Player Spotlight


Player Spotlight highlights the finer details and elements while supplying insight to the fans on what a player's thought process may be pertaining to a certain play, game or situation. It brings the intensity, passion, and inner most thoughts of the individual player that otherwise may not be felt or heard.

The Baltimore Thunder dominated the Toronto Rock Saturday night 21-10 to improve their record to 2-0. The Thunder took the early lead and never looked back while being led by last years league MVP Gary Gait who scored 10 goals and added 4 assists. Gait who has started strong once again shares his thoughts in the Player Spotlight with PLPA correspondent Jeff Seidel who covered the Lacrosse World Games 98 and has written freelance for the Associated Press, Baltimore Sun and many lacrosse magazine publications.

Question Toronto only arrived at the arena 1 hour before game time and they're a new team. That can be tough. Did you know all of that?
Answer I remember my first year playing with nine guys and the goalie was the equipment manager. We recognized their situation and came out and got on top of them.


Question How good is this team?
Answer It's a long season, and there are a lot of good teams out there. We've got a long way to go.


Question Talk about your 10-goal, 4-assist effort in this game.
Answer I was just playing lacrosse. I play hard, and I played hard until the end of the game.


Question What's been the most pleasant surprise to you?
Answer I think goalie Chris Sanderson has been playing unbelievable in goal. He's been great. Everyone is playing well especially on defense.


Question Your next home game on Jan. 30 is against Philadelphia, the team that beat you in the finals. Will you be pumped up?
Answer Oh, yes. We'll be fired up. After all, that's the team that beat us two games in a row in the championship last year. We'll be ready to go.


Question Talk about your 10-goal, 4-assist effort in this game.
Answer I was just playing lacrosse. I play hard, and I played hard until the end of the game.




A crafty technical player who strives on execution and adds greatly to the offense just as he did when playing in Boston is also part of the Player Spotlight with Jeff Seidel and his name is Tom Ryan.

Question What makes this team's offense so good?
Answer Without a doubt, having Gary on your roster is the biggest thing. We also beefed up our arsenal in the off-season.


Question How good can this team be this year?
Answer We all know we have a great team, but we needed a couple of times out there to get settled in.


Question What's the main goal of this team?
Answer Our goal is to win the championship this year. That's definitely what we want.


Question Who's been some of the surprises this season?
Answer Our goal is to win the championship this year. That's definitely what we want.


Question What's the main goal of this team?
Answer Hugh Donavan is a rookie but he can guard the likes of Gary Gait one-on-one as good as anyone I've ever seen. Rodney Tapp, he's going to be very good also.




Don't Miss Next Week's Player Spotlight..... PLPA correspondent Tom Borelli has John Tavares in the "Spotlight".