Former University of Delaware Standout John Grant Named National Lacrosse League MVP
NEW YORK -- John Grant (at right) starred for the University of Delaware men’s lacrosse team back in 1998-99, leading the Blue Hens to national prominence and a berth in the 1999 NCAA quarterfinals.
Now, over a decade later, he hasn’t slowed down a bit.
The high-scoring attackman from Peterborough, Ontario was honored last week as the National Lacrosse League (NLL) Most Valuable Player for the 2012 season and earned a spot on the NLL All-Pro team for the eighth time in his 12-year career.
Now playing for the Colorado Mammoth of the indoor league, Grant picked up MVP honors for the second time in his career - he also won the award in 2007 with Rochester - after setting a new single-season record with 116 points (league-leading 50 goals, 66 assists) in just 14 games. He scored in every game, had three or more goals 12 times, and netted a season-high six vs. Philadelphia on Mar. 23. Colorado went 11-5 in 2012 behind its star newcomers after registering a 5-11 record in 2011.
Grant has now scored 50 or more goals in a season five times in his career and ranks No. 3 on the league’s all-time goals scored list with 519.
He was joined on the All-Pro first team by forwards Garrett Billings of Toronto and Dan Dawson of Philadelphia, transition payer Andrew Suitor of Minnesota, defenseman Kyle Rubisch of Edmonton, and goalkeeper Mike Poulin of Calgary.
Grant was one of five former Blue Hen players in the league this season, joining Luke Wiles (Buffalo), Brett Manney (Philadelphia), 2011 NLL Rookie of the Year Curtis Dickson (Calgary), and Scott Evans (Edmonton). Evans led Edmonton to the NLL title game Sunday before the Rush fell 9-6 to Rochester.
Grant, 37, who was inducted into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005, was a dominating offensive player with a combination of strength, speed, and a blazing shot.
He recorded 81 goals and 96 assists for 177 points in just 32 career games for the Blue Hens under head coach Bob Shillinglaw and was a two-time United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-American, earning first team laurels as a senior in 1999 when he led all NCAA Division I players with 110 points and was named the winner of the prestigious Enner Award as the USILA National Player of the Year.
