DENVER, Colo. – Colorado Mammoth legend John Grant, Jr., officially announced his retirement from the team and the National Lacrosse League on Monday.
The two-time MVP and nine-time All-Pro finishes his career second in League history in goals (668) and points (1,446), and fifth in assists (778). In just six-plus seasons with Colorado, he rewrote the record books and now steps away as the team’s all-time leader in goals (235), and finishes second in both assists (317) and points (552).
“John has always played at a level above everyone else,” said Mammoth general manager Dan Carey, also a childhood friend. “He’s a magician with his lacrosse stick, and will go down as one of the all-time greats. He may be retiring, but he’ll always be a part of this team.”
In a career packed with both personal and team accolades, Mammoth fans will especially remember his MVP season of 2012. Grant, then in just his second season with the team, set the then-NLL single-season record with 116 points and joined Gary Gait as the only Mammoth players to win the prestigious award.
“Even before coming to Colorado, I always dreamed of having the great Mammoth fans cheering for me at Pepsi Center,” said Grant. “The experience of playing in ‘The Loudest House in Lacrosse’ was far better than I ever imagined and I’m very grateful to both the organization and to the fans for making this such a memorable part of my career.”
At the age of 42 and with wear-and-tear of such a long and successful career beginning to take its toll, Grant decided it was time to say goodbye.
“I love my family, and I love lacrosse,” said Grant. “The game has given so much to me. It’s bittersweet to accept that my playing career is over, but I can retire knowing that I’ve given the sport and the people who support it everything I had. Thank you to the Rochester Knighthawks for drafting me, and to the Colorado Mammoth for keeping me in the game into my forties. I’m unbelievably lucky and eternally grateful for having the chance to live out my dream as a professional lacrosse player.”
The left-handed forward scored his 500th and 600th career goals in a Mammoth uniform, and reached the 1,000-point plateau with the team while becoming a fixture in the Colorado lacrosse community.
The Mammoth organization plans to honor Grant next season.
About Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE)
Denver-based Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is one of the world’s leading ownership, entertainment and management groups. As owners and operators of Pepsi Center, Paramount Theatre, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Mammoth (NLL) and Colorado Rapids (MLS), KSE’s sports and entertainment assets are second to none. Additional properties under the KSE umbrella include regional sports network, Altitude Sports & Entertainment, various television, print and digital media properties under the Outdoor Sportsman Group, Altitude Authentics, the company’s official retail provider, and Altitude Tickets, the official ticketing provider for KSE teams and venues.
