Peterborough’s John Grant Jr. Joins Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough Lakers legend John Grant Jr. has added another major honour to his remarkable lacrosse career, officially joining the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2026.

John Grant Jr. has added the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame to an impressive list of career honours, following his June induction into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame. (photo courtesy of Lacrosse canada)

The Peterborough native was among the players, builders, officials and teams recognized at the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony and banquet on Saturday, October 24th, at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, British Columbia.

The ceremony honoured 11 other inductees alongside Grant Jr. The Class of 2026 includes players Glenn Clark, Grant Hamilton, Karoline Karpun and Bruce Murray; veterans John Howard, Jim Weller and Steve Manning; builders Walt Christianson and Bob McMahon; official Ray Durante; and Team Canada Women’s Sixes 2022.

Grant Jr. wasn’t able to attend the ceremony in person, as he was busy helping coach Canada to victory at the Atlas Cup Sixes lacrosse championship.

It’s the latest in a growing list of honours for Grant Jr., whose career has spanned generations of lacrosse in Peterborough and beyond. He played for the Peterborough Jr. A Lakers from 1991 to 1995 before going on to a long career with the Peterborough Major Lakers, competing from 1994 to 2016.

His accomplishments include a National Lacrosse League championship with the Rochester Knighthawks in 2007 and multiple Mann Cup titles with Peterborough. He was named Mann Cup MVP in 2004 and 2007.

Grant Jr. has also represented Canada at multiple world championships in box and field lacrosse, building an international resume that has earned him recognition in several halls of fame. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame in 2021, the Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2022 and the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2024.

Closer to home, Grant Jr. was inducted into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame in June, adding another local recognition to a career that has helped put Peterborough on the lacrosse map.

His induction into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame further cements his place among the sport’s most accomplished players, recognizing a career that has left a lasting mark on lacrosse in Peterborough, across Canada and around the world.

image courtesy of peterborough & district sports hall of fame

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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John Grant Jr. Adds Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame to Growing List of Honours

By Scott Arnold

Just two months after entering the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame, Peterborough native John Grant Jr. is headed into another Hall of Fame.

Peterborough lacrosse legend John Grant Jr. (centre), pictured with Peterborough Lakers broadcasters Scott Arnold (left) and Pete Dalliday, is adding another Hall of Fame honour to a career that has already seen him recognized among the greatest players in the history of the sport.

Grant Jr. was announced Sunday as one of 12 inductees into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, adding another major honour to a career that has already earned him recognition in several of the sport’s most prestigious halls.

The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame announced its new class on August 16th, with Grant Jr. joining Glenn Clark, Grant Hamilton, Karolyn Karpun and Bruce Murray in the Player category.

The Veteran inductees are Michael John Howard, Jim Weller and Steve Manning. Walt Christianson and Bob McMahon were selected as Builders, Ray Durante was named in the Officials category, and the Team Canada Women’s Sixes 2022 squad was selected for induction.

The formal induction banquet and ceremonies are scheduled for October 24th at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, British Columbia.

For Grant Jr., the announcement comes remarkably soon after his June induction into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame, where he joined his father, John Grant Sr., as a member.

After already being inducted into several Halls of Fame in the United States, Grant Jr.'s induction into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame in June marked his first Hall of Fame induction in Canada.

Now, just a couple of months later, he's about to add another Canadian Hall of Fame to the list.

And this one is specifically dedicated to the sport that has defined his career.

A young John Grant Jr. takes the floor as a Minor Peterborough Laker, long before the Peterborough native would go on to become one of the most decorated players in lacrosse history.

A Career Built in Peterborough

Grant Jr.'s connection to lacrosse began in Peterborough, where he played Junior A with the Lakers from 1991 to 1995 and Major Series Lacrosse with the Peterborough Lakers from 1994 through 2016.

His career eventually took him across North America and onto the international stage, but Peterborough remained a significant part of the story.

He represented Canada in both box and field lacrosse, playing on national teams at multiple World Championships. His championship résumé includes three World Indoor Lacrosse Championship gold medals, a World Field Championship gold medal, five Mann Cup championships and an NLL championship.

He was also a five-time Major League Lacrosse champion.

Individually, the list is just as extensive. Grant Jr. was an OLA Junior A MVP, MSL Rookie of the Year, USILA National Collegiate Player of the Year, NLL Rookie of the Year, a two-time NLL MVP and NLL Championship MVP. He was also a two-time Mann Cup MVP.

Over a playing career spanning more than 25 years, he accumulated more than 3,000 points.

The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction adds to a list of Hall of Fame honours that already includes the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2010, NLL Hall of Fame in 2021, Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2022 and US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2024.

His playing career eventually gave way to coaching, where he has continued to contribute to the sport at the professional and collegiate levels in the United States.

Peterborough lacrosse legend John Grant Jr. receives the key to the city from then-Mayor Daryl Bennett, another honour recognizing the impact his remarkable career has had both on the sport and the community he grew up in.

A Class That Spans Lacrosse History

Grant Jr. is the name that will immediately stand out locally, but the 2026 class represents a broad cross-section of Canadian lacrosse.

Glenn Clark is being honoured for a career that included championships with the Brooklin Redmen, Coquitlam Adanacs and Toronto Rock, as well as international success with Canada.

Grant Hamilton is being recognized for a career that included championships with the Victoria Shamrocks and Calgary Roughnecks, along with his contributions as both a player and leader.

Karolyn Karpun is being inducted after an extraordinary career in both box and field lacrosse, including 10 Canadian senior women's field lacrosse championships and appearances at three World Cups.

Bruce Murray is being honoured for a career that saw him evolve from a scoring forward into one of the era's most respected defenders, while also representing Canada internationally.

The Veteran category includes Michael John Howard, who won nine Minto Cups during his career; Jim Weller, a standout at the University of Massachusetts who represented Canada at three World Cups; and Steve Manning, who was part of two Mann Cup-winning New Westminster Salmonbellies teams as a player and later contributed as a coach.

The Builder category recognizes Walt Christianson, whose coaching career has included national and international success, and Bob McMahon, whose decades of coaching have included Team Canada's 2003 World Indoor Championship victory.

Ray Durante, who spent 31 years as an on-floor referee after a 12-year playing career, is being inducted in the Officials category.

And Team Canada Women’s Sixes 2022 is being honoured after winning the first-ever World Games gold medal in women's Sixes lacrosse.

For Grant Jr., though, the announcement brings the focus back home.

Peterborough has been part of his lacrosse story from the beginning, and this latest honour is another recognition of just how significant that story has become.

In June, Grant Jr. could say that the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame was his first Hall of Fame induction in Canada.

By October 24th, he'll have another one to add to the résumé.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough Laker Alumnus John Grant Jr. Selected As Assistant Coach For Team Canada In 2025 U20 World Championship

Five-time Mann Cup champion and Peterborough Lakers’ alumnus John Grant Jr. has been selected as an assistant coach for Team Canada in the 2025 U20 World Championship.

John Grant Jr. has been granted a key to the city back in 2016. File Photo.

Grant Jr. was hired as an assistant coach of the Redwoods Lacrosse Club of the Premiere Lacrosse League on Dec. 29.

A two-time MLL MVP, Grant Jr. tallied 393 goals and 232 assists during his playing career. He won the Mann Cup five times with the Lakers in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012. He was voted Mann Cup MVP for 2004 and 2007.

Grant Jr. won five MLL Championships during his career with the 2008 Rochester Rattlers, 2009 Toronto Nationals, 2012 and 2013 Chesapeake Bayhawks and the 2014 Denver Outlaws.

Grant Jr. joins Mark Miyashita, Shawn Wilkins and John Gallant as assistant coaches. Gary Gait is serving as the team’s head coach.

A date and location for the tournament has yet to be announced by World Lacrosse.

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Peterborough Laker Alumnus John Grant Jr. Hired As Assistant Coach For Redwoods Lacrosse Club

Five-time Mann Cup champion and Peterborough Lakers’ alumnus John Grant Jr. has been hired as the assistant coach of the Redwoods Lacrosse Club of the Premiere Lacrosse League announced on Thursday.

John Grant Jr. has been granted a key to the city back in 2016. File Photo.

A two-time MLL MVP, Grant Jr. tallied 393 goals and 232 assists during his playing career. He won the Mann Cup five times with the Lakers in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012. He was voted Mann Cup MVP for 2004 and 2007.

"I'm beyond excited. I had the privilege and honor to work with [Redwoods LC head coach] Nat [St. Laurent] during my brief stint with the [Ohio] Machine in '16. I've kept in touch with him. He's got a heart of gold and he knows the game," said Grant Jr. "We've got some rockstars on the O that I get to learn from and teach a little."

Grant Jr. won five MLL Championships during his career with the 2008 Rochester Rattlers, 2009 Toronto Nationals, 2012 and 2013 Chesapeake Bayhawks and the 2014 Denver Outlaws.

"He's won at every level that he's ever coached or played at," said Nat St. Laurent, Redwoods LC head coach and general manager. "We have a history together going back to the Ohio Machine where we made a championship run when Coach Davis traded for him. There's good chemistry. He's going to be a great addition to our staff."

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Lacrosse Legend John Grant Jr. Was Just Given A Key To The City

On Sunday (August 21st) in the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame at the Memorial Centre, Mayor Daryl Bennett presented lacrosse legend John Grant Jr. with a key to the city.

It was a brief and private moment: Since Junior is a private and modest person, he thought a quiet ceremony would be fitting.

This is only the 13th time a key has been awarded by the city—a tremendous honour for Grant who has given so much to Peterborough sports.

This is Junior's last season with the Peterborough Lakers as he is retiring from his beloved team. Grant, 41, has been playing in the Lakers system since he was four years old.

Grant has won five Mann Cups while in Peterborough and MVP twice, and will retire as one of the biggest stars in Peterborough sports history.

—post by Scott Arnold

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Watch John Grant Jr. Score One Of The Greatest Lacrosse Goals Of All-Time Last Night

UPDATE: Dan O'Toole's reaction when we tweeted him the goal...

@Ptbo_Canada @JohnGrantJr24 Simply........ WOW!!!!!!

— Dan O'Toole (@fs1otoole) January 19, 2014

Possibly the greatest lacrosse goal you will ever see was scored last night (January 17th) by Colorado Mammoth Captain and Peterborough native John Grant Junior. It was a one-handed, behind the back underhand bounce shot into the top corner past Vancouver Stealth goalie Tyler Richards. Although Grant's Mammoth would go on to lose the game 14-13 in overtime, all the talk around the National Lacrosse League today is about Junior's spectacular highlight reel goal.

Watch epic trick shots from John Grant Jr. here and here, and see the amazing goal below...

—PTBOCanada's sports reporter Scott Arnold

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John Grant Jr.'s Epic Trick Shots Video At Peterborough Lift Lock

This is the latest episode of John Grant Jr.'s popular trick shots videos (6th overall) and the first to be filmed in his hometown of Peterborough—and was shot by CHEX TV's Tyler Calver. Legends collide in the latest installment of 4 Shots With John Grant Junior as the living legend John Grant Jr. takes his trick shots to the legendary Peterborough Lift Lock. Grant recently sold his home in Peterborough as well as the Montreal House bar to make the permanent move to Denver where he has played the last three seasons with the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League. Last week, Junior was traded from his other pro lacrosse team, the Chesapeake Bayhawks, to the Denver Outlaws (Major League Lacrosse).
 

Here are the previous 5 videos in his trick shots series:

—PTBOCanada's sports guy Scott Arnold

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John Grant Jr. Has Burger Featured At Hard Rock Cafe In Denver

Below is a video of Peterborough's John Grant Jr. (take a look at his trick shots, too) making the Legendary Mammoth Burger, which will be available for a limited time at the Hard Rock Cafe in Denver. The burger includes 24 ingredients (Grant's number in lacrosse). He will also be taking on all challengers in a speed eating contest. Grant, of course, stars for the Peterborough Lakers in the MSL and plays pro with the Colorado Mammoth in the National Lacrosse League.

—PTBOCanada's sports reporter Scott Arnold

[YouTube] 

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Watch Peterborough Lacrosse Legend John Grant Jr. Do Awesome Trick Shots

[YouTube]

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