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By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF As the third overall pick in the Major Series Lacrosse draft, Jordan MacIntosh came to the Ajax-Pickering Rock with high expecta- tions. It took him all of 30 seconds into his first game to exceed them. He took the first draw, drew it back, took (the ball) down the floor and set up a scoring chance on the transition, said Rock coach and general manager Paul St. John. We just looked at each other and said, Are you kid- ding me? MacIntosh would finish his first Major Series game with two goals, helping the Rock to a 10-9 win over Kitchener-Waterloo. He went on to finish the season with 60 points and a team-leading 32 goals in 17 games. Wednesday, MacIntosh was honoured as the leagues top rookie. The rookie of the year is a special one because you only get one shot at it, the Oakville native said. I knew when I got drafted that I was going to a new team and they were younger so I could step in and make an impact, but I couldnt really imagine putting up those kind of numbers. You look at that list (of top scorers) and its guys I looked up to when I was a young lacrosse player Shawn Williams, John Grant, John Tavares. And there was MacIntosh right there with them, sixth in the league in goals and 12th in points despite missing the first four games of the year while finishing school at RIT. Faceoff prowess surprised coach Although he knew he was getting a tal- ented player, St. John didnt expect the kind of production MacIntosh delivered. But what surprised St. John even more was MacIntoshs skill on faceoffs. Some nights he dominated against some of the best in the business, the Rock coach said. And hes only going to get better. MacIntoshs well-rounded play did not go unnoticed. IL Indoor.com named him the leagues best transition player, noting his speed and finishing ability make him the most dangerous transition player in MSL. With his National Lacrosse League draft year approaching, MacIntosh certainly proved capable of holding his own with the many of the same players he will face in the pro ranks. He hopes his play this summer will boost his draft status but it has already provided him with the confidence that he can compete at the highest level. You want to prove you can play at the next level, the 21-year-old said. The NLL is a cut above, youre playing the best of the best every single night. Cracking the roster is not expected but this summer gives me confi- dence going into camp. There was one aspect of his rookie season MacIntosh would have liked to improve upon helping the team earn more wins. Ajax- Pickering, in just its second MSL season, fin- ished the year in last place with a 3-20 record. MacIntosh has had success at each of his previous stops: a national championship with the Oakville Buzz in Jr. B, helping the Burlington Chiefs achieve a team record for wins in Jr. A and back-to-back NCAA tourna- ment appearances at RIT. And in MacIntosh, St. John believes the Rock have a key building block to improving the teams fortunes. His skill level is excellent and hes deter- mined. You can see it in practice and warm- ups. Hes always working at getting better. You cant teach that, St. John said. We dont want him to get too far ahead but he could be one of the best in the game. His future is bright and hes got the passion to want it. Sports 22 O k ill SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2011 MacIntosh named Major Series Lacrosse's top rookie ROCK STAR: Jordan MacIntosh (left), pictured in action with the Ajax-Pickering Rock, was named the Major Series Lacrosse rookie of the year this week. MacIntosh ranked sixth in the league in goals in his freshman season. RYAN PFEIFFER / METROLAND MEDIA GROUP By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR The biggest thing between power tumbler Michael Chaves and an international medal might not be mastering a new flip or improving his landings. It might be money. The 16-year-old Oakville Gymnastics Club member is enjoying a breakthrough season. Hes won all the meets hes competed in against athletes his own age. He finished fifth at the Elite Canada meet in April, where he was competing against senior national team members some of whom are in their 20s. And he won his division at the recent Canada Cup championship, where he earned the highest scores I ever got in my life. By winning the Canada Cup, Chaves qualified to represent Canada at this years world age group championships in England. But theres just one problem. Since I came back from the Canada Cup, everyone is ask- ing me, Are you going to worlds? Are you going to worlds? Chaves says. I dont know. The money (in my family) is so tight. Its not just the cost of going to the world championships that might prevent Chaves from competing. Gymnastics Canada requires its athletes to compete in at least one inter- national event before attending the world championships. That means Chaves needs to compete in a meet in France this fall in order to be eligible for this years worlds. His par- ents have already told him theyll foot the $4,000 bill for the France competition, but they cant afford both. Its probably about $10,000 for both, says Chaves, noting Power tumbler hopes money doesn't cost him trip to worlds See Tumbler, page 23