The Colorado Mammoth announced Tuesday that the organization will retire former Mammoth forward John Grant Jr.’s No. 24 jersey on Saturday, March 24, 2018. Grant’s jersey will be raised to the Pepsi Center rafters prior to the game against the Vancouver Stealth at 7 p.m. MT.
In just over six seasons with Colorado, Grant rewrote the record books and stepped away as the team’s all-time leader in goals (235), and finished second in both assists (317) and points (552). The two-time MVP and nine-time All-Pro finished his career second in League history in goals (668) and points (1,446), and fifth in assists (778).
“The most memorable time for me while playing for the Colorado Mammoth was earning the right to be Captain,” Grant said in a release from the team. “I used my years of experience, on and off the floor, to help guide and mentor my younger teammates and humbly embraced the nickname ‘Uncle Junes.’ The exhilarating rush of running through the tunnel and onto the floor of the Loud House while thousands of the world’s greatest fans were screaming & supporting us will forever remain with me. I am honored to have my jersey raised to the rafters of the Loudest House in Lacrosse. Thank you to the Kroenke family, KSE, and to everyone at the Mammoth organization.”
Grant’s No. 24 will be the fourth jersey number the Colorado Mammoth retires. Grant’s jersey will join Gary Gait’s No. 22, Brian Langtry’s No. 6, and Gavin Prout’s No. 9.
Grant first donned a Mammoth jersey in 2010. He quickly became a pinnacle of the Mammoth team and community as well. Widely regarded as one of the best lacrosse players of all-time, Grant led the Mammoth in goals and points from 2011-14 and led the Mammoth in assists from 2011-15. Grant scored his 500th and 600th career goals in a Mammoth uniform, and reached his 1,000-point plateau with the team as well.
Mammoth General Manager Dan Carey said, “John Grant has to be considered one of the greatest lacrosse players to ever play our game. There are many reasons why John had so much success, one obvious reason was his skill level, which was second to none, but also his compete level. John left it all on the turf every single game he played, and he made teammates and opposing players better for it.”
Though Grant has retired from playing in “The Loud House,” his new house won’t be all that quiet. In fact, the hustle of students through the halls may remind some of the hustle of fans through Pepsi Center. Though Grant will no longer play for fans who affectionately call him “Junior.” he will mentor players who know him as “Coach Junior.” Appointed in 2015, Grant accepted a position as Head Varsity Coach at Valor Christian High School.
Grant said, “I truly miss playing every single day, but I am so incredibly blessed for all the opportunities my trade to the Mile High City has provided me and my family. I am embracing this new chapter of life while attacking my coaching career with the same fierce passion and dedication that I did on the floor as a player.”