The Colorado Mammoth lost all-star defenseman and assistant captain John Gallant in the National Lacrosse League expansion draft Thursday. Gallant, a Canadian native who teaches at Denver’s Stanley British Primary School, was selected by Boston with the fifth pick.
Before the draft, Gallant, 30, told Blazers management that he cannot travel weekly to Boston to play for the team because of his Denver-based career. Consequently, Gallant said he will reluctantly retire from the NLL. Unless, however, Boston picked him as a bargaining chip for a future trade with the Mammoth.
“Obviously, I’ve spent my entire career with this franchise and I would love to stay here,” Gallant said. “So I hope this is not the end of it.”
Mammoth general manager Steve Govett was not available for comment.
Gallant played six seasons for the Mammoth, enhancing his reputation for toughness when he returned from injury to play in the 2006 NLL championship game, which Colorado won 16-9 over Buffalo.
Toronto goaltender Mike Poulin was selected with the first pick in the draft. The Blazers chose 12 players, one from each team.
Theresa Smith, Special to The Denver Post
