NLL Insider

When Scott Gabrielsen returned from traveling Europe following his graduation as an All-America midfielder from the University of Vermont, he confronted a pile of mail. In that pile was a letter from the Philadelphia Wings inviting him to a tryout for the team and 10 seasons later, he retired in 1998 as one of its most decorated and celebrated players in history. A captain, a leader and a fan favorite, Gabrielsen forged his role as a primary contributor for a Wings team that won five titles during his tenure in Philadelphia. Plenty of winning brings plenty of memories for Gabrielsen as he took some time to reflect on his days as a member of one of the National Lacrosse League’s most dominant eras.

1. Expectations when you arrived for that tryout?

“I had no idea. I’d never played box lacrosse before but I’d seen it on ESPN and cable. That first practice, guys are holding on to my stick, my gloves and my jersey. Everything I’d been taught not to do in field lacrosse, you did in indoor.”

2. Philly had to be quite the place to learn the game, though.

“With 16,000 fans for every game, you couldn’t have had a better opportunity. The fans there are great. It was a great honor … It was all so new, to get a jersey with your name on the back and play a pro sport in Philadelphia.”

3. Did your style as a grinder endear you to Philly fans?

“Yeah, they appreciated that. I was a middie and a faceoff guy and having the attributes of a middie is perfect for the indoor game. So playing offense and defense helped, but the secret of our success in Philly was defense first. The D did the dirty work. With the Gaits, Marechek and Finneran, the offense took care of itself.”

4. Five championships in your 10 seasons. That’s pretty special.

“Yeah, each one was special but the 1998 title is the most memorable. I’d announced my retirement at the beginning of the season. I knew it was time to move on. We’d lost Gary Gait to Baltimore and everyone thought we couldn’t win a game. But we played Baltimore in that series and beat them in two games. In the final game, the last of my career, I had two goals and three assists and walked off the floor with a Cup over my head.”

5. Anything unique stories about playing in Philly stand out?

“It was the early 1990s and we played at the Spectrum and we shared a locker room with the NBA’s 76ers. Charles Barkley was known for being the last to leave the locker room and one day, a few of the Wings guys started to roll in about 5:30 and Charles was still there, doing an interview after they’d played that afternoon. One of our guys, Lou Delligatti, who was about 6-foot, 240 pounds and hairy, liked to shower before games and all of a sudden, he comes out of the shower covered in soap and he’s yelling “I’m a soap monster! I’m a soap monster!” Charles sees this and just shakes his head. ‘You lacrosse players are crazy.’”

6. So in addition to all the winning in Philly, it seems like you guys had some fun as well.

“Oh yeah. When you bring up fun, all you have to do is say Jim Rogers. He made post-games fun. But if you mean funny, I remember once when Steve Govett came out for the pre-game intros. His trademark was to come out fast and give all the guys who’d already been introduced a low five. His number was 44 so he had a long line to go through and one night, he misjudged the depth of the boards and he went head-first into the board. He had a 2-inch gash on his forehead and was bleeding all through the anthem.”

7. Name an offensive player that frustrated you the most.

“John Tavares, but I wouldn’t say frustrated. Respected is more like it. You always needed to know where he was and it’s amazing that he’s still doing it today. Back then, give him a cushion and he’ll make you pay and it’s still true today. I’ve been out for 10 years now and he’s still scoring goals the same way he did back then.”

8. What about today’s game and the contribution of your era?

“Without a doubt, we were pioneers because we helped pave the way. We sacrificed our bodies and time for $100 checks. Now there are guys who can call themselves professional lacrosse players and it’s a tremendous product right now. But the great thing is that whether 10 years ago or 20 years ago or today, you still have the best lacrosse players in the world on the floor.”

Gabrielsen finished his career with 69 goals, 83 assists for 152 points and 436 loose balls in 106 career games and for as many Wings fans who remember him for his style of play, they’ll also remember his dad, Big Gabe, leading cheers behind the Wings bench. Scott was captain of the Wings for five seasons and today, he’s a senior vice president at Binswanger (commercial real estate) in Philadelphia, where he works with former Wings teammate Paul French. Scott’s very much in touch with today’s Wings as the color analyst for Wings’ TV games, and in his spare time he’s busy coaching his oldest son in U-11 lacrosse and football. He’s also a Hall of Famer at the University of Vermont, as well as the Vermont, New Jersey and Pennsylvania chapters of US Lacrosse.

Past profiles
Gordon Purdie
Mike French
Toby Boucher
Brian Lemon
Jeff Klodzen

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