Paul Gait

Paul Gait
— Lacrosse player —
Born	(1967-04-05) April 5, 1967 Victoria, BC, CAN
Position	Forward
NCAA team	Syracuse University
Former NLL teams	Detroit Turbos Philadelphia Wings Rochester Knighthawks Syracuse Smash Washington Power Colorado Mammoth
Former MLL teams	Long Island Lizards Boston Cannons
Nationality	Canada
NLL Draft	6th overall, 1990 Detroit Turbos
Pro career	1991–2002, 2005
Shoots	Left/Right
U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame NLL Hall of Fame, 2006

Paul Gait (born April 5, 1967) is widely regarded as one of the best lacrosse players of all time^[1] 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 Canada.

College career

Paul and his twin brother Gary 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 defeating Loyola in the 1990 NCAA Division I lacrosse tournament finals, the NCAA determined that head coach Roy Simmons Jr's wife Nancy Simmons had improperly co-signed for a car loan for Paul Gait. Gait was ruled ineligible for postseason play, and Syracuse vacated their tournament records and title.^[2]

After college, he played with his brother for the storied amateur Mount Washington Lacrosse Club in the 1990s.^[3]

Professional career

Paul and Gary 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,^[4] 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.

Statistics

Major League Lacrosse

NLL

Syracuse University

• 1988 Syracuse Men's Lacrosse Statistics

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 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 lacrosse

References