John Grant Jr. and Steve Toll Selected To National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame Class Of 2021

FORT WORTH, TX – Panther City Lacrosse Club’s U.S. Scout John Grant Jr. and Defensive Coach Steve Toll were elected into the NLL Hall of Fame Class of 2021, the league announced today.

Grant Jr. played 17 seasons with Rochester and Colorado after being selected first overall in 1999. He retired in the top 10 all-time in NLL history with 668 goals (second), 778 assists (sixth) and 1,446 points (second) and was also 12th all-time with 1,202 loose ball recoveries. The forward won the 2000 Rookie of the Year Award and won league MVP twice (2007 & 2012). He was named to the All-League First Team six times and Second Team three times and was the league’s leading goal scorer four times (2005, 2006, 2007 & 2012). He was also named the Championship Game MVP in 2007. In his 2012 MVP season, he averaged 8.29 points per game, an NLL record (at least 4 games played).

“We’d like to congratulate John on this incredible accomplishment,” Panther City’s General Manager Bob Hamley said. “Throughout his entire career, John was an elite talent, and this tremendous honor is well deserved. As his stats indicate his place amongst the games greats is well established and we are thrilled that his legacy will forever be cemented at the NLL Hall of Fame.”

Toll played for 15 seasons with Ontario, Toronto, Rochester, San Jose, Colorado, and Edmonton after being drafted in the sixth round of the 1997 Entry Draft. The defenseman is a five-time champion: four with Toronto (1999, 2000, 2002 & 2003) and one with Rochester (2007). He was named the first winner of the Transition Player of the Year Award in 2007. He retired in the top 10 all-time in league history with 1,562 loose ball recoveries in the regular season and an additional 160 in the playoffs. Toll played in 188 consecutive games between 2000-2011, which ranks tied for the third longest streak of all-time.

“All of us at Panther City Lacrosse Club are thrilled that Steve Toll has been elected to the NLL Hall of Fame Class of 2021,” Hamley said. “As the inaugural winner of the Transition Player of the Year Award and a five-time champion, there are very few people more deserving than Steve. His tremendous career has impacted so many lacrosse players in our game and it is great to see him honored by his peers with the games highest honor.”