Lacrosse legend Paul Gait involved in accident, currently recovering
Paul & Gary Gait, Rochester Knighthawks
Equipment manufacture Gait Lacrosse shared on social media today that Paul Gait was in an accident that required surgery earlier this week.
The company’s statement reads:
Thursday, November 3rd, Paul Gait was involved in an accident that required surgery. He is currently in recovery and resting surrounded by his friends & family.
We thank you for your concern and outpouring of well wishes.
Paul will need some time, but will be back in the game soon!
The 55-year-old Gait, who owns the Gait Lacrosse brand, is considered one of the greatest lacrosse players ever, alongside twin brother Gary Gait. The pair won championships and set records at Syracuse University, then did the same professionally in both the National Lacrosse League & Major League Lacrosse.
The Victoria, British Columbia native was equally as dominant during Canada’s Junior & Senior amateur seasons, winning a Minto Cup with the Esquimalt Legion, and Mann Cups with the Brooklin Redmen, Six Nations Chiefs and his hometown Victoria Shamrocks.
In the NLL, Gait, often playing with his brother, suited up for Detroit Turbos (91-92), Philadelphia Wings (93-94), Rochester Knighthawks (95-97), Syracuse Smash (98-00), Pittsburgh Crossefire (00), Washington Power (01-02), and later coming out of retirement to play for the Colorado Mammoth (05). He would also serve as the head coach of the original Knighthawks franchise for two seasons (09-10).
Gait was voted NLL MVP in 2002, and appeared on the league’s All-Pro First or Second Team an incredible eleven times, a total only his brother (15) and John Tavares (19) have bettered.
The Gaits were charter members of the NLL’s Hall of Fame in 2006, and can be found in several other HOFs throughout the sport.
Crossing over into the mainstream on more than on occasion, most recently the brothers were recognized in an episode of The Simpson on FOX in 2016.