Rock adds offensive punch with a big trade After finishing fifth among the six Major Series Lacrosse teams in scoring last season, the Oakville Rock has added some scoring punch and championship experience. The Rock acquired Six Nations Chiefs' leading scorer Ryan Benesch and veteran Johnny Powless in a six-player trade with the Six Nations Chiefs. The Rock sent Oakville native Bryan Cole as well as Eric Fannell, Ryan Wagner, Ian MacKay and a third-round draft pick to the Chiefs. Benesch finished fifth in the league with 72 points in 15 games while his 29 goals ranked seventh in MSL. The 11year vet and first overall pick in the 2006 NLL draft has scored 250 goals and 555 points over 142 career games. He won a Mann Cup with Six Nations in 2016. Powless played in just three games last season, but in 2016 finished fourth in league scoring with 12 goals and 57 points in 16 games. At 24, Powless has already won three Mann Cups with Six Nations and last spring won his fourth National Lacrosse League title with the Georgia Swarm. Cole was Powless's teammate on the Swarm's NLL Champion's Cup team. He has played two MSL seasons with Oakville, scoring 13 goals and adding 12 assists in 21 games. Fannell had 20 points in nine games FREE ESTIMATES Work, preparation starting to pay off for Argos, says Cross continued from p. 22 sively on special teams in his rookie year, he's been able to showcase his skills with the offensive unit in his sophomore season. His TD catch against Ottawa started a streak of 15 straight games with at least one catch, including a career-high six against Saskatchewan in early October. For the season, he has 37 receptions for 381 yards and five touchdowns. "It's been amazing to have the coaches and players trust you to have an expanded role in the offence and on special teams," he said. "I think it's a testament to getting prepared." The former McMaster Marauder says preparation is what put the Argos in the position they are in now. Toronto's chances of playing for the Grey Cup may have seemed slim after a 24-22 loss to Hamilton in the first week of September dropped them to 4-7, but Cross said the Argos never doubted themselves. "There's a process to all of this," he said. "And we're fortunate all our work and preparation paid off." Toronto rebounded to win six of its last eight games, including a 25-21 win over Saskatchewan -- another team they had not previously beaten this season -- in Sunday's division final. When Cross scored his first TD, he called it "an amazing moment." "But I didn't make it more than it was," he added. "We were just trying to score. I didn't really take it in." If Cross and the Argos' preparation pays off one more time on Sunday, there will plenty of time to soak it all in. 23 | Friday November 24, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insidehalton.com Ryan Benesch got his first chance to lift the Mann Cup last year when the Six Nations Chiefs won the national title. The Oakville Rock acquired Benesch and Johnny Powless from the Chiefs. | Photo by Darryl Smart Metroland Media for the Rock last season -- his second with the team -- and added nine more in seven playoff games. Wagner had a goal and six assists in 10 games in his MSL rookie season. Chiefs president Duane Jacobs said despite giving up two proven scorers, it is an excellent trade for Six Nations. "To get this kind of speed and youth, you have to give something up," he said. "We led in three of the five games in the MSL final and trailed by one goal after two periods in the other two games. We had nothing left in the tank for the third period." "Ian McKay is a projected top-three pick in next year's NLL (National Lacrosse League) draft and brings speed out our defensive end," Jacobs said. "The same can be said for Bryan Cole, who was a top-five pick in the 2016 NLL draft." -- Herb Garbutt, with files from Darryl Smart, Norfolk News Call TOWNE TREES today! · · · · Tree/Shrub Removal Tree/ Shrub Pruning Stump Removal Deep Root Fertiliatio · Dead Ash Removal · Tree Spraying · 24 HOUR Emergency Tree Service Professional Tree Care ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST NOW AVAILABLE... GTA: 905-822-2221 Burlington: 905-634-TREE (8733) www.townetrees.com Any tree care service One coupon per customer. Valid only with this coupon. Not valid with any other special offer. This coupon has no cash value. Limited one time offer. Save the FALL HST! SPECIAL Free! Pick your copy up at SONGS of Joy MERRY CHRIST MAS FR OM OUR HOME T O YOUR S LAKESHORE 326 Lakeshore Rd. East, 905.845.426 GLEN ABBEY 251 7 North Service Rd. West, 905.338.373 OAK PARK 105-231 7 Oak Park Boulevard, 905 .257.3633 A collection of festive with musical sea holiday favourites son's greetings from 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington L7L 5Z1