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)