“It isn’t for everyone, but if it is for
you, it can be a rewarding experience
in so many ways.” So says local
hockey refereeing legend Sean
Boulerice.
So. What does it take to make an
epic ref? Check out this resume:
Boulerice earned a certification at the
highest officiating level in amateur
hockey (level VI) in 1993. He was
a linesman in the American Hockey
League, a referee and linesman in
the Ontario Hockey League, and a
linesman in the Canadian University
(CIAU) national championships in
1991. He refereed in the Centennial
Cup (now the Royal Bank Cup) in
1995, and Team Canada vs Team
Sweden in a pre-Olympic tournament
game in 1994 – during the NHL
lockout – several NHL players
including Glenn Anderson, Kjell
Samuelsson, and Ulf Samuelsson
played anyway. He also refereed the
first game in Cornwall Colts’ history.
Add to this numerous Central Junior
Hockey League championships,
as well as a Fred Page Cup, and
the Ottawa Senators’ training
camp in 1992. Finally, he refereed
professional roller hockey (RHI) in
the mid 1990’s.
A loved one’s illness is never an
easy thing, especially when that
loved one is a child. Jesse and Laura
Ferguson know this all too well: Their
son Brennan was diagnosed with
leukemia when he was two years old.
Luckily for the Fergusons, an early
diagnosis, timely intervention, and
intensive care have had the intended
effect, and Brennan—now nine - has
been symptom free for about four
years.
And he’s discovered soccer.
“The choice of sports for him was
something that we had to consult
his doctors about,” says Ferguson.
“Some of the chemo he took has
long-term effects on his heart and
his joints. Basically, intense weight
lifting, and sports that involve lots
of physical contact, like American
football, MMA, and hockey, are out.”
According to his parents, Brennan’s current health is very good, and last
year, when the family decided to get
involved team sports, soccer was
an obvious choice. “It’s affordable,
widely available in Cornwall, and
that it’s easy to practice at home or at
the park,” Ferguson says.
Local trampoline athlete and
competitor Nathan Seguin is
making a bid for the provincials in his
chosen sport. “It’s like flying,” says
eighteen-year-old Nathan, who’s been
jumping for ten years, the last three at
the competitive level. “I like the height.
I like the exercise.”
Qualifying for provincial competition
isn’t easy. Jumpers must score well in
three provincial Cup competitions to
move on. With the first Cup out of the
way, Nathan still needs to excel in the
final two, which will be held on March
23 in Niagara Falls, and April 26 in
Kingston.
The third annual Hockey With
Heart, a fundraiser hockey
tournament, was once again a great
success. It took place Feb. 15-
16 at the Paul Rozon Memorial
Park in Williamstown. Cameron
MacDonald’s team won the
tournament in a thrilling final game.
The team received the Heart Trophy
which was donated by Mary and
Marcel Levac this year.
Colton Gallant, one of the founders
and organizers of the tournament
with Allister Macdonell, said that
there were 12 teams and about 200
people throughout the two days at the
tournament.
Thirty-five-year-old Phil Antoniak
lives in Ingleside with his wife,
son Eli and a black lab named Ace.
He works as a Project Coordinator for
Enbridge Gas, out of their Cornwall
office. Antoniak is originally from
Brockville but moved to the area
eight years ago for his career.
For as long as he can remember,
Antoniak has loved to fish.
“I grew up spending the summers
at our family cottage on Charleston
Lake and there is where I fell in
love with fishing and the outdoors,”
says Antoniak. “I love the peace
and tranquility of being out on the
water on a nice day and just taking in
the sights and excitement of maybe
catching the big one.”
His earliest fishing memory, as it is
for many, was with his father.
Ellery Maloney, recently spoke
with Sports Energy News to
remember his friend Pete Piquette.
Piquette was a local hockey
goaltender in the 1940’s and 50’s
who saw great success in his
hockey career, landing him a spot in
the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame.
Maloney says he’s known Pete and
his wife Betty for most of his life.
“We both played hockey, we were
both goaltenders on separate teams.
We’ve been such close friends since
our early teens,” says Maloney.
“We were in each other’s wedding
parties as well.”
Pete Piquette was an exceptional
good goaltender and he started his
junior hockey with the Cornwall
Community Sports Club. Piquette
was soon called to play with the
Oshawa Generals Jr. A team in the
OHA, (Currently OHL). Maloney
recalls one of the highlights of
Piquette’s time with the Generals
was his encounter with George
Armstrong, an All-Star player with
the Toronto Maple Leafs.
