NLL.com - The Official Home of the National Lacrosse League

GARY GAIT TRADED TO ROCHESTER

Retired Hall of Famer's rights traded to Knighthawks

10/14/2008

The Rochester Knighthawks have acquired the rights to retired lacrosse legend and NLL Hall of Famer Gary Gait in a trade with Colorado. "The interest was sparked because the Knighthawks had an interest. I told my kids and they got really excited and told me I had to play and I don't like turning down my kids," said Gait. "As an athlete I am looking forward to competing again at the highest level." The Mammoth receive forward Andrew Potter and Rochester's first-round draft picks in 2009 & 2010.

Potter was a first-round draft pick in the 2007 National Lacrosse League entry draft, 14th overall. He scored one goal in two games played for Rochester. "Andrew has the skills and potential to be an important part of the Mammoth and we're glad to have him," Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said. "Gary Gait has been a tremendous part of this team's history, but his career and family have taken him back to the East Coast and we wish him well in his further pursuits."

Gait retired from playing after the 2005 season as the league's all-time leading scorer with 1,091 career regular season points. The former Syracuse University standout was formally introduced as the newest member of the Knighthawk family at a press conference on Thursday, October 16. "I am excited and fired up to take this thing head on," said Gait. "I am going to be in great shape."

"We're extremely excited to have Gary Gait decide to come out of retirement and join the Rochester organization. Gary will help alleviate the pain of losing John Grant for the season," said Rochester general manager Regy Thorpe. "Gary's a proven player that's going to make everyone around him better. His wealth of experience and knowledge will be a huge asset -- in both practices and games -- for our younger core of guys."

In his 15-year playing career, Gait scored 596 goals and tallied 495 assists for an astounding 1,091 career points. He retired as the league's all-time leader in goals and points. After playing his final three seasons in Colorado, he became the team's head coach in 2006. In his first and only season as head coach, Gait coached the Mammoth to a Champion's Cup victory.

In 2006, he was inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame as one of the Hall's five founding members.

Check back to NLL.com for more on this story.