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Sports Oakville Beaver By Adam Johnston SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2008 25 Import forward paying quick dividends for Buzz Joel Zalesky has had little problem adjusting to box lacrosse run into the playoffs, you need a balanced scoring attack." Zalesky continued to contribute offensively when The statistics won't illustrate how difficult the the Buzz began its first-round playoff series against transition was for Oakville Buzz forward Joel Zalesky the Akwasasne Lightning last weekend. Zalesky as he moved to Canada from the U.S. to play lacrosse. notched a goal and an assist in Saturday's 10-8 victoNot only was he moving to a new country, he was ry, and then netted a goal and two assists in a 9-7 win also playing a new game -- for the most Sunday afternoon. Both games were "The first couple part. played at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. In the U.S., Zalesky -- a native of days of practice, I If his team can continue to play Pittsburgh -- played field lacrosse for was just miserable. strong defense and maintain its balSeton Hill University in Greensburg, But after eight or anced offensive attack, Zalesky believes Pennsylvania. It was there where he met the top seed in the East Conference can ten practices, I Oakville native, and former Buzz player, sustain a long playoff run. started to get the Matt Bertrand. "We have a really solid and young Bertrand persuaded Zalesky to come hang of it." team, so I can see us doing some serito Oakville and try out for the junior B ous damage in the next couple of team. However, this involved switching Oakville Buzz weeks," said Zalesky. "As long as everyfrom field lacrosse, which is played pre- forward Joel Zalesky one does what they're asked to do, I dominantly in the U.S., to box lacrosse. don't think I see us losing in the nearThe two games, while fundamentally similar, have future." several differences in rules, not to mention the obviZalesky and his teammates will look to put the ous change in playing surface. Field lacrosse is played Lightning away, as the two teams meet again next outdoors on a large field and employs much larger weekend in Akwasasne. Should the Lightning win nets, while box lacrosse is played indoors on cement both games at home, the best-of-five series would on the much smaller surface. return to Oakville for a decisive Game 5. "The first couple of days of practice, I was just Brad Gillies was the lone Buzz player to enjoy a miserable," said Zalesky. "But after about eight or ten multiple-goal game in the opener, potting a pair. Alex practices I was starting to get the hang of it." Kruse, Dylan Gilbert, Braden Gallant, Mike And once he got the hang of it, the points began to Bentivegna, Josh Ruys, Connor Gamble, Robert pile up. He added another dimension to Buzz head Bentivegna and Zalesky had the other goals. coach Stuart Brown's already-balanced offense. Sunday, Gallant sparked the Buzz with four goals "I think the key for him was keeping his game and an assist. Ruys also had five points (two goals, simple," said Brown. "He's given us some balanced three assists), Gilbert had two goals and two helpers, scoring. He's added a lot of depth and as you make a and Robert Bentivegna set up three goals. MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER NEW BUZZ IN TOWN: Oakville Buzz forward Joel Zalesky makes a pass during Sunday's Ontario Lacrosse Association playoff contest against Akwesasne. Jones making the best of Olympic team snub By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Since the world championships, when he found out he wouldn't be a member of Canada's Olympic triathlon team, Kyle Jones has been in a bit of fog. "Obviously I was disappointed,"said Jones, who was named an alternate and will still travel to Beijing. "It took a few days to sink in. When they originally told me, they said I hadn't made the team and then right away said I was going to be an alternate. I wasn't happy about not making the team but now that it has sunk in, I'm going to take whatever I can from it. It will be a good learning experience." Granted, the fog Jones has been dealing with was not just caused by the decision of Triathlon Canada. It was also due to a string of bad luck in the water that began at the worlds in Vancouver, where his best chance securing an Olympic berth eluded him, and continued recently in Des Moines, Iowa. In Vancouver, Jones could have guaranteed himself an Olympic berth with a top-eight finish. Coming off a fourthplace finish at the previous World Cup, he felt good about his chances. Chances, and swim cap, slipped away However, his chances slipped away in the water, along with his neoprene swim cap. Swimming in 11-degree water, Jones got sandwiched between two competitors going around the first buoy and lost his swim cap and neoprene cap, which fits underneath and helps maintain body heat. "It got a lot colder and I got a brain freeze headache," Jones said. "When I got out of the water, my hands were numb." Unable to unzip his suit as he headed for the transition area, Jones pleaded with a French athlete, who helped him out. Jones' troubles were not over, though. Still without feeling in his hands, he helplessly watched rivals leave the transition area as he struggled to buckle his helmet. "I thought, there goes my race," he said. Jones lost the lead group and finished well back. The even tougher part came the following day when Triathlon Canada summoned him to announce their decision. With Simon Whitfield guaranteed one of Canada's three spots, Jones and Paul Tichelaar were the only other two to meet the first qualifying criteria. When they didn't achieve the second, it came down to the governing body's choice. Tichelaar, who was ninth at worlds, got one of the spots, while the other went to Colin Jenkins. The decision was explained as strategic: Jenkins will act as a domestique, helping Whitfield, Canada's best medal hope, in the cycling portion of the race. Jones said the decision was difficult, given the five Canadians on the team had been training together for six months leading up to the decision. "We're friends and, as much as you try to not let it ruin a friendship, it is a tough pill to swallow," he said. "I think the majority of us want to see the best three, either in rankings or results. You don't like to see it come down to a selection committee. If that means setting a higher standard or whatever, I think we'd like to make it on our own merit." Jones said four years is a long time but he plans to pack OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO See Races page 27 Despite managing part of the qualifying criteria, Oakville triathlete Kyle Jones was not selected to be a member of this year's Canadian Olympic team.