www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 25, 2014 | 18 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports C U S T O M C H A R I T Y "Connected to your Community" Lacrosse players make most of unexpected opportunities at worlds McIntosh, Donville help Canada win gold application for a medical exemption was denied. The Canadian Oakville Beaver Staff squad needed a replacement. "The best phone call I ever got Jordan McIntosh was devastated in my life," McIntosh said. "I'd when the coaches told him he worked extremely hard to make had not made the Canadian team. sure I was ready. It was a pretty Hearing that he was the 24th man wild couple of weeks." on a 23-man roster didn't make it Donville had come on in relief much easier. But they told him to of Ward in Canadian wins over be ready. Australia and Japan. But the team's Brennan Donville thought his youngest player -- just a month tournament was beyond his 21st over. He had played birthday -- had no expectation that twice at the World he would be reLacrosse Champiplacing the tournaonships but, with ment's most valuDillon Ward havable player in the ing an outstanding gold-medal game tournament in the against the United Canadian net, he States. Canada led could only watch 6-2, but the U.S. from the sidelines had already rallied as his teammates once against Canbattled for the gold ada, coming back medal. from a three-goal Both McInJordan McIntosh deficit to win the tosh and Donville Lacrosse world champion round-robin meetwould be called ing. Then, with upon at the last moment. Both did what their just under five minutes to play country needed them to. Both are in the third quarter, Ward took a knee to the head and had to leave now world champions. The two Oakville natives helped the game. Suddenly, Donville was Canada defeat the United States being called upon to hold off the 8-5 Saturday night in Denver, defending champs. "It helped a bit to be in those Canada's third world title and first earlier games, but there's nothing since 2006. "It's pretty unbelievable," Don- quite like playing USA," said the ville said. "I grew up looking up sophomore goalie at Cornell Unito a lot of those guys, so to have versity. "That's a whole different a chance to represent my country animal." Donville completed a difficult with them, it's unbelievable and clearing pass, Canada kept the ball very humbling." Five days before the world in the American end for the rest of championships were set to begin, the quarter, and Ward returned for McIntosh was packing for a week- the final 20 minutes with Canada end road trip with Major League leading 7-2. "I was pretty nervous. Dillon Lacrosse's Rochester Rattlers when his phone rang. Veteran John was having an amazing game and Grant Jr., who had played in four an amazing tournament. The main previous worlds, was unable to thing I wanted to do was just keep play because the prescription med- the momentum going," said Donication he was taking was ruled in ville, who earned a silver medal violation of the drug policy and an see McIntosh on p.19 by Herb Garbutt The best phone call I ever got in my life... It was a pretty wild couple of weeks. Three of the custom hockey goaltender masks created by Tony Priolo are displayed at his Oakville shop, Sportmask. Priolo, who has built masks for Stanley Cup-winning goalies Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas and Cam Ward, is currently holding a silent auction for a custom mask made by himself, industry pioneer Greg Harrison and painter Sam Russo of Mask FX. All proceeds of the auction will go to the Salvation Army. To bid on the mask, valued at $2,500, visit www.sportmask.com.| photo by Eric RIehl --Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog Three-time national champ Jones 11th at CW Games Oakville-born triathlete Kyle Jones placed 11th in his first Commonwealth Games appearance yesterday (Thursday) in Glasgow, Scotland, less than a week after winning his third consecutive Canadian title. Jones finished the Commonwealth race in a time of 1:52.15, 17 seconds out of the top 10 and three-and-a-half minutes behind winner Alistair Brownlee of England. The 29-year-old Q.E. Park high school grad will see more Commonwealth Games action tomorrow (Saturday) in the team relay. Jones' national championship came at Kyle Jones the Pan American Cup race Saturday in Magog, Que. Jones won the race, which also served as the national championships, by outsprinting American Alan Webb to the finish line. Jones completed the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run in 53 minutes, 48.8 seconds to edge Webb by two seconds. American Kaleb Vanort was third in 53:53.0. Jones' closest challenger for the national title was Alexander Hinton of Kingston, who was fourth overall in 54:03.08. "Things felt really good today for me. I know my fitness is there and the body felt good. It was really neat to race against Alan (Webb) from the U.S. and I'm happy with how things went," said Jones, who also won an event earlier this month in Toronto on a course that will be used for next year's Pan American Games. "These two races at home in Canada were perfect preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Not only being in a comfortable place, but having success was also good for me mentally."