One milestone eludes Gait

Mammoth skipper eyes first NLL title as a head coach

Paul Willis, Special to the News

Published May 13, 2006 at midnight

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BUFFALO, N.Y. - He has won lacrosse championships as a junior player, a college player, a college assistant coach, a professional player and a player-coach.

Gary Gait can add to his already- stacked résumé today with a head coaching crown if the Colorado Mammoth can beat the Buffalo Bandits in the National Lacrosse League's Championship Cup (4 p.m. MDT, ESPN2).

"Gary's definitely a winner and he always has been," Mammoth defenseman Jay Jalbert said. "Hopefully, that continues (today)."

Stoic yet focused, overtly determined yet unflappable, Gait possibly is 60 minutes away from the achievement that escaped him in his three years as a Mammoth player.

Having taken the knowledge of a two-time NCAA player of the year and six-time NLL most valuable player to the bench, Gait has forged simple yet innovative philosophies that have transformed the Mammoth from a crumbling-in-crunch- time unit to a resolute squad that thrives in tight games.

"His calmness in pressure situations is reassuring," Jalbert said. "He's your leader and he's not freaking out on the bench."

Behind Gait's tutelage, the Mammoth has won seven of its past eight games, including two pressure-packed playoff games, each decided by one goal.

The one loss in that span was in Buffalo, but the Mammoth was without No. 1 goaltender Gee Nash (concussion) and gritty defender Dave Stilley (suspension) in the 14-12 setback. They will play today.

The Mammoth has no easy draw in the East Division champs, whose goaltender, Steve Dietrich, was named NLL goaltender of the year and most valuable player. The Bandits also are led by NLL all-time leading scorer John Tavares (1,136) who is the only player in league history besides Gait to crack the 1,000-point barrier.

But while Tavares' legacy stems from his work on the field, Gait is trying to give his massive list of accomplishments a more well-rounded edge.

"We'll know on Saturday how well I've done (as a coach)," Gait said. "I do what I do and, hopefully, it worked. I haven't interviewed the players to get their thoughts, but in the postseason, we'll see what they liked and didn't like."

The Rocky Mountain News interviewed players to see what they liked, and forward Chris Gill summed it up succinctly.

"For starters, he's one of the most respected guys of the game," Gill said. "You come to the team and Gary Gait's coaching, you listen. He's only raised his voice once. He's not a screamer or yeller who motivates you that way. He's just a calm, cool guy who brings that attitude to the dressing room."

Gait won a junior league championship in Victoria, British Columbia, three NCAA titles with Syracuse, guided the University of Maryland women's team to seven collegiate championships, has collected two NLL titles as a player (1994 and 1995 with the Philadelphia Wings) and two more with the Baltimore Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse, an outdoor league, the latter as a player- coach in 2005.

"The guy has won pretty much everything there is to win," Jalbert said. "He is lacrosse. I think, right now, he's just thinking about winning one more."

About the only accomplishment that has eluded Gait is a World Games title for his native Canada. The United States has won the past six World Games championships - they are played once every four years - including three when Gait was on the Canadian roster.

Gait plans to play for Canada in the games this summer.

INJURY UPDATE: Defenseman John Gallant, who suffered a ruptured spleen 29 days ago, participated in practice at the Epic Center on Thursday and Friday. He has been upgraded to probable for the game today.

Doctors told Gallant his injury was similar to the one suffered by former Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg in the 2001 playoffs. Forsberg's spleen was removed, but doctors believed Gallant's could heal.

Jalbert stayed out of practice Thursday because of lingering wooziness from a hit April 14 against Calgary, but he participated Friday. He said he plans to play today.

"It's definitely a little bit touchy, but I'm going to play one more, then take some time off," he said.

TITLE HISTORY: While this marks the Mammoth's first appearance in an NLL championship game since moving to Denver four seasons ago, it is the franchise's fourth appearance.

As the Baltimore Thunder, it won the inaugural NLL title in 1987 and lost championships in 1991 and 1998. The franchise became the Pittsburgh CrosseFire in 2000 and Washington Power in 2001 and 2002 before moving to Colorado.

Buffalo has won three championships (1992, 1993,1996).

VIEWING PARTY: The Mammoth's official game-viewing party begins at 3 p.m. today at Brooklyn's next to the Pepsi Center.

Mammoth at Bandits

• When: 4 MDT today.

• Where: HSBC Arena, Buffalo, N.Y.

• TV/radio: ESPN2; KKFN-AM (950).

• Leading scorers

Buffalo (11-5) G A Pts

John Tavares 32 53 85

Mark Steenhuis 34 23 57

Dan Teat 27 29 56

Cory Bomberry 21 27 48