| John Grant, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 7, 1974 , Peterborough, Ontario |
| Position | Attack |
| Height |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| MSL Team | Peterborough Lakers |
| NLL Team F. Teams |
Colorado Mammoth Rochester Knighthawks |
| MLL Team F. Teams |
Long Island Lizards Hamilton/Toronto Nationals Rochester Rattlers |
| Nationality | Canada |
| Pro Career | 2000–present |
| Shoots | Left |
| Nickname | Junior |
John Christopher Grant, Jr. (born November 7, 1974) is a professional lacrosse player for the Colorado Mammoth in the National Lacrosse League and the Long Island Lizards in Major League Lacrosse.
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Grant was drafted by the Buffalo Bandits in the third round of the 1995 MLL Entry Draft. He was never signed by the Bandits, opting instead to attend college, re-entered the draft four years later when he was drafted first overall by the Rochester Knighthawks in the 1999 NLL Entry Draft, and was named NLL Rookie of the Year for the 2000 season. He holds several franchise records including most goals (347) and most points (719). Grant is also tied for fifth all-time in goals, third in assists per game and 12th in points in NLL history. He has some of the team's single-season records too, including: Most goals (54), most assists (60), and most points (111). Grant is also the team's all-time leader in playoff goals (47) and points (82).
In 2007 Grant set a National Lacrosse League record with 15 points in a single game (9 goals, 6 assists) in a win over the New York Titans, since broken by Mark Steenhuis. He was recognized with Overall Player of the Week Honors[1] for his record-breaking achievement. After the regular season, Grant was named the 2007 NLL MVP, and then on May 12, 2007, Grant capped off his extraordinary season by being named Champion's Cup game MVP, as the Knighthawks defeated the Arizona Sting 13-11 to win their second championship. On May 25, 2007, Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy awarded Grant the Key to the City in recognition of the Knighthawks' championship.
Grant missed the entire 2009 season after having emergency surgery to remove an infection in his knee.[2] In 2010, Grant returned to form playing in 15 of his teams 16 games, though Rochester missed the playoffs.
On October 27, 2010, Grant (plus defender Mac Allen) was traded to the Colorado Mammoth in exchange for 2010 NLL Goaltender of the Year Matt Vinc, plus transition players Matt Zash and Brad Self.[3] Draft picks were also exchanged in the trade, which the Knighthawks said they executed to alleviate the effects of an aging roster, despite being reluctant to deal Grant after such a long and successful tenure in Rochester.[3]
He played for the Rochester Rattlers in their inaugural season in 2001, and finished second in the league with 59 points (41 goals, 3 two-pointers, 15 assists) in 14 games. He was also named an MLL All-Star and earned league Offensive Player of the Year honors. After not playing in the league from 2002 through 2004, he returned to the Rattlers for the 2005 season. In 2007, Grant broke the league's single-season points record with 71 points,[4] was named Offensive Player of the Year for the second time,[5] and was awarded the Major League Lacrosse MVP Award.[6] In 2008, Grant led the league in scoring with 64 points (47 goals, 4 two-pointers, 13 assists) and was named the 2008 Bud Light Major League Lacrosse Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. Grant and the Rattlers went on to win the MLL Championship in 2008, with a 16 to 6 defeat of Denver. This was the first MLL title for the Rattlers.
He, along with the rest of the Rattlers franchise and roster, transferred to the Toronto (later Hamilton) Nationals when the franchise was bought by a new ownership group in 2009.
On June 14, 2011 it was announced that Grant Jr was traded to the Long Island Lizards for a second round draft pick in the 2012 Collegiate draft, which would become a 4th round pick if Grant Jr does not report. Nationals general manager Jody Gage—the same GM who traded Grant away from the Knighthawks—cited a desire to go with a younger roster as a factor in the trade decision.
Grant began his Ontario Lacrosse Association career with the Peterborough Lakers in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League. He was named the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League Most Valuable Player 1994, and was the league's top scorer in the in 1993, 1994, and 1995. In 1995, Grant moved up to the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) with the Peterborough Lakers, where he won the Top Rookie of the Year award. In 2000, Grant won the MSL Most Valuable Player award. In 2002 and 2003, Grant moved west, playing in the Western Lacrosse Association with the Coquitlam Adanacs earning All-Star recognition.
Grant came back to the Peterborough Lakers in 2004, and led the team to a Mann Cup victory, earning the Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy as the competition's Most Valuable Player. In 2006 and 2007, Grant again won the Mann Cup as a member of the Lakers, earning his second Mann Cup MVP Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy in 2007.[7]
Grant suited up for the Peterborough Lakers of Major Series Lacrosse on July 9, 2009, a surprisingly early comeback from his surgery.[8] In 2010, Grant and the Peterborough Lakers won the Mann Cup once again, beating out the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
In 2006, Grant along with Gary Gait led the Canadian national lacrosse team to an historic victory in the ILF World Lacrosse Championships, with Grant leading the tournament in points and assists, and earning All-World selection. He has also represented Team Canada in the following events:
Grant played for the University of Delaware for two years, with the Blue Hens compiling a 23 and 8 record during his time there. He transferred to Delaware from Junior College after first considering transferring to Syracuse. Grant was drafted by the Buffalo Bandits in 1995, but was never signed opting instead to attend college at SUNY Morrisville, where he stayed for two years. Grant made the USILA All-American team his junior season with the Blue Hens, but really attracted national attention his senior year.
In 1999, Delaware had seven wins against teams ranked in the top twenty. Also in 1999, Grant set single-season school records for assists (54) and points (110). The 110 points currently ranks second on the NCAA Individual Single-Season Leaders list. Additionally in 1999, he was named the USILA National Collegiate Player of the Year and led the country in assists and points. He earned USILA Division I Player of the Year honors and was awarded the Jack Turnbull Award as National Attackman of the Year. In addition, he was Delaware’s first USILA First Team All-American. John led the school to its first ever NCAA lacrosse quarterfinal appearance as well as its first 14 win season, with victories over perennial lacrosse powers North Carolina, Georgetown, Navy and Towson.[9]
Grant currently stands second in NCAA Division I single season Total Points, 11th in career Points-Per-Game and 12th in career Goals-Per-Game. He is the last Division I player to average more than 6 points-per-game for an entire season.
Grant is the son of a former star of the original Philadelphia Wings and the Ontario Lacrosse Association, John Grant, Sr. He has a physical education degree from the University of Delaware. He is married to Raygen Rogers. He has one child, a girl, named Gabrayel Louise Grant, born March 14, 2010.
| Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | LB | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | LB | PIM | ||
| 2000 | Rochester | 12 | 37 | 40 | 77 | 76 | 32 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 9 | 6 | ||
| 2001 | Rochester | 14 | 42 | 48 | 90 | 124 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2002 | Rochester | 16 | 52 | 53 | 105 | 102 | 43 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2003 | Rochester | 16 | 46 | 53 | 99 | 115 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 4 | ||
| 2004 | Rochester | 5 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 34 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2005 | Rochester | 15 | 49 | 56 | 105 | 83 | 31 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2006 | Rochester | 16 | 54 | 43 | 97 | 86 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 2007 | Rochester | 15 | 51 | 60 | 111 | 81 | 40 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | Rochester | 16 | 47 | 45 | 92 | 116 | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2010 | Rochester | 15 | 39 | 44 | 83 | 85 | 17 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2011 | Colorado | 16 | 36 | 47 | 83 | 45 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | ||
| NLL Totals | 156 | 469 | 508 | 977 | 947 | 257 | 15 | 50 | 36 | 86 | 83 | 14 | |||
| Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | G | 2ptG | A | Pts | LB | PIM | GP | G | 2ptG | A | Pts | LB | PIM | ||
| 2001 | Rochester | 14 | 41 | 3 | 15 | 59 | 15 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 2005 | Rochester | 12 | 21 | 3 | 17 | 41 | 14 | 7.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | ||
| 2006 | Rochester | 11 | 28 | 2 | 19 | 49 | 17 | 10.0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2007 | Rochester | 12 | 44 | 2 | 25 | 71 | 27 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | Rochester | 12 | 44 | 4 | 13 | 64 | 21 | 7.5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 0.0 | ||
| 2009 | Toronto | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 2010 | Hamilton | ||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Hamilton | ||||||||||||||||
| Long Island | |||||||||||||||||
| MLL Totals | 72 | 183 | 14 | 89 | 289 | 94 | 32.5 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 2 | |||
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1991 | Peterborough Lakers | OLA Jr A | 18 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1992 | Peterborough Lakers | OLA Jr A | 18 | 31 | 18 | 49 | 34 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1993 | Peterborough Lakers | OLA Jr A | 20 | 78 | 46 | 124 | 51 | 6 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 6 | ||
| 1994 | Peterborough Lakers | OLA Jr A | 22 | 86 | 74 | 160 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 37 | 75 | 20 | ||
| 1994 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | Peterborough Lakers | OLA Jr A | 17 | 66 | 45 | 111 | 51 | 11 | 28 | 15 | 43 | 24 | ||
| 1995 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 3 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1996 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 24 | 66 | 62 | 128 | 32 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 30 | 4 | ||
| 1997 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 16 | 29 | 36 | 65 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1998 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1999 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 10 | 18 | 21 | 39 | 24 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 14 | ||
| 2000 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 15 | 46 | 58 | 104 | 28 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 4 | ||
| 2002 | Coquitlam Adanacs | WLA | 13 | 30 | 39 | 69 | 16 | 10 | 26 | 25 | 51 | 14 | ||
| 2003 | Coquitlam Adanacs | WLA | 17 | 54 | 35 | 89 | 41 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 10 | ||
| 2004 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 35 | 40 | 75 | 31 | ||
| 2005 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 8 | ||
| 2006 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 5 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 0 | 17 | 37 | 40 | 77 | 22 | ||
| 2007 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 7 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 45 | 71 | 4 | ||
| 2008 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 11 | 34 | 30 | 64 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 10 | ||
| 2009 | Peterborough Lakers | MSL | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 10 | ||
| Junior A Totals | 95 | 273 | 198 | 471 | 127 | 36 | 86 | 65 | 153 | 52 | ||||
| Senior A Totals | 136 | 319 | 332 | 651 | 177 | 108 | 212 | 242 | 454 | 131 | ||||
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | University of Delaware | 15 | 40 | 27 | 67 | 4.46 |
| 1999 | University of Delaware | 17 | 56 | 54 | 110 (a) | 6.47 |
| NCAA Totals | 31 | 96 | 81 | 177 | 5.53 (b) | |
| Preceded by None |
Major League Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year 2001 |
Succeeded by Mark Millon |
| Preceded by Jesse Hubbard |
NLL Rookie of the Year 2000 |
Succeeded by Tracy Kelusky |
| Preceded by Steve Dietrich |
NLL Most Valuable Player 2007 |
Succeeded by Athan Iannucci |
| Preceded by Gavin Prout |
Champion's Cup MVP 2007 |
Succeeded by Mark Steenhuis |
| Preceded by Ryan Powell |
Major League Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year 2007, 2008 |
Succeeded by Paul Rabil |
| Preceded by Ryan Powell |
Major League Lacrosse MVP 2007, 2008 |
Succeeded by Paul Rabil |
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