Denver Outlaws President Mac Freeman on Lee Zink:
"I can remember talking with [former Denver Outlaws General Manager] Brian Reese about how we wanted to build our team and that initial roster and Lee was one of our first targets. He was young, physical, and coming off a championship in Baltimore. He was the perfect guy to build a defense around.
“Since that trade, Lee has been a central figure in the MLL's highest winning percentage, the MLL's best home winning percentage, the MLL's first and only perfect regular season, and the 2014 MLL Championship. We knew we had acquired a great defenseman, but we had no idea how much he would mean to this organization.
"Lee was a collegiate Defensive Player of the Year, an MLL Defensive Player of the Year, an MLL Champion, but Lee is not defined entirely by what he has done on the lacrosse field. Lee has a wonderful wife, and Kiera is expecting their first child. Lee has worked hard and established a career in the oil and gas industry—all while being fully committed to the team and leading us to a Championship. He deserves every bit of success that he's enjoying.
"It will be tough for all of us to look out there in 2015 and not see No. 29 out there in an Outlaws jersey, but the Outlaws, the MLL, and the fans are all better off for the time Lee spent on the field.
"I feel lucky to have had a front-row seat to Lee's amazing career, but I feel even luckier to call him a friend."
Denver Outlaws General Manager Tony Seaman on Lee Zink:
"There are a few players throughout your coaching career who make a tremendous mark on your own career—Lee Zink is one of those players. The 94 USA World team had six defensemen that I always felt would be the best I ever coached and then came along Lee Zink. During my tenure in the MLL as the Outlaws GM I've watched the best players in the game compete weekend after weekend and Lee is the best defensemen of them all.
“I've never been more impressed then the Sunday morning after this year's [2014 FIL] World Championship in Denver and seeing Lee Zink walk into our locker room to play in our MLL game vs. Florida. Completely worn out from three weeks of practice and competition, there he was ready to defend [Launch attackman] Casey Powell at 1 p.m. that day.
““Lee is the ultimate professional—always prepared, takes care of his body, is as fit as anyone in the MLL, understands the game, communicates well on the field and is as good a role model as you can find in professional sports.Somehow we convinced him to stay in the game three years ago when he was thinking about retiring so the last three years have been the icing on the cake for the Outlaws.
“No one has done more to bring home the Steinfeld trophy to Denver then Lee has—nobody deserves to hold that trophy high above their head more in celebration. He is the ultimate defenseman, the ultimate teammate and as good a human being as you will ever meet."
Denver Outlaws Head Coach B.J. O'Hara on Lee Zink:
"Having coached lacrosse for many years, I have had the good fortune to work with many outstanding and talented people. That said, I really believe that Lee Zink stands tall among the very best to play the game and is one of finest individuals to ever wear an MLL jersey. While I am happy for Lee as he moves on to other exciting things in his life, he will be greatly missed by the Denver Outlaws and the entire MLL. However, I know there are a lot of attackmen in the league who won't miss having to play against him!"