With the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, the Colorado Mammoth is pleased to present the recipients of this year’s team awards. An annual occurrence, Mammoth players and staff vote for individual players who best exemplified the leadership and production qualities associated with each award and former Colorado Mammoth player in which the awards were named after. Mammoth players and staff have taken place in the tradition since the 2015 season.
The awards, named after former Mammoth greats, represent various aspects of the game, both on and off the floor. Team MVP, Best Offenseman, Best Defenseman, Teammate of the Year and Most Inspirational round out the traditional five awards. The annual regular season celebration concludes with the Fan Choice Award, a unique opportunity which encourages the Mammoth faithful to vote for their favorite player of the season
Gary Gait Award (Team MVP) – Dillon Ward
“Anyone who’s followed the Colorado Mammoth or National Lacrosse League knows how valuable Dillon Ward is to our team and regularly gives us a chance to secure a victory,” Colorado Mammoth General Manager and Head Coach Pat Coyle said. “The belief that our team holds in understanding we’re capable of winning any game on any given night directly correlates with having Dillon in net.”
Previous Winners:
- 2019 – Eli McLaughlin
- 2018 – Dillon Ward
- 2017 – Dillon Ward
- 2016 – Callum Crawford
- 2015 – Adam Jones
In his seventh season with the Colorado Mammoth, Dillon Ward served as the team’s anchor, submitting weekly above-average performances and displaying flashes of excellence in his first season of a new, four-year contract. A true professional and ambassador to the game of lacrosse, Ward remained consistent in his efforts both on and off the floor, leading the Mammoth to a divisional second-place regular season finish and heading the charge as a member of Denver’s community and youth lacrosse family. Ward’s value and commitment as a leader, teammate and netminder alike will continue to pay dividends for the Mammoth as he remains among the league’s elite goaltenders. They don’t call him Dillon “The Wall” Ward for no reason.
Some would argue that Ward recorded the “save of the year” when the goaltender robbed Mark Matthews and the Saskatchewan Rush of a golden scoring opportunity during a divisional matchup Feb. 8. Attempting to complete a quick one-timer, Matthews flung a shot from the left side on an empty net before Ward extended his stick and snagged the ball while diving back to the left side of his crease. The goaltender compiled several outstanding saves throughout the season and stood tall against some of the league’s fiercest offensive threats en route to securing his third team MVP honor with the Mammoth.
The former 2017 Goaltender of the Year posted a career-best 9.62 goals-against average and 0.816 save percentage in 13 games, ensuring the Mammoth a chance in each of its contests this season and establishing an argument for another run at the title. Among goaltenders who logged 10 or more games this season, Ward ranked second in save percentage (.816%), minutes played (729:51) and saves (520) and finished the season ranked fifth in goals-against average (9.62). The goaltender achieved several career personal benchmarks, including surpassing 6,000 minutes played and 4,000 saves, as well as earning his 50th victory Feb. 15 against the San Diego Seals
