The Colorado Mammoth have added a Vancouver firefighter to their offense. He’s pretty good at lacrosse, too.
His name is Eli McLaughlin, and he’s already scored more goals than anyone in Mammoth history.
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After stepping away from the National Lacrosse League (NLL) to begin his firefighting career, McLaughlin is back with Colorado.
The veteran forward scored in the Mammoth’s preseason scrimmage against the Halifax Thunderbirds on Nov. 7, giving fans their first look at him against another NLL team since his time away.
Why Did Eli McLaughlin Leave The Mammoth?
McLaughlin stepped away from Colorado during the 2024-25 season to begin the onboarding process with the Vancouver Fire Department. The Mammoth placed him on the holdout list in March 2025, and he missed the entire 2025-26 NLL season while establishing his firefighting career.
At the time, Mammoth general manager Brad Self said the organization was proud of McLaughlin for taking the next step in his professional career and hoped to welcome him back when the time was right.
That opportunity arrived in May, when Colorado signed McLaughlin to a three-year agreement. He also returned to summer lacrosse in 2026 with the Victoria Shamrocks of the Western Lacrosse Association before rejoining the Mammoth for training camp.
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McLaughlin Is Back With A New Perspective
After Colorado’s first training-camp weekend, McLaughlin told the Mammoth he had missed the game and hoped to use what he learned during his time away to help his teammates.
"It's great to be back. I missed these guys and missed being here," McLaughlin told the Mammoth.
He also spoke about returning as more of a leader for a Colorado team coming off a 12-6 regular season and a playoff appearance.
Mammoth captain Robert Hope welcomed the return of McLaughlin and fellow veteran Ryan Lee, praising their leadership and professionalism.
“They’re great people and great friends to have,” Hope told the team. “We missed having them around.”
A Mammoth Career
McLaughlin’s place in Colorado history was secure before he returned to the floor.
The Mammoth selected the Surrey, British Columbia, native fourth overall in the 2014 NLL Draft. He has since scored 292 regular-season goals for Colorado, the most in team history, and added 339 assists for 631 points in 163 games.
He also helped the Mammoth win the 2022 NLL championship, finishing that postseason with a league-leading 41 points in five games. An injury kept him out of the final two games of Colorado’s championship series against Buffalo, but the Mammoth went on to win the title.
Now, another Colorado milestone is within reach. McLaughlin enters the season 33 points behind Gavin Prout’s team record of 664 regular-season points. He needs 34 to move ahead of Prout.
What’s Next For Eli McLaughlin And The Mammoth?
The Colorado Mammoth opens its 2026-27 regular season on the road against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs on Saturday, Dec. 5. The Mammoth’s home opener is set for Jan. 1 against the Georgia Swarm.
McLaughlin returns to an offense that includes Will Malcom, Andrew Kew and Jack Hannah. After Colorado’s 2025-26 season ended with an overtime playoff loss to San Diego, the Mammoth will look to turn another strong regular season into a deeper postseason run.
For McLaughlin, the season offers a chance to reconnect with his teammates, add to his place in Colorado history and get back to playing the game he missed.
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