This is the eleventh installment of “Legends of the Game”. This article is on the Major Series Lacrosse website, and deserves a bigger audience to see and learn of the life of Dean McLeod.
For an excellent sit down “one on one” interview with Dean McLeod, and for more information on Major Series Lacrosse, visit their website at
www.majorserieslacrosse.ca
Born in Brampton, Ontario in 1945 — Dean McLeod has been involved in lacrosse at virtually every position possible within the Brampton lacrosse community. He has held countless roles at the Minor, Junior and Senior levels of Brampton lacrosse. This includes being the General Manager of Mann Cup championship teams.
In 1982 however – Dean McLeod took on a role in lacrosse that would benefit the entire Ontario lacrosse universe when he became Commissioner of the Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior “A” League – a position he would hold for over three and a half decades. At the end of the 2018 Ontario lacrosse season, Dean McLeod, Commissioner of the Ontario Junior “A” Lacrosse League officially announced his retirement ending a 37 year reign as the Commissioner.
While in his role as the Commissioner, Dean McLeod continued his involvement with the Ontario Lacrosse and Canadian Lacrosse community, earning numerous awards and accolades for his dedication to the game.
Mr. McLeod has been a mentor to many others in the lacrosse world. If you have had the opportunity to meet Dean McLeod, you will likely remember it. Dean McLeod is strong willed and leaves no question to his opinion on any subject being discussed. He has done so much for the development and progress of the OLA Junior “A” Lacrosse League.
Time Line of Dean McLeod’s Commitment to Lacrosse
1967 – Brampton Excelsiors Junior “B” Statistician
1968 – Brampton Junior “B” General Manager
1967- 1998 – Brampton Excelsiors Junior “A” General Manager
1968 – 2018 – Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club Board of Directors Member
1979 – 1981 – Brampton Excelsiors Major Series Lacrosse General Manager
1982 – 2018 – Ontario Junior “A” Lacrosse League Commissioner
1985 – 1986 – Canadian Lacrosse Association Vice President
1985 – 1997 – Brampton Excelsiors MLA – Board of Directors Member
1988 – Canadian U-19 Field Lacrosse National Team General Manager
1989 – 2018 – Canadian Lacrosse Association Box Sector Committee Member
1992 – 1993 – Brampton Excelsiors Major Series Lacrosse General Manager
2004 – ongoing Canadian Lacrosse HOF Eastern Selection Committee Member
2004 -2018 – Ontario Lacrosse Association Audit Committee Member
2007 -2018 – Ontario Lacrosse Life Membership Committee Chairperson
Summary of Individual Awards: Dean McLeod
1985 – Ontario Lacrosse Association: Mr. Lacrosse Award
1989 – Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club: Life Membership
1990 – Ontario Lacrosse Association: President’s Award (20 Years of Service)
1991 – Canadian Lacrosse Association Presidents Award
1997 – Inducted into the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame (Lacrosse Builder)
1997 – OLA Junior “A” Board of Governors decided to name the OLA Junior “A” Most Valuable Player in the Playoffs as the “Dean McLeod Award”
1998 – Designated Ontario Lacrosse Association Life Membership
1998 – Inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame – Lacrosse Builder
1999 – Inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame – Lacrosse Builder
2012 – Awarded Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – Diamond Jubilee Award
2017 – Awarded OLA – Golden Stick Award (50 years of Service)
Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
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