After 21 seasons, Dan Dawson announces his retirement from the National Lacrosse League
Dan Dawson, Toronto Rock (Photo: Ryan McCullough)
The Toronto Rock have announced that Dan Dawson has retired after 21 Hall-of-Fame-worthy seasons in the National Lacrosse League.
“My time has come to an end, and I couldn’t be more thankful for my time in this league and this game,” Dawson said in the team’s statement today. “It’s my body and my family that are telling me I need to be home. I can’t perform at the level I’m accustomed to, and everyone expects from me at my age. Given everything that’s going on in my life, my energy and my efforts need to be redirected to the people that have supported me for over 20 years. And that’s the main reason why I’m shutting it down.
“In the off season was the first time I thought about (retiring) and then heading into this season I knew it was going to be my last and it just felt right. It’s so funny when you talk to people that have done this and exited the game or a career after an extended period of time, they always say, you know. You know when it’s your time. It just felt right. I know it’s the right time.”
Dan Dawson, Toronto Rock (Photo: Ryan McCullough)
Entering the NLL as a relative unknown to most, Dawson was drafted just 68th overall in the sixth round of the 2001 NLL Entry Draft by the Columbus Landsharks. As seasons progressed, Dawson developed into one of the most dominant offensive players in NLL history. Dawson would win two NLL titles with the Rochester Knighthawks (Finals MVP in 2014) during one of the franchise’s most dominant stretches, plus took a third Cup with the Saskatchewan Rush. An Oakville, Ontario native, Dawson ends his career with the iconic NLL club based in his hometown.
Dawson leaves the game with the most regular season games played in NLL history (322), also retiring with the record for most career regular season assists (954). Dawson is second to only John Tavares (1,749) for most career points (1,505), and his fourth all-time in goals (551) behind NLL Hall-of-Game inductees Tavares (815), John Grant (668) and Gary Gait (635). Dawson was voted the 2009 NLL MVP while playing for the Boston Blazers.
Dan Dawson, TRAC Athletics Director (Photo: Dave Fryer)
Already serving as a TRAC Athletics Director, Dawson will now also take on the role of the Rock’s Director of Player Development.
Although the NLL has only inducted class over the last several years, Dawson will surely be a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection when the league reestablishes their induction process.
