Sean Mahon
On Tuesday, February 15, 2022 the inaugural class was inducted into the Pro Lacrosse Hall of Fame. The inaugural class had eleven members that was made up of three attackmen, three midfielders, three defenders, one goalie, and one specialist. The Hall of Fame Voting Committee was made up of twenty members and their task was to nominate candidates and create a ballot for selection. Members of the Hall of Fame Voting Committee are also eligible to be nominated for the Hall of Fame.
The three Attackmen that were inducted into the Hall of Fame were Casey Powell, John Grant Jr., and Mark Million.
Casey Powell was signed to the Long Island Lizards for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the Long Island Lizards, Rochester Rattlers, Hamilton Nationals, Chesapeake Bayhawks, and Florida Launch. He won three MLL Championships with the ‘01 Long Island Lizards, ‘08 Rochester Rattlers, and the ‘13 Chesapeake Bayhawks. In 2014 he was awarded MVP for 39 goals and 33 assists with the Florida Launch. In his MLL career he scored 523 points, 262 goals, 256 assists, averaged 4.02 points per game, averaged 2.02 goals per game, and averaged 1.97 assists per game. Currently Powell is ranked fourth for all-time points scored at 523, ninth for all-time goals scored at 262, and third for all-time assists at 256.
John Grant Jr. was signed to the Rochester Rattlers for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the Rochester Rattlers, Toronto Nationals, Hamilton Nationals, Long Island Lizards, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Denver Outlaws, and the Ohio Machine. He won five MLL Championships with the ‘08 Rochester Rattlers, ‘09 Toronto Nationals, ‘12 Chesapeake Bayhawks, ‘13 Chesapeake Bayhawks, and the ‘14 Denver Outlaws. In his MLL career he scored 643 points, 393 goals, 232 assists, averaged 3.76 points per game, averaged 2.30 goals per game, and averaged 1.36 assists per game. Currently Grant Jr. has the most goals of pro lacrosse history at 393.
Mark Million was signed to the Baltimore Bayhawks for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the Baltimore Bayhawks, Boston Cannons, Washington Bayhawks, Long Island Lizards, and the Rochester Rattlers. He led the 2002 Baltimore Bayhawks to their first Championship win. In 2005 he was awarded co-MVP alongside Gary Gait. Million made pro lacrosse history for being the first player to reach 300 career points. In his MLL career he scored 350 points, 234 goals, 113 assists, averaged 4.12 points per game, averaged 2.75 goals per game, and averaged 1.33 assists per game.
The three Midfielders that were inducted into the Hall of Fame were Gary Gait, Jay Jalbert, and Matt Striebel.
Gary Gait was signed to the Long Island Lizards for the inaugural season of the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the Long Island Lizards, Baltimore Bayhawks, and the Toronto Nationals. He won both his MLL Championship with the Long Island Lizards. His first championship win was in 2002 and his second in 2005. When. During his five years of playing for Baltimore he was a player-coach for four. In 2005 he was awarded co-MVP alongside Mark Million. In his MLL career he scored 236 points, 169 goals, 66 assists, averaged 3.42 points per game, averaged 2.45 goals per game, and averaged .96 assists per game.
Jay Jalbert was signed to the New Jersey Pride for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the New Jersey Pride and the Long Island Lizards. He had the game-winning assist in overtime during the 2003 MLL Championship. That year he also was awarded MVP and had a career season. In his MLL career he scored 198 points, 132 goals, 57 assists, averaged 3.19 points per game, averaged 2.13 goals per game, and averaged .92 assists per game.
Matt Striebel was signed to the Bridgeport Barrage for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the Bridgeport Barrage, Philadelphia Barrage, Chicago Machine, Rochester Rattlers, Boston Cannons, New York Lizards, and the Chesapeake Bayhawks. He has three MLL Championships with the Philadelphia Barrage in 2004, 2006, and 2007. In 2007 Matt also received MVP for three goals and three assists during the championship game. Striebel is ranked ninth all-time in points in pro lacrosse history with 382 which is ranked third for midfielders. In his MLL career he scored 385 points, 235 goals, 127 assists, averaged 2.25 points per game, averaged 1.37 goals per game, and averaged .74 assists per game.
The three Defensemen that were inducted into the Hall of Fame were Pat McCabe, John Gagliardi, and Nicky Polanco.
Pat McCabe was signed to the Long Island Lizards for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he only played for the Long Island Lizards. During his MLL career he had four All-Star Game Selections and he had 182 ground balls. He attended three straight MLL Championship games with the Lizards and won the 2001 and 2003 Championship
John Gagliardi was signed to the Long Island Lizard for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he only played for the Long Island Lizards. He won the 2001 and 2003 Championship game with the Lizards. During his MLL career he had five All-Star Game Selections and 251 ground balls.
Nicky Polanco was signed to the Bridgeport Islanders in the 1st round, 4th overall in the 2002 Major League Lacrosse Draft. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the Bridgeport Barrage, Philadelphia Barrage, Long Island Lizards, Chesapeake Bayhawks, and the New York Lizards. He won MLL Championships with the 2004 Philadelphia Barrage, 2012 Chesapeake Bayhawks, 2013 Chesapeake Bayhawks, and the 2015 New York Lizards. In the 2004 and 2005 season he was the MLL Defensive Player of the Year. During his MLL career he has six All-Star Game Selections, four MLL Championship, and 480 ground balls which is ranked 10th all-time in pro lacrosse history.
The one goalie that was inducted into the Hall of Fame was Brian Dougherty.
Brian Dougherty was signed to the Rochester Rattlers for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the Rochester Rattlers, Long Island Lizards, and the Philadelphia Barrage. He was part of the first team to win back-to-back MLL Championships in 2006 and 2007. During his MLL career he made 1003 saves, averaged 10.3 saves per game, 10.01 goals against average, 53 wins, and started 97 games.
The one specialist that was inducted into the Hall of Fame was Paul Cantabene.
Paul Cantabene was signed to the Baltimore Bayhawks for the inaugural season of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in 2001. During his time in Major League Lacrosse he played for the Baltimore Bayhawks and the Philadelphia Barrage. He won two MLL Championships with the Baltimore Bayhawks in 2002 and 2005. His third MLL Championship win was in 2006 with the Philadelphia Barrage. During the 2005 season he won 62.2% of his faceoffs. During his MLL career he had a 59% faceoff percentage, 634 faceoff wins, 555 ground balls, 1075 total faceoffs, 60 goals, and 24 assists.
The twenty members of the Hall of Fame Voting Committee are broken up into the Chair, Vice Chair, Lacrosse Advisory Board, Pioneer Players, and Members At Large. Brian Silcott is the Chair of the HOF Committee and Seth Tierney is the Vice Chair of the HOF Committee. There are ten Lacrosse Advisory Board members which includes Jen Adams, Paul Carcaterra, John Danowski, Gary Gait, Miles Harrison, Jen Levy, Darren Lowe, Dave Pietramala, Dom Starsia, and Mikko Red Arrow. There are four Pioneer Players which include Bill Daye, Gewas Schindler, Gerry Byrne, and Vinny Sombratto. Lastly there are four Members At Large which includes Tony Resch, Gordon Purdie, Scott Hiller, and Scott Burnham.
