Saskatchewan Rush fans certainly know of Dawson as he was a member of the 2018 team that won the National Lacrosse League’s Champion’s Cup.
Dawson was drafted by the now defunct Columbus Landsharks in the sixth round, 68th overall in the 2001 NLL Draft, which is not a draft spot that suggested just what was to come in a career that still rolls on with the Toronto Rock. He made his NLL debut with the Landsharks in the 2002 season, and now is only two games shy of 300 in the NLL, putting him second all-time in games played behind John Tavares who is widely considered the greatest player ever. He has 306, so later this season Dawson should take top spot.
Actually, this is a season Dawson will remember as he climbs the all-time records board in the NLL, something he started Dec. 4, as the Rock hosted the Albany Firewolves.
The Rock trailed by one late into the contest until Dawson scored a tieing goal. It was actually a dual tieing goal, evening the game at 9-9, but also moving him into a tie for fourth place in all-time scoring with Colin Doyle at 527.
Then for a dramatic encore Dawson potted the game-winner, and moved into fourth place all-time by himself.
Only three players, all icons of the sport are now ahead of Dawson for goals all-time, Gary Gait with 635, John Grant with 668 and Tavares with 815.
Dawson also had an assist against the Firewolves, his 911th career-wise, second only to – you guess it -- Tavares with 934.
His three points inched Dawson closer to second all-time on that list as he now sits with 1,439, only seven back of Grant, with Tavares topping the pile with 1,749.
Dawson takes his moving up the all-time lists with a grain of humility and humour.
“I’ve been blessed to play for so long,” he told me in an interview a few days after the Rock’s NLL opener. He added, he has told others he’s “passing people because I’m out lasting them.”
Then the obvious pride in the accomplishment came out.
“It’s very flattering,” he said, then once again turning humble and deflecting his accomplishment to others. He noted “teammates and coaches have put me in a position to be successful.”
While longevity certainly plays a role in all-time numbers being able to play for two decades is its own accomplishment.
“I like to think I prepare very well,” he said, adding he has long been disciplined in a regime that has “allowed my body to take the pounding over 20-years.”
It helps away from lacrosse Dawson is a firefighter. He said there are many similarities in the two careers, from the need to be physically fit – wearing a hundred pounds of firefighting gear helps on the lacrosse floor later – to being part of a team.
“The two feed each other,” he said.
So what about the two goals in the opener coming as they did when the team needed them?
Dawson said he has come to realize if you keep working, goals will come.
“I know if you keep grinding and you shoot the ball enough, you’re going to score,” he said.
Dawson said he also wants to be one of the players that contributes when it’s needed most.
“I want to be one of the guys who always want the ball in their stick,” he said.
Of course the game was big in its own right because it put players back on the floor.
“It was our first game in Hamilton, (the Rock will play home games there this season),” said Dawson, adding it had also been more than 600 days since they had last played.
The time off though was good for Dawson who turned 40 Dec. 11.
“It let me address some nagging injuries,” he said.
This summer Dawson’s father also died which added to the importance of the night.
“It was a really emotional night,” offered Dawson, adding after the big gaols “. . . I fought back a couple of tears.”
And so it goes, at 40 Dawson knows Father Time will catch up with him, but whenever he walks away from the game it will have been a storied career.
Regardless of the sport, championships can be elusive things, but the 2018 win with the Rush was simply the latest line on an extensive resume of success at winning it all for Dawson. He won NLL Champion’s Cup in 2013 and 2014 with the Rochester Knighthawks.
Dawson is a seven-time Mann Cup Canadian box lacrosse champion, and has one Major League Lacrosse (field) championship in 2009 with the Toronto Nationals.
Representing Canada, Dawson has won two World Indoor (box) Lacrosse Championship titles and was a finalist in the 2010 World (field) Lacrosse Championship.
But for now he just wants to play some more lacrosse.
“I’m year-to-year right now,” said Dawson, adding he really wants one more championship, although even hoisting another trophy might not signal retirement. He said that comes down to three things, his lacrosse not interfering with his family life, his career as a firefighter, and that with a stick in his hand he still performs at a high level.
“I don’t need to be the guy every night,” he said. “. . . I just need to play at a level consistently.”
