Looking Back: Brett Craig Ramps Up Transition Play in Year Three

DENVER – To know Brett Craig is recognizing a big-bodied man who’s dedicated the past decade or two to the game: constantly taking steps to better his stick skills, fitness and ever-improving health (after suffering a pretty nasty knee injury early into his professional career, which would cause him to miss a season and a half of playing time).

To love Brett Craig is to embrace his bolo-ties, stylish mullet-based cuts and overall camaraderie-driven approach. To the sport we love, within lacrosse circles around North America and specifically for his role inside the Mammoth locker room and on the Ball Arena turf.

Regularly modeling the team’s unique jerseys and involved in marketing activations, yet a better defender, the 2019 NLL Entry Draft selection has worked alongside fellow draft classmate Warren Jeffrey in establishing the first wave of youthful additions to an otherwise veteran-heavy back end.

Obviously, the likes of Jalen Chaster, Sean Kriwokon, Owen Down and fellow youngsters have joined the ranks over the past few seasons, but Craig will continue to serve as one of the organization’s first picks, and overall pillars, since General Manager Brad Self began weighing in on personnel decisions some five years ago.

Finishing eighth overall on the squad in scoring while leading all defenseman with a career-high 17 points (5g, 12a), Craig more than quadrupled his previous NLL-best four points (2g, 2a) from his shortened rookie season (In which he drew into just eight games, due to the pandemic status).

The team’s transition game in total saw some successful strides when it came to conversions, with Craig joining fellow defenseman Tim Edwards in setting new goal-scoring marks in 2023-24. But it wasn’t just his net-filling totals that topped charts for Craig, as his 82 loose balls and 12 caused turnovers also serve as new personal highs for the Calgary, Alberta native.

Ending his first complete campaign ranked within the squad’s Top 10 in several categories, including points (17: Eighth), assists (12: Ninth), loose balls (82: Fourth) and caused turnovers (12: Fifth), the 6-5, 225-lb. defenseman continues to trend up as he puts his knee difficulties in the rear-view mirror!

Having signed a two-year contract agreement last July, the Seton Hall product will be donning burgundy and black once again this fall when the team gets its 2024-25 season started! And with Season Ticket Membership deposits currently being accepted, why not lock in your seats for next season and get ready to see Craiger’s locks on full display!