Emotional Grant Jr.’s jersey retired
One of the game’s all-time greats established a lasting lacrosse legacy both here and in the U.S.
“If I could tear that thing down and put it back on, I definitely would.”
That’s what John Grant Jr. said after seeing his jersey, No. 24, retired last Saturday by the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth.
The Peterborough native grew up in the shadow of his lacrosse Hall of Fame father and by the end of his career established his own legacy.
It didn’t end on his terms, though, as concussions forced Grant into retirement last year at age 42.
“Anyone who knows me knows I don’t want to not be playing. It’s just I have no choice,” he said. “I made a couple of jokes in my speech that it wasn’t fair I only got to play until I was 42 and 17 years of pro lacrosse.”
Grant is unquestionably one of the alltime greats. In a career split between Colorado and the Rochester Knighthawks, Grant ranks second all-time in goals (668), points (1,366) and fifth in assists (778). He is the fourth player honoured by the Mammoth alongside Gary Gait’s No. 22, Brian Langtry’s No. 6 and Gavin Prout’s No. 9.
The Mammoth granted Junior’s wish to run out of the player tunnel one last time prior to the ceremony. Lined up on both sides were the players Grant coaches now at Valor Christian High School in Denver to high-five him.
He joined his wife Raygen and daughter Gabrayel on a stage as a montage of career highlights was played on the videoboard to the music of his favourite band, Pearl Jam. Colorado GM Dan Carey, also a Peterborough native and Grant’s former Lakers teammate, paid tribute to Grant along with the NLL commissioner and Mammoth owner.
“Dan’s speech was incredible. It was pretty cool to get to share that with a guy who I grew up with together playing lacrosse and we’re good friends. It was a little awkward playing my last year because he was my boss,” said Grant, with a chuckle.
When it came his time to speak, Grant got emotional.
“When I got to my wife and my daughter at the end of the speech I didn’t make it through that,” he said. “They came up and put their arms around me and we finished up by watching the banner go up. For me, that was the tough part because once it’s up I’m not going to be able to wear it again.”
As honoured as he was by the moment, Grant has some mixed emotions.
“I left my end of the bargain open by not helping them win any playoff games,” said Grant.
“I still appreciate they felt that much for me to put on a spread like that for me and my family. It was a pretty special evening.”
Grant won championships in pro box and field leagues and with the Lakers and indoors and outdoors for Team Canada. Yet, he’s haunted by the ones that got away.
“I lost my last game in all three of the leagues I played in and four if you count Team Canada in 2010,” he said. “I try to think about all the good stuff I did but I still left some stuff on the table. I’ll enjoy now what the future holds for me in coaching. I have a pretty good thing going here in Denver. I look forward to being as obsessed about coaching as I was playing.”