“What an Honor! Growing up in Manhasset, lacrosse has had a huge impact on my life since it was first introduced to me,” said Gagliardi. “My first game was in fifth grade playing on a Manhasset PAL team, I used to work on my skills down at the Village Green in Manhasset and I even played my last game professionally for the Long Island Lizards out at Hofstra, which is full circle in some ways for me. The one constant through out my career has been Long Island lacrosse and all of the great coaches who inspired me both on and off the field. That’s why my goal will always be to help develop and grow the game of lacrosse nationally through my company Maverik Lacrosse and make it possible for kids everywhere to enjoy the same experiences I had playing lacrosse on Long Island.”
Gagliardi’s accomplishments include playing on four championship teams, being selected 11 times as an All-Star in college and professionally, twice being named as an All-American at Johns Hopkins University, being named an All-American at Manhasset High School and playing for Team USA at the Lacrosse World Cup in 1999 and 2006. John was Named All-World for team USA in 2006. John’s professional playing career began indoors with the New York Saints and the Philadelphia Wings where he won a championship and was selected to the NLL All-Star team. He also played outdoors professionally for the Long Island Lizards in the MLL from 2001 until his retirement at the end of the 2009 season. Over the years John showed the world that he was among the best to ever pick up a defensive pole and subsequently earned consecutive MLL All-Star appearances from 2002 through 2008.
ABOUT MAVERIK LACROSSE
Founded in 2005 by John Gagliardi, Team USA Player and All-World Defenseman, and Jay Jalbert, All-World Midfielder, Maverik Lacrosse is a lacrosse equipment manufacturer whose products are designed and developed by the world's top lacrosse players for lacrosse players. Team Maverik creates, tests and develops innovative products that perform and exceed the professional demands of its founders. Headquartered in New York City, Maverik is a subsidiary of Bauer Performance Sports Ltd., a publically traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BAU). For more information, visit www.maveriklacrosse.com