Five-Time Champion Named to All-Decade Team
In his 12 years in the NLL, he walked away with the Champion’s Cup nearly one out of every two seasons. On his fingers are five championship rings, one shy of the all-time record for players.
The Colorado Mammoth announced today that defenseman Pat Coyle has been named to the Mammoth All-Decade Team, joining transition player Jay Jalbert. Comprised of the ten greatest players to ever wear a Mammoth uniform, the honorees will be named individually each weekday through next Friday, January 27.
“There’s nothing else that can be said about Pat other than that he was a winner,” said Mammoth President & General Manager Steve Govett.
After collecting four titles during the Toronto Rock dynasty, Coyle hoisted the Champion’s Cup for the final time in his career in 2006 as he anchored a defense that led the Mammoth to the franchise’s lone title. He still has fond memories from his last championship.
“That was a really special year,” said Coyle. “About halfway through the (season), it seemed like something changed and everyone was buying into the same plan that [head coach] Gary [Gait] had put forward there. It’s one of the closest teams I’ve ever been on friend-wise.”
The NLL’s Defenseman of the Year in the award’s inaugural season in 2002, Coyle was a vocal leader who ultimately earned the assistant captainship with Colorado. In 156 career regular-season games, the Ontario native scored 28 goals and assisted on 105 others. He amassed 375 penalty minutes, but just 24 in his final three seasons from 2006-2008. In 2011, he was on the ballot for the NLL Hall of Fame and was looking to become the first defenseman in league history to be enshrined.
At halftime of the Mammoth’s next home game on Saturday, January 28, Coyle and the other All-Decade Team members will be honored at halftime. What is he looking forward to the most about the special night?
“Being back in the arena… It’s been a while now since I played. To feel that sort of excitement, there’s a part of me that misses it.”
Tickets to the Mammoth’s next home game on January 28, and all other regular-season home games, are on-sale now at the Pepsi Center box office, all Colorado Dick’s Sporting Goods retail kiosks, online at TicketHorse.com, or by calling 303.53.HORSE.
