...
- NLL Hall of Fame: Paul Gait