Paul Gait Explained

Position:Attack
Shoots:Left/Right
League:Former WLA
Team:Victoria Shamrocks
Former Nll Teams:Detroit Turbos
Philadelphia Wings
Rochester Knighthawks
Syracuse Smash
Washington Power
Colorado Mammoth
Former Mll Teams:Long Island Lizards
Boston Cannons
Ncaa Team:Syracuse University
Nll Draft:6th overall
Nll Draft Year:1990
Nll Draft Team:Detroit Turbos
Birth Date:April 5, 1967
Birth Place:Victoria, BC, CAN
Career Start:1991
Career End:2002, 2005
Uslaxhof Year:2005
Canlaxhof:2014
Nllhof: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.[2]

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.[3]

After college, he played with his brother for the storied amateur Mount Washington Lacrosse Club in the 1990s.[4]

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. Paul was a 3-time winner of the Mann Cup MVP award. The twins were named Co-MVPs of the Mann Cup in 1999,[5] 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 2001 Paul was named the MLL playoff and championship game MVP, after leading the Long Island Lizards to their first MLL title, with a record setting 7 goal performance,(on 8 shots)in the MLL championship game. In 2002 Paul led the NLL in goals and points and was named the league MVP.[6] He retired due to the early onset osteoarthritis in his back, ankles and elbows.

In 1990, Paul represented STX Lacrosse as a Sales Representative. In 1994 Paul started GBLax, a lacrosse specialty retail business located in Syracuse NY. In 1996 Paul sold GBLAX and became an independent lacrosse equipment design/developer for J.deBeer & Son, where he developed a line of lacrosse equipment for the softball manufacturing company. He was hired full-time by deBeer in 1996 where he worked, in various roles until 2011, ultimately becoming the company president between 2003-2011. In his tenure at deBeer he was credited for developing the modern women's lacrosse head (Apex) and has revolutionized the women's lacrosse pocket. He also introduced the Gait Brand of men's lacrosse equipment in 2003. deBeer/Gait quickly became the world's leading producer of women's lacrosse equipment and Canadian box lacrosse gear. In 2011 Paul founded Team 22 Lacrosse(Guilderland, NY), the exclusive licensee for Under Armour lacrosse products. Paul has 30 lacrosse related patents issued during his time in the business. Paul is also the founder of Laxpocket LLC, the country's leading producer of women's lacrosse pockets. Both Laxpocket and Team 22 Lacrosse are located in the Albany, NY area.

Paul was named the head coach of the Rochester Knighthawks on December 26, 2008, where he coached for two years.

Awards

NLL Weekly and Monthly Awards:

Paul along with his twin brother Gary Gait were inducted into The British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame on September 13, 2011 in a ceremony in Vancouver, BC.[7]

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. Paul, Gary and Jim Brown were also named to the NCAA all century team.

Gait's #19 jersey was retired by Syracuse University in 2024. He is the third men’s lacrosse player to have his jersey retired after brother Gary Gait and Mike Powell.[8]

Personal life

Gait was paralyzed from the waist-down after a 20-ft fall at the Gait Lacrosse warehouse in Altamont, New York on November 3, 2022. The fall left him partially paralyzed and unable to walk again.[9] He underwent spinal fusion surgery at Albany Medical Center.[10]

Statistics

Major League Lacrosse

  Regular Season Playoffs
SeasonTeamGPG2ptGAPtsLBPIMGPG2ptGAPtsLBPIM
2001Long Island6 1007179 0.02100212100.0
2002Boston 362081 0.0--------------
MLL Totals 91627 2510 0.02100212100.0

NLL

  Regular Season Playoffs
SeasonTeamGPGAPtsLBPIMGPGAPtsLBPIM
1991Detroit104719666320131420
1992Detroit7332053304153860
1993Philadelphia828134165826511154
1994Philadelphia8311344588212719280
1995Rochester82313363902961590
1996Rochester9242145644132572
1997Rochester10402565586210616104
1998Syracuse11282351464------------
1999Syracuse123737746212------------
2000Syracuse481321342------------
2001Washington14272552528122450
2002Washington1654601141076216780
2005Colorado4639132110100
Totals 12841030271273488155238909010

Syracuse University

    
Season GP G A Pts PPG
1987 13 11 3 14 1.08
1988 15 47 19 66 4.40
1989 15 38 29 67 4.47
1990 13 31 34 65 5.00
Totals 56127852123.79

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Twin Terrors Gary and Paul Gait Make Syracuse Foes See Lacrosse-Eyed. People Magazine. May 21, 1990. 2010-03-06.
  2. News: Andrews . Cooper . IMMORTAL: Paul Gait’s revolutionary lacrosse life encapsulates jersey retirement at SU . 18 April 2024 . . 18 April 2024.
  3. Mike Preston, NCAA rules Syracuse must forfeit 1990 championship, Baltimore Sun, June 11, 1995, retrieved May 12, 2014.
  4. Doug Brown, Washington 'Mounts' its title drive LACROSSE Club team to face Brine of Boston, Baltimore Sun, June 19, 1993, retrieved May 26, 2010.
  5. Web site: Historical Stats of the Mann Cup. Bible-of-Lacrosse.com. 2007-08-15. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071013004812/http://www.bible-of-lacrosse.com/newstats/manncup.txt. 2007-10-13.
  6. News: Paul Gait named MVP. February 25, 2018. The Globe and Mail. April 13, 2002.
  7. Web site: Paul Gait. https://web.archive.org/web/20151005002507/http://www.bcsportshalloffame.com/inductees/inductees/bio?id=354&type=person. live. October 5, 2015. bcsportshalloffame.com. February 25, 2018.
  8. Paul Gait’s Jersey to be Retired . 20 January 2024 . . en.
  9. News: DaSilva . Matt . Paralyzed After Warehouse Fall, Paul Gait Says It's Business as Usual . 20 January 2024 . . 20 January 2023 . en.
  10. News: Axe . Brent . Paul Gait on his paralysis: 'You’ve got to figure out how to win again' . 20 January 2024 . . 20 January 2023 . en.