Dan Dawson passes John Tavares to set new all-time assists record

Dan Dawson, Toronto Rock (Photo: Ryan McCullough)

Last night, Toronto Rock forward Dan Dawson passed Buffalo Bandits legend & National Lacrosse League Hall of Famer, John Tavares, for the league’s all-time regular season assists record.

Dawson, who scored the Rock’s first goal in their 11-9 comeback win over the Rochester Knighthawks, assisted on Challen Rogers’ goal at the 14:09 mark in the first period. The assist was Dawson’s 935th of his career.

Last month, Dawson also passed Tavares for most regular season games played in an NLL career.

“It’s a testament to the amazing players I’ve played with over my career,” Dawson said in the team’s post-game report last night. “I’m just lucky to have played an amazing game for so long with so many great people.”

Dan Dawson (#6), Toronto and Paul Dawson (#2), Rochester (Photo Micheline Veluvolu)

Although no longer a teammate, Dawson’s brother & captain of the Knighthawks, Paul Dawson, was on the floor for Rochester when his older sibling set professional lacrosse’s new all-time assists standard last night at the Blue Cross Arena.

Dan & Paul played in Rochester together from 2013 to 2018.

Asked prior to the game what it felt like to be playing Dan in Rochester for the first time since their father, Joe Dawson, passed away last August, an emotional Paul Dawson responded, “It’ll be cool. That’s a tough question. Now with the borders opened up, my family gets to come down, it’s the first time they’ll get to watch us play against each other here too.

“It’s something I try not to think about too much, but it’s something we’ll look back on and it’ll be special.”

Joe attended most of his son’s games during their NLL careers, no matter where they played. Dan alone has suited up for franchises all over North America, including the Columbus Landsharks, Arizona Sting, Portland Lumberjax, Boston Blazers, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Saskatchewan Rush, San Diego Seals and of course now the Rock. In addition to Rochester, Dan & Paul were teammates in Boston, Philadelphia and San Diego too.

“…for me, every game I'm going to play, I just want to make him proud,” Dan told The Lax Mag before the 2021/22 season started.

With both boys on the floor for one of pro lacrosse’s most iconic all-time accomplishments, not sure he could have been any prouder.

Dan & Paul Dawson (Photo: Ryan McCullough)