Colorado Mammoth facts for kids
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| Sport | Box lacrosse |
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| Founded | 2003 |
| League | National Lacrosse League |
| 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 are based in Denver, Colorado. The team plays in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Since 2003, their home games have been at Ball Arena. Stan Kroenke owns the team. He also owns other sports teams like the Colorado Avalanche (hockey) and the Denver Nuggets (basketball).
Before becoming the Colorado Mammoth, the team had different names. They were the Baltimore Thunder from 1987 to 1999. Then they were the Pittsburgh CrosseFire in 2000. From 2001 to 2002, they were the Washington Power. The Mammoth has almost always made it to the playoffs since moving to Colorado.
The Mammoth was very popular with fans. They led the NLL in attendance in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2006, the NLL had over one million fans attend games in a single season for the first time. The Mammoth hosted the one-millionth fan! In 2008, more fans came to Mammoth games than to games for the Avalanche or Nuggets at the same arena.
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Winning Championships
The Colorado Mammoth has won the NLL championship twice. These big wins happened in 2006 and 2022.
2006 NLL Champions
In the 2006 season, the Mammoth played very well. They made it to the playoffs as the second-best team in their division. In the first playoff game, they beat their rivals, the Calgary Roughnecks, in overtime. Brian Langtry scored the winning goal.
Next, they won the Western Division finals against the Arizona Sting. Rookie Dan Carey scored the winning goal in that close game. The championship game was in Buffalo, New York. The Mammoth played against the Buffalo Bandits. The Bandits had the best record in the league. The Mammoth won the Champion's Cup by a score of 16-9. Gavin Prout was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship game.
2022 NLL Champions
The Mammoth won the National Lacrosse League Cup again in 2022. They played against the Buffalo Bandits in the finals. The Mammoth won the series 2 games to 1. Dillon Ward was named the Finals MVP for his amazing performance.
Star Players of the Mammoth
Many talented 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 won the NLL MVP Award in 2003 while playing for the Mammoth. In 2005, his jersey number 22 was retired. This was the first time an NLL number was ever retired. Gary Gait was also inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame.
- Brian Langtry: He won the NLL Rookie of the Year Award in 2003. He was known for his exciting goal-scoring attempts.
- Gord "Gee" Nash: He was named the NLL Goaltender of the Year in 2004.
- Gavin Prout: Fans loved Gavin Prout. He was a consistent high-scorer and became team captain in 2006. He was also the MVP of the 2006 Champion's Cup game.
- John Grant Jr.: He won the NLL MVP Award in 2012. He retired from playing in 2017.
- Joey Cupido: He 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 players and staff have received many awards:
| Year | Player | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Gary Gait | Most Valuable Player |
| 2003 | Brian Langtry | Rookie of the Year |
| 2004 | Steve Govett | Executive of the Year |
| 2004 | Gord Nash | Goaltender of the Year |
| 2004 | Gary Gait | Sportsmanship Award |
| 2005 | Gary Gait | Sportsmanship Award |
| 2006 | Gavin Prout | Champion's Cup MVP |
| 2012 | Adam Jones | Rookie of the Year |
| 2012 | 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
Several people connected to the Colorado Mammoth are in the NLL Hall of Fame:
- Pat Coyle (inducted in 2014)
- Dan Stroup (inducted in 2010)
- Gary Gait (inducted in 2006)
- Paul Gait (inducted in 2006)
Team Roster
You can find the current list of players for the Colorado Mammoth here: 2022 Colorado Mammoth season
Team Performance Over the Years
The Colorado Mammoth has played 22 seasons. They have a total record of 189 wins and 180 losses. They have made it to the playoffs 17 times. In the playoffs, they have won 8 games and lost 17. The team has won two championships.
