In the twentieth edition of “Legends of the Game”…this week we look at the Commissioner of the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) Paul Dal Monte.
This was an article from 2019 By Ian McNaughton for the WLA website (www.wlalacrosse.ca) just after the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame announced it’s 2019 inductees.
Here is the article…
Paul Dal Monte can now add three-time Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee to his resume. The Hall announced yesterday it’s class of 2019 which included the current Commissioner of the Western Lacrosse Association as a Builder.
As a player, Dal Monte won three consecutive Minto Cups as a member of the 1977 – 1979 Burnaby Cablevision squad who were inducted into the Hall under the Team category in 2009. In Senior A, Dal Monte played more than twelve years with the New Westminster Salmonbellies, earning three Mann Cups in 1981, 1989, and 1991.
Dal Monte then went on to coach the Burnaby Junior A Lakers in 1995, where he co-coached the team to a BC Championship every year between 1996 and 2003, winning Minto Cup titles in 1998, 2000, and 2002. The Burnaby Junior A Lakers 1996 – 2007 team was inducted into the Hall under the Team category in 2018. He then went on to an assistant coach role with Team Canada in the Heritage Cup in 2002 and a world championship title in 2003. He was also Head Coach and Director of Lacrosse Operations for the Vancouver Ravens of the NLL from 2002 – 2004.
“Being inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame is truly humbling,” said Dal Monte. “I was very fortunate to have been surrounded by so many great players and coaches over the years, all of whom have contributed greatly to this prestigious honour.”
Named as the Commissioner of the WLA in 2016, and called to the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, the Western Lacrosse Association congratulates Paul Dal Monte on his call to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2019.
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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