Oakville’s Donville named NLL’s Rookie of the Year

Oakville’s Jonathan Donville certainly knows how to make a good first impression.

The Panther City Lacrosse Club forward, the first overall pick in the 2021 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft, was named the Rookie of the Year on Friday.

The 25-year-old midfielder is the fourth straight No. 1 selection in the NLL draft to win the award, following in the footsteps of Jeff Teat (2022), Tyson Gibson (2020) and Austin Staats (2019).

The six-foot, 195-pound rookie recorded 90 points to finish second in team scoring and led Panther City to a franchise best 10-8 record and their first playoff appearance.

Donville’s 67 assists were just four shy of Teat’s single-season rookie record set last season.

The Oakville lacrosse star was also named to the NLL’s All-Rookie team.

Donville finished rookie voting with 543 points, beating out Brett Dobson (356) and Jack Hannah (356).

He spent three years at with the Cornell University men’s lacrosse program, before transferring to Maryland University for his final year of collegiate eligibility. He did not compete in 2021 (COVID).

The journalism major played for the Mimico Mountaineers and Orangeville Northmen in OLA Jr. A lacrosse league.

He led the Northmen to a Minto Cup championship in 2019 and was named the tournament MVP.