Wings, Bandits Win; Grant, Jr. Reaches 1000 Pts.

Colorado, fresh off of a win in Edmonton on Friday, trailed 5-3 after the first period, 9-7 after two, and 11-9 at the end of the third. But the Mammoth outscored the Roughnecks, 3-1, in the 4th quarter, thanks in large part to 13 saves from goaltender Chris Levis. The 35-year-old made 44 total stops, including several on Roughnecks' fast-break opportunities.

Despite losing 27 of 28 face-offs and having played a night earlier, Colorado hung around throughout.

"We have a bunch of young guys who are really fit, and two old guys [Grant and Prout] who are pretty fit as well," said Mammoth Head Coach Bob Hamley. "John is what he is, a coach on the floor. He loves playing with the kids."

One of those 'kids', 1st round draft pick Adam Jones, is playing well beyond his years. His three-goal, three-assist night was his third hat trick in his first three career games. He now has 20 points on the season.

"We knew Adam would be a star," continued Hamley. "He's a great player with a big heart, and he's fit in well."

The Mammoth will honor Grant for his 1,000th career point at the team's next home game on Saturday, January 28 as Colorado plays host to the Rochester Knighthawks on HealthONE Field at Pepsi Center.

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DENVER – Mammoth forward John Grant Jr. became the fifth player in National Lacrosse League history to reach 1,000 career points, achieving the milestone on a 1st quarter assist on a Derek Hopcroft goal on Saturday night at Scotiabank Saddledome against the Calgary Roughnecks. The league's all-time leader in career points per game, the 12th-year veteran joins Gary Gait as the only Mammoth players to achieve the milestone.

"To be in the building for the second 1,000-point night after Gary's is an amazing honor," said Mammoth President & General Manager Steve Govett. "Knowing that you have watched a magical moment is very special. John is a phenomenal talent and has earned the title of greatness."

Entering Saturday's game, Grant was leading the NLL with 20 points through just two games. Already the Week #2 recipient of the NLL Offensive Player of the Week award, the 37-year-old and former league MVP appears poised to have a special season.

He is also just 21 goals from 500, and is expected to become the 3rd player in league history to the milestone later this year.

The first-overall pick in the 1999 NLL Entry Draft out of the University of Delaware, Grant has three seasons of more than 100 points and three of 50-plus goals. Colorado acquired Grant from the Rochester Knighthawks, the team that originally drafted him, on October 27, 2010. In 2011, his first season with the Mammoth, Grant led the team in goals (36), assists (47), and points (83).

The Mammoth will honor Grant for his 1,000th career point at the team's home game on Saturday, January 28 as Colorado plays host to Grant's former team, the Rochester Knighthawks.

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Buffalo 12, Rochester 9

(Rochester, January 21)... The Buffalo Bandits remain undefeated after a tight contest against their Western New York rivals, the Rochester Knighthawks, on Saturday night. Buffalo (2-0) edged the Knighthawks (1-1) by a final of 12-9 in front of a packed house at the Blue Cross Arena.

Trailing 6-5 in the third quarter, the Bandits went on a 7-1 run and took an insurmountable lead.

"We stuck around. We played well for most of the game but they went on a bit of a run there in crunch time," said Rochester defenseman Sid Smith. "That's what won it for them."

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2012-01-22