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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012 RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @HALTON_PHOTOG STANDING ON GUARD: Oakville's Alex Crepinsek was drafted in the first round of the National Lacrosse League draft by the Minnesota Swarm. It was the second year in a row the Swarm used a first-round pick on an Oakville player, having drafted Crepinsek's longtime teammate Jordan MacIntosh fourth overall, last year. Minnesota also drafted Oakville's Bryan Campbell in the fifth round. draft Crepinsek's former Burlington Chiefs teammate Kiel Matisz, then picked up another Oakville native, Bryan Campbell, in the fifth round. After playing Jr. A with Burlington in 2011, Alex Crepinsek grew up as a fan of the Toronto Rock. He would go to games and watch the world's Campbell returned to Jr. B with the Oakville Buzz this summer for the opportunity to play with his best lacrosse players demonstrate their skills. Over the past four years, as he enjoyed a stand- younger brother, Gregory. In terms of his lacrosse out college career with the Rochester Institute of future, Campbell knew he was taking a chance, but Technology Tigers, Crepinsek saw more of the decided it was one worth taking. "I knew I ran the risk of not getting noticed by National Lacrosse League's Rochester Knighthawks. During that time, Crepinsek's friends and former the NLL playing in Jr. B," he said, "but you never teammates began getting drafted into the NLL. He really get the chance to play with your brother. It's couldn't help but root for them, spreading his a really good league and in previous years, there have been guys who have made it to the pros allegiances thin. "I became more a fan of watching the game in through Jr. B." Campbell, who plays field lacrosse at Brock general," the 23-year-old said. University, said Washington That all changed Monday night. Stealth general manager Doug Crepinsek sat at the Westin "It was a pretty Locker contacted him in the Harbour Castle hotel in Toronto nerve-wracking spring. Campbell told him about waiting to pick a new favourite experience. I wasn't sure his decision to play Jr. B and team. Or more accurately, for the how the chips would fall. Locker remained in contact team to pick him. throughout the summer. Then He didn't have to wait long. The It's definitely pretty cool he invited Campbell to the NLL's Minnesota Swarm, who had stock- getting drafted and draft combine at the Toronto piled four first-round draft choices, especially going in the Rock's new practice facility in used the 10th overall pick to select first round." Oakville. Crepinsek. "It was a do-or-die kind of "It was a pretty nerve-wracking Oakville's Alex Crepinsek after day," Campbell said. "I knew I experience. My parents can attest to being drafted 10th overall by had to take full advantage of it." me being pretty nervous. It's a big the Minnesota Swarm in the And he did, scoring high on part of my future, so it was pretty National Lacrosse League the fitness tests and performing tense," Crepinsek said. "I talked to a draft. well in the scrimmage. The few teams so it was all still up in the Swarm approached him afterair. I wasn't sure how the chips would fall. It's definitely pretty cool getting drafted ward. They suggested he come to the draft, but still and especially going in the first round; that's spe- the message he was getting was `don't be discouraged if you don't get drafted.' cial." Campbell would not be disappointed as the Minnesota used its first three picks in the draft on offensive-oriented players before shifting gears Swarm chose him with the 42nd pick in the draft. "To hear my name called, it was overwhelmfor its final pick of the opening round. Though he's proven himself to be a capable offensive player at ing," Campbell said. "Five years ago, I didn't even every level, Crepinsek established himself as a make the Oakville Buzz. The year after that, I strong defender in the Major Series Lacrosse, barely made it, so to come that far is pretty incredwhere he matched up against many of the same ible." Campbell said he will have to put the same players he would face in the NLL. Should Crepinsek crack the Minnesota lineup, effort into making the team as he did to get draftit would reunite him with Jordan MacIntosh, who ed. Even Crepinsek, taken 32 picks earlier, is takmade the NLL all-rookie team with the Swarm ing nothing for granted. "I know it's not going to be easy to crack the after being drafted fourth overall last year. Crepinsek and MacIntosh won a national Jr. B lineup," he said. "I'm going to have to work hard title together with the Oakville Buzz. They both leading up to camp and then give it everything I moved on to Jr. A with the Burlington Chiefs and have at training camp." If any team provides an opportunity for young then attended RIT together. They were even on the same MSL team, the Ajax Rock, until a mid-season players, it's the Swarm, which dressed 12 rookies last year. Minnesota finished with the year 9-7, tied trade sent MacIntosh to Peterborough. "I've played with him for probably 10 or 11 for the third best record in the league, which years now," Crepinsek said, "through minor and means if Crepinsek and Campbell can make the junior, at school, even a season of senior team, they could be in for a long run of success. lacrosse." Minnesota also used the third overall pick to --Follow Herb Garbutt on Twitter, @herbgarbutt By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Minnesota swarms Oakville, drafting Crepinsek, Campbell