Hop into the Lax Time-Machine as we take you back to the early 1990s and up until 2015 with our NLL-legend John Tavares lacrosse throwback.
John Tavares Lacrosse Throwback: Lax Time Machine
John Tavares is possibly the greatest player to ever play in the NLL. Not only was Tavares the first player to ever score 500 goals and assists in a career, but this legend also holds the record for goals (815), assists (934), and points (1,749) in a career, as well as most games played in a career (308).
The three-time NLL MVP (1994, 2000, 2001) played his entire career for the Buffalo Bandits, which is pretty much unheard of in today’s sports world. Tavares’ most successful season came in 2001 when he scored 115 points (51 goals, 64 assists) and nabbed his third MVP title. He retired after the 2015 season during the following September.
Tavares also played professionally for the Canadian Lacrosse Association, where he has won seven Mann Cups. He won MVP for the Mann Cup in 1992, 1993 and 1996, as well as won the Major Series Lacrosse scoring title eight times in addition to three MVP awards from the organization. His final season as a member of the Canadian Lacrosse association came in 2012.
In addition to his successful professional career, Tavares won two gold medals with Team Canada in the 2003 and 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.
John Tavares now coaches for the Buffalo Bandits, a role which he started in 2015 immediately following his retirement, according to the Buffalo Bandits website.
The lacrosse legend also has a nephew that plays professional hockey in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs that goes by the same name. The former New York Islanders star and the elder Tavares share a special relationship, which you can read about in this New York Times article.
Stay tuned for future installments of the Lax Time Machine as we profile prominent figures from the lacrosse world. We hope you enjoyed our John Tavares lacrosse throwback.
