Ontario Community Newspapers

Canadian Champion (Milton, ON), 5 Jun 1998, p. 27

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The Canadien Champion, Friday June 5, 1998 -27 less At 53, MeNeil is back in major lacrosse By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion RDon McNeil is willing to put a lot on the line to perfect bis sports INequipment, even bis aging body. Not that he's out of shape - far from it -- but the proprietor of Rock Lacrosse will be the first to admit he's no longer nearly impervi- ous to pain. "My recovery rate is not what it use to be and it's going to take a few weeks to get my legs back," said McNeil. .'~ His comments came last Friday momning, just a few hours removed à.. from a somewhat secretive return to Ontario major lacrosse. The former real estate agent certainly wasn't embarrassed about bis decision, but didn't tell anyone outside bis immediate family either. That included bis brothers - ail fellow lacrosse enthusiasts. Quipped McNeil, "They would have said I was nuts." Nuts or not, the 53-year-old Milton native is the newest member of the Peterborough Lakers and the oldest player in the league by more than 10 years. He sees this summer's comeback, made possible by Lakers' director Peter Trory, serving two purposes - first to help him find ways of improving bis locally made lacrosse equipment and second to get him into better shape. "I had to qui( smoking for this, after the first practice I was huffing and puffing," he recalled. "I've been doing a lot of mun- ning as well. 1 should be up to speed by mid-season." McNeil likely won't pack the same offensive punch as he once did, but witb thite Mann Cups under bis belt and a rep- utation as one of Canada's most dominant players he'll certainly be a presence to opponents and an inspiration to bis fellow Lakers. Thursday night be was used sporadically on tbe third line and belped Peterborough post a 17-11 season opening victory against Ohsweken. In addition to not seeing a regular shift, McNeil didn't score any goals - perhaps even more of a rarity for one of the most proficient scorers in the 1960s and '70s. "It seemed like every time he shot, he scored," recalled wife Sandy. The pinnacle of bis success came in the late 1 960s when he set the national single- season scoring record - amassing a remarkable 114 goals in 20 games with a team from Etobicoke. 'Me record bas yet to be eclipsed. He also holds the record for most goals in a career witb just more than one tbou- sand. These accomplishments, plus countless more, made McNeil a highly popular inductee to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Faine in 1992. The ceremony was beld in Westminster, British Columbia, not fat from Victoria, where he once played. "That was one of the best moments of my career," he said of the induction. McNeil can thank lacrosse for flot only providing bim the spotligbt but offering bim someone special with whicb to share it. It was througb the sport that be met Sandy, wbo adroits she was wonder struck even before their first encouniter. "There was a feature story about Ron and bis brothers in the Port Credit newspa- per. I remember carrying the clipping around to games and thinking I've got to ineet tbis guy," said Sandy. She got ber chance a couple of years later, in 1964, when the honour of being Miss Port Credit presented the opportunity to do the opening faceoff drop for the club's home opener. Her favourite player just happened to be the captain that year as well. "He asked me out almost immediately," Saisdy explained. The couple's son Jamie bas now taken up the game and as a result bas afforded bis old man a new venture - manufactur- ing lacrosse equipment. eses COMEBACK on page 30 -rNBUER C L ýNEW-USED-REPMIRS-SKATE EXCHANGE 4 CUTO TAMUIO S x 18 THOMPSON ROAD UNIT #6 MILTON ...................................... Phloto Oy GRAHAM IPAINE Ron MeNeill as returnsd ta Ontario Maor Lacrosse action this season. At 53, hems the oldeat player In the leagus by mors than a decade. --.ad

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