Colorado Mammoth facts for kids
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| Sport | Box lacrosse |
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| Founded | 2003 |
| League | National Lacrosse League |
| Conference | Western |
| Team history | Baltimore Thunder (1987–1999) Pittsburgh CrosseFire (2000) Washington Power (2001–2002) |
| Based in | Denver, Colorado |
| Arena | Ball Arena |
| Colors | Burgundy and Black |
| Owner | Stan Kroenke |
| Head coach | Pat Coyle |
| General manager | Brad Self |
| League titles | 2 (2006, 2022) |
| Conference titles | 2 (2022, 2023) |
| Division titles | 3 (2003, 2004, 2007) |
| Local media | Altitude Sports and Entertainment, KKFN |
| PLPA representative | Dan Coates Joey Cupido |
| Website | coloradomammoth.com |
 Current season |
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The Colorado Mammoth is a professional box lacrosse team. They play in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Box lacrosse is a fast-paced sport played indoors on a hockey rink. The Mammoth team plays at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. They have been playing there since the 2003 season.
The team is owned by Stan Kroenke. He also owns other sports teams in Colorado. These include the Colorado Avalanche (hockey) and the Denver Nuggets (basketball). Before becoming the Colorado Mammoth, the team played in different cities. They were the Baltimore Thunder from 1987 to 1999. Then they were the Pittsburgh CrosseFire in 2000. Finally, they were the Washington Power from 2001 to 2002. The Mammoth have almost always made it to the playoffs since moving to Colorado.
The Colorado Mammoth have been very popular with fans. In 2004, and again from 2006 to 2008, they had the most fans attending games in the NLL. In 2006, the NLL had over one million fans attend games for the first time ever. The Mammoth were proud to host the one-millionth fan! In 2008, more fans came to Mammoth games than to games for the Colorado Avalanche or Denver Nuggets at the same arena.
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Winning the Championship: 2006 Season
The 2006 season was a huge success for the Mammoth. They made it to the playoffs as the second-best team in their division. Their first playoff game was against their rivals, Calgary. The Mammoth won a thrilling game 18-17 in overtime! Brian Langtry scored the winning goal.
Next, they played the Arizona Sting in the Western Division finals. This game was also at their home arena. Rookie player Dan Carey scored the winning goal, and the Mammoth won 13-12. This sent them to the championship game! The final game was in Buffalo, New York, against the Buffalo Bandits. The Bandits had the best record in the league. But the Mammoth played great and won the Champion's Cup 16-9. Gavin Prout was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game.
Winning the Championship: 2022 Season
The Colorado Mammoth won the National Lacrosse League Cup again in 2022. They played against the Buffalo Bandits in the finals. It was a close series that went to three games. The Mammoth won two games to one. Their goalie, Dillon Ward, was amazing. He was named the Finals MVP for his excellent play.
Meet the Mammoth's Star Players
Many great players have played for the Colorado Mammoth. Here are some of the most famous ones:
- Gary Gait: He was once the NLL's all-time leading scorer. He scored 596 goals and had 495 assists! In 2003, he won the NLL MVP Award while playing for the Mammoth. In 2005, he was put into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame. His jersey number 22 was the first NLL number ever retired and hung in an arena. Gary Gait also coached the Mammoth for two seasons.
- Brian Langtry: He won the NLL Rookie of the Year Award in 2003. He was known for his exciting goal-scoring attempts. He retired after the 2011 season.
- Gord "Gee" Nash: He was named the NLL Goaltender of the Year in 2004.
- Gavin Prout: Fans loved Gavin Prout because he always scored many points. He became team captain in 2006. After being traded away, he came back to the Mammoth in 2011.
- John Grant Jr.: He won the NLL MVP Award in 2012. He retired from playing in 2017.
- Joey Cupido: He has won the fan favorite award three times. He was also named the NLL Transition Player of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
- Dillon Ward: He won the NLL Goaltender of the Year Award in 2017. He was a key player in the team's 2022 championship win. He also won the 2022 Finals MVP award.
Awards and Special Honors
The Colorado Mammoth and its players have won many awards:
| Year | Player | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Gary Gait | Most Valuable Player |
| Brian Langtry | Rookie of the Year | |
| 2004 | Steve Govett | Executive of the Year |
| Gord Nash | Goaltender of the Year | |
| Gary Gait | Sportsmanship Award (tie with Peter Lough) | |
| 2005 | Gary Gait | Sportsmanship Award |
| 2006 | Gavin Prout | Champion's Cup MVP |
| 2012 | Adam Jones | Rookie of the Year |
| John Grant, Jr. | Most Valuable Player | |
| 2015 | Joey Cupido | Transition Player of the Year |
| 2017 | Dillon Ward | Goaltender of the Year |
| 2018 | Joey Cupido | Transition Player of the Year |
| 2022 | Dillon Ward | Champion's Cup MVP |
NLL Hall of Fame Members
Some players and coaches connected to the Mammoth are in the NLL Hall of Fame. This means they are recognized as some of the best in lacrosse history.
- Pat Coyle (inducted in 2014)
- Dan Stroup (inducted in 2010)
- Gary Gait (inducted in 2006)
- Paul Gait (inducted in 2006)
Current Roster
2022 Colorado Mammoth season
See also
- Colorado Mammoth seasons
