The past couple weeks have been quite busy for Syracuse head lacrosse coach Gary Gait. Two Saturdays ago the first-year collegiate men’s lacrosse picked up his first win over Holy Cross. Then one week later the former four-time All-American watch in jubilation as his #22 ascended into the rafters of the Carrier Dome.
What may have been lost in the shuffle was that Gait was also inducted into the inaugural Pro Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Gary Gait – Gait’s undeniable influence on the game of lacrosse spanned from his college tenure to the professional level, where he notched 63 points in his final season, winning co-MVP honors. pic.twitter.com/xXvMMXy9NY
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) February 15, 2022
The former NLL and MLL laxer suited up for two decades following his graduation from Syracuse in 1990. The three-time national champion considered that 20 years is a short stint in the pro ranks, so he sounded a bit surprised that his name was chosen.
“Well certainly, completely honored considering I had a short career compared to everybody else in the group. A lot of those guys played a few years longer than I did, but it was quite an honor,” Gait said.
While it may have been a “short” career for the Canadien after leaving the hill, it was certainly productive. Things got started with a bang in 1991 for both Gait’s. The Detroit Turbos drafted Gary and Paul in back-to-back picks. In his first season at the elevated level, “Air Gait” won Rookie of the Year and led his squad to the MILL championship.
A few years later both Gait’s moved on to the Philadelphia Wings where the US Lacrosse Hall of Famer racked up two more titles, and three MVP honors between 1995-1997. Fast forwarding into the 21st Century, Gait moved around a bit in the NLL but ended up in Colorado in 2003. After completing two seasons with the Mammoths, his #22 jersey was actually retired there as well. Gait became just the second NLL player to ever have his threads raised to the rafters.
The British Columbia native also logged time in the newly formed MLL beginning in 2001. Gait’s best year was in 2005 when his Baltimore Bayhawks won the championship where he earned MVP, and also a trophy as the best “player-coach” in the league. The Canadian lacrosse hall of famer laced up his cleats for five more years before retiring in 2011 to pursue coaching.
So a very long and colorful career for Gait, despite what he may think. The 54-year old wasn’t the only former SU lacrosse legend featured in the inaugural Pro Lacrosse Hall of Fame class. His former defensive teammate Pat McCabe and NLL archnemesis Casey Powell were also selected for the star-studded group.
https://twitter.com/PremierLacrosse/status/1493648041819066370?s=20&t=siDfZ5BLsLYq-bIwDppBZA
Honored to be recognized by the @PremierLacrosse for all the blood, sweat and tears. The rise to professional lacrosse was an unexpected but amazing journey. Shoutout to the other players on this list that pushed me to be at my best every weekend for so many years. #golacrosse https://t.co/KwvxgFuHGt
— Casey Powell (@caseypowell22) February 15, 2022
Syracuse is the only program to have multiple selections in the hall of fame class. Gait said this is a testament to what the Orange have been in the past and what they can be in the future.”
“I think that says a lot about the history of Syracuse lacrosse. It makes it a goal of mine to make sure we get back to putting guys on the national team and the professional leagues at a higher rate than we have the past couple years,” Gait said.
Gait, McCabe, and Powell form a Syracuse triumvirate in the hall of fame and are a depiction of what SU lacrosse used to be. Each of these former greats won national titles and serve as a reminder of the greatness that was. Coach Gait is aiming to pioneer ‘Cuse back to its elite status and he already has a plan on how to get it there.
“We gotta do a better job recruiting, get some more talent so that the top guys playing here at Syracuse can go on and have long careers at the professional and international levels,” Gait said.