All Lacrosse All The Time NLL Pick ‘Ems – Playoff Edition Week 4

Gary Groob

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, Ontario Series Lacrosse, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, CUFLA, 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 2019, 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 14,000+ members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022 with a membership of 19,000+. Gary also has been the media person for Ontario Series Lacrosse (Senior B) since 2023. Mr. Groob also covers the Green Gaels for their excursions to Prague at the Ales Hrebesky tournament since 2022. In 2024, when Major Series Lacrosse was in need of a media person, Gary stepped in as their interim media person. His tasks were running their social media, as well as their website until a full time person was found to fill the role. In 2025 Gary was voted onto the Board of Directors for Ontario Series Lacrosse. Mr. Groob hosts a weekly lacrosse interview show formerly on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, now on StreamPunkEnt.com, Youtube, as well as Spotify. Groob also hosts a lacrosse talk show and podcast for All Lacrosse All The Time seen live Sunday nights at 8pm (ET), and archived on the All Lacrosse All The Time YouTube page, as well as Spotify. Gary also wrote a weekly lacrosse editorial column for La Portada Canada News both in print and online for three years from 2021-2024. In 2025, Mr. Groob joined the ownership ranks, becoming a minority owner of StreamPunk Entertainment, ensuring Lacrosse will always have voice in media. Gary was voted onto the board of directors as the social media director for Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) in November of 2025. In 2026 Mr. Groob was nominated for the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, made a voting member of the NLL media, was put as a voting member in the Ales Hrebesky Tournament awards, and was nominated for the Tom Borelli Award as media person of the year for the NLL. Mr. Groob's other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.

The All Lacrosse All The Time Crew is back with their Playoff Pick ‘Ems

Playoffs Week 3:

Gary…………………3-0
Shawn……………..2-1
“Muffler” Mike…1-2
Caden………………2-1
Pat…………………..2-1

Playoff Year To Date:

Shawn……………..3-7
Gary…………………7-3
Caden………………7-3
Pat…………………..3-7
“Muffler” Mike…2-8

Total Year To Date:

Shawn……………..82-54
Caden………………82-54
Pat…………………..77-59
Gary…………………76-60
“Muffler” Mike…72-64

Playoffs Week 4

“Muffler” Mike Kostiuk:

Game 1: Halifax at Toronto

Halifax. As much as I admire the confidence and fearlessness exuded by the Rock rookies, I have to roll with the veteran leadership of the Thunderbirds. They’ve been playing playoff lacrosse for longer than the Rock, they know their Championship window could already be starting to close, and will play as mistake-free as possible to put themselves in a position to lift the Cup on their home floor.

Game 2: Toronto at Halifax

Toronto. I have a difficult time seeing either team sweeping this series. I think the Rock bounce back and force the series to go the distance. If the Thunderbirds are to lift the Cup, it’s (naturally) going to be the hard way.

Shawn Slaght:

Halifax vs Toronto Game 1

Pick: Toronto

The Rock are playing their best lacrosse at the right time. They have a good mix of veterans and young guns. Rose will stand tall has he proves he can win big games.

Halifax vs Toronto Game 2

Pick: Halifax

Being the eighth seed coming into the playoffs, the Thunderbirds have shown nothing but character in the post season. When everyone writes them off, they rise to the challenge and they will force and third and deciding game.

Gary Groob:

Halifax at Toronto Game 1

Toronto wins.

The Rock have become a very deep team. When the offense is rolling, no one can stop them. Defense stopped both Saskatchewan and San Diego…they are ready!

Toronto at Halifax Game 2

Toronto wins.

Homer talking here! This is the Rock’s year!

Pat Bernard:

Halifax vs. Toronto

Halifax

Toronto vs. Halifax

Toronto

Caden Balint:

Game 1: Halifax at Toronto — Pick: Toronto Rock

Toronto feels like the safer play in Game 1 because that defense has tightened up at exactly the right time, and when Nick Rose gets rolling at home, the Rock become a nightmare to score on. Halifax absolutely has the firepower to steal one, but I think the emotion and energy of opening the Finals in front of a packed Toronto crowd gives the Rock just enough edge late. Expect a physical game that stays close into the fourth.

Game 2: Toronto at Halifax — Pick: Halifax Thunderbirds

Halifax in their own building during the Finals is going to be chaos in the best possible way. The Thunderbirds have been feeding off that underdog vibe all postseason, and their transition game gets way more dangerous when the crowd gets into it. I think Toronto grabs Game 1, but Halifax answers back at home behind a huge night from their top scorers and sends the series to a deciding game.