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2019-20 Jamie Hanford Award Winner

This award is given to the Most Inspirational Player of the Year

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.

Jamie Hanford Award (Most Inspirational) – Chris Wardle

“Wardle is the kind of player that other players want on their team — he’s one of the hardest working players on our team and does tremendous things for the guys around him both on and of the turf,” Mammoth General Manager and Head Coach Pat Coyle shared. “Chris doesn’t say very much, and he doesn’t have to, because he play speaks for itself.”

Previous Winners:

  • 2019 – Steve Fryer
  • 2018 – Joey Cupido
  • 2017 – Cameron Holding
  • 2016 – John Grant, Jr.
  • 2015 – Jeremy Noble

In his fifth season with Colorado, Chris Wardle displayed the definition of consistency on the offensive side of the floor, as the forward recorded two or more points in all 13 contests during the shortened 2019-20 regular season. Wardle finished the season with 51 points, tying forward Eli McLaughlin for second in scoring among Mammoth players. The forward executed offensive sets with great vision and an understanding for the Mammoth system and game of lacrosse overall. His unselfish play helped secure high-quality scoring chances for teammates while his ability to score and make quick decisions remained elite. The forward settled into a comfortable role within the offense, quietly producing and grinding his way to a top-20 finish among scoring leaders throughout the league. His ability to produce timely, quality offense, career-best offensive totals and teammate-first attitude helped him secure a well-deserved Jamie Hanford Award.

While consistency may be a fitting term for Wardle, the forward exerted his force explosively several times throughout the season, including his season-high eight-point performance Jan. 25 against Buffalo. The forward was reading teammates and defenses alike, picking apart the Bandits and finding open teammates en route to securing eight assists throughout the evening.

Wardle recorded a career-best 51 points and 33 assists this season, averaging just under four points (3.92) per game. His 18 goals and 33 assists each ranked third among Mammoth scorers, while his five power-play goals ranked tied for second. The forward logged four, four-plus assist games this season and scored four of the final eight goals in Saskatchewan Jan. 18 during a thrilling 12-6 victory over the Rush.

Colorado Mammoth Pro Lacrosse Team