John Grant, Jr. (lacrosse)

Infobox Lacrosse Player


image_size = 150px
position=Forward
shoots=Left
height_ft=6
height_in=2
weight_lb=220
nll_team=Rochester Knighthawks
mll_team=Rochester Rattlers
league= MSL
team= Peterborough Lakers
nationality=Canada
birth_date=birth date|1974|11|7|mf=y
birth_place=Peterborough, Ontario
career_start=2000
nickname=Junior

John Christopher Grant, Jr. (b. November 7, 1974 in Peterborough, Ontario)is a professional lacrosse player for the Rochester Knighthawks in the National Lacrosse League and the Rochester Rattlers in Major League Lacrosse.

NLL career

Grant was drafted 1st overall by the Rochester Knighthawks in the 2000 NLL entry draft, and was named NLL Rookie of the Year that year. He holds several franchise records including: Most goals (347), and most points (719). [Numbers as of the end of the 2007 season] He is also tied for ninth all-time in assists in league history. He is 12th all-time in goals and points in NLL history. He has some of the team's single-season records too, including: Most goals (54), most assists (60), and most points (111). Grant is also the team's all-time leader in playoff goals (47) and points (82).

On January 27, 2007 Grant set a National Lacrosse League record with 15 points in a single game (9 goals, 6 assists) in a win over the New York Titans. He was recognized with Overall Player of the Week Honors [cite web|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070131/SPORTS/70131024|title=Knighthawks’ Grant earns NLL honor|work=Democrat and Chronicle|date=January 31, 2007|accessdate=2007-04-01] for his record-breaking achievement. After the regular season, Grant was named the 2007 NLL MVP, and then on May 12, 2007, Grant capped off his extraordinary season by being named Champion's Cup game MVP, as the Knighthawks defeated the Arizona Sting 13-11 to win their second championship. On May 25, 2007, Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy awarded Grant the Key to the City in recognition of the Knighthawks' championship.

MLL career

He played for the Rattlers in their inaugural season in 2001, and finished second in the league with 59 points (41 goals, 3 two-pointers, 15 assists) in 14 games. He was also named an MLL All-Star and earned league Offensive Player of the Year honors. After not playing in the league from 2002 through 2004, he returned to the Rattlers for the 2005 season. In 2007, Grant broke the league's single-season points record with 71 points, [cite web|url=http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/index.html?article_id=775|title=Grant Sets Points Record In Rattlers Win|work=MajorLeagueLacrosse.com|date=August 11, 2007|accessdate=2007-08-17] was named Offensive Player of the Year for the second time, [cite web|url=http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/index.html?article_id=781|title=Grant Honored As 2007 Warrior Offensive Player Of The Year|work=MajorLeagueLacrosse.com|date=August 15, 2007|accessdate=2007-08-17] and was awarded the Major League Lacrosse MVP Award. [cite web |url=http://majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=805|title=Grant named 2007 Bud Light Major League Lacrosse Most Valuable Player|accessdate=2007-08-30 |last= |first= |date=August 24, 2007 |format= |work=MajorLeagueLacrosse.com|publisher= |quote= ] Grant won an MLL Championship in 2008, with a 16 to 6 defeat of Denver. This was the first MLL title for the Rattlers.

OLA career

Grant began his Ontario Lacrosse Association career with the Peterborough Lakers in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League. He was named the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League Most Valuable Player 1994, and was the league's top scorer in the in 1993, 1994, and 1995.
In 1995, Grant moved up to the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) with the Peterborough Lakers, where he won the Top Rookie of the Year award. In 2000, Grant won the MSL Most Valuable Player award. In 2002 and 2003, Grant moved west, playing in the Western Lacrosse Association with the Coquitlam Adanacs earning All-Star recognition.
Grant came back to the Peterborough Lakers in 2004, and led the team to a Mann Cup victory, earning the Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy as the competition's Most Valuable Player. In 2006 and 2007, Grant again won the Mann Cup as a member of the Lakers, earning his second Mann Cup MVP Mike Kelly Memorial Trophy in 2007. [cite web|url=http://bible-of-lacrosse.com/newstats/lakers06.txt|title=Lakers Team Stats: John Grant Jr. Stats|work=Bible-of-Lacrosse.com|date=|accessdate=2007-08-17]

International lacrosse career

In 2006, Grant along with Gary Gait spearheaded the Canadian national lacrosse team to an historic victory in the ILF World Lacrosse Championships, with Grant leading the tournament in points and assists, and earning All-World selection.
He has also represented Team Canada in the following events:
*1998 - Member of Team Canada, finalists in the 1998 World Lacrosse Championship in Baltimore, Maryland.
*2002 - Member of Team Canada, finalists in the Heritage Cup in Mississauga, Ontario and 2002 World Lacrosse Championship
*2003 - Member of Team Canada, winners of the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Hamilton, Ontario
*2004 - Member of Team Canada, winners of the Heritage Cup in Denver, Colorado
*2006- Member of Team Canada, winners of the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship in London, Ontario.
*2007 - Member of Team Canada, winners of the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia

College career

Grant played for the University of Delaware Blue Hens for two years with the Blue Hens compiling a 23 and 8 record during his time there. In 1999, Delaware had seven wins against teams ranked in the top twenty. Also in 1999, Grant set single-season school records for assists (54) and points (110). The 110 points currently ranks second on the NCAA Individual Single-Season Leaders list. Additionally in 1999, he was named the USILA National Collegiate Player of the Year and led the country in assists and points. He earned USILA Division I Player of the Year honors and was awarded the Jack Turnbull Award as National Attackman of the Year. In addition, he was Delaware’s first USILA First Team All-American. John led the school to its first ever NCAA lacrosse quarterfinal appearance as well as its first 14 win season, with victories over perennial lacrosse powers North Carolina, Georgetown, Navy and Towson. [cite web|url=http://www.udel.edu/sportsinfo/mens_lacrosse/l-index.html|title=University Of Delaware 1999 Season Results and Game Stories] |work=|date=1999|accessdate=2007-04-01]

Personal

Grant is the son of a former star of the original Philadelphia Wings and the Ontario Lacrosse Association, John Grant, Sr. He has a physical education degree from the University of Delaware. He is married to his wife, Raygen.

Accomplishments

*"1994 OLA Junior A Most Valuable Player
*"1995 MSL Rookie of the Year
*"2000 NLL Rookie of the Year
*"2000 MSL Most Valuable Player
*"2001 MLL Offensive Player of the Year
*"2003 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship Champions (Canada)
*'2004 Heritage Cup Champions (Canada)
*"2004 Mann Cup Champions (Peterburough Lakers)
*"2004 Mann Cup Most Valuable Player
*"2006 World Lacrosse Championship Champions (Canada)
*"2006 Mann Cup Champion (Peterburough Lakers)
*"2007 NLL Most Valuable Player
*"2007 NLL Champions Cup Champion (Rochester Knighthawks)
*"2007 NLL Champions Cup Most Valuable Player
*"2007 World Lacrosse Championships Champion (Canada)
*"2007 MLL Offensive Player of the Year
*"2007 MLL Most Valuable Player
*"2007 Mann Cup Champion (Peterburough Lakers)
*"2007 Mann Cup Most Valuable Player
*"2008 MLL Offensive Player of the Year
*"2008 MLL Most Valuable Player
*"2008 MLL Steinfeld Cup Champion (Rochester Rattlers)

tatistics

National Lacrosse League

College Statistics

Awards

Footnotes & References

External links

* [http://www.udel.edu/sportsinfo/mens_lacrosse/l-stats.html University Of Delaware 1999 Season Stats]

ee also

*NCAA Men's Division I Lacrosse Records
*University of Delaware Mens Lacrosse

Persondata
NAME=Grant, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Lacrosse player
DATE OF BIRTH=November 7, 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH=Peterborough, Ontario
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=