Page 21 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 5

sportsenergynews.com 21

Allan Charbonneau: It’s Hard to Leave the Game Behind

By Vincent Cama his thoughts on the game, he wants
to learn and he’s willing to learn…
Hanging up the skates after a life it all worked out.”
spent in hockey is often easier said Charbonneau balances his
than done. For some, like Cornwall’s coaching responsibilities with
own Allan Charbonneau, 26, it’s not working full time in the University
even worth considering. “I wanted of Ottawa’s Admissions Department
to get back into hockey somehow,” and (again with the hockey) acting as
said Charbonneau “Going through an advisor as part of the Endeavour
24 years of hockey, doing the same Sports Group, a consulting firm that

stuff year in and year out, it comes helps talented young hockey players
as a bit of a shock to not have that.” and their families navigate the often-
When an opportunity to join wild world of elite hockey.
the Central League’s defending So far, hockey’s taken
champion Nepean Raiders presented Charbonneau a long way. “I can
itself a month before the regular contribute to the game of hockey
season, he jumped at it. anything that I do in life now,”
“It was always his focus to citing the discipline and lasting
continue on in hockey,” said Harold relationships that have been pleasant
McBride, Charbonneau’s long-time corollaries to his passion for the
coach at then “AA” (there was no game.
“AAA”) Seaway Valley and a long Former coach McBride was
time scout for the Jr. ”A” Cornwall not surprised to see Charbonneau
Colts. For six years of Charbonneau’s climbing the coaching ranks so
minor hockey career, he shored up quickly. “That’s a very good
the back end on the same team with indication of where he was
McBride’s son Brock. McBride For Allan Charbonneau, the thought of not having hockey as part of his throughout hockey…he’s achieved
is also the one person, outside his life was something not even worth considering. whatever he’s wanted to achieve.”
father, that Charbonneau credits with Photo by Vincent Cama Charbonneau’s advice for young
his advancement in hockey. “He saw players today is simple. “The most
to Brockville where he would close accepted into graduate studies but
the ice very well,” said McBride of important thing is to play at the
out his Jr. “A” career. All the while the game he loved kept calling.
his former player, “I wouldn’t say highest level that you can and at the
he kept his grades up and was good When Nepean’s former assistant
he was the type to blow the puck end of the day that you’re having
enough both on and off the ice to earn coach Taurean “Toe” White stepped
by anybody on a power play but he fun doing it and coming to the rink
a scholarship from NCAA Division down before the start of the 2012
contributed a lot through assists. with a smile on your face. That’s
III SUNY-Geneseo in upstate NY. season to take the head position with
So more of a smart, (defensive) the biggest thing you can go on as a
“When we (the coaches) started the Major Midget Eastern Ontario
playmaking defenseman.” hockey player.”
asking the young players what they Wild, White thought his friend Allan
Drafted into the CJHL by the It’s safe to say that this is not the
wanted to do with their hockey would be perfect to take over. White
Gloucester Rangers, Charbonneau end of the line for Charbonneau.
career,” said McBride “Allan was put Nepean head coach Peter Goulet
took a year in Jr. B with the He’s still young, the game is still
very quick to say ‘I want to get in touch with Charbonneau who was
Akwesasne Wolves before joining fun and he’s brought to Nepean the
schooling out of hockey’.” Years heading up the Alexandria Jr. “B”
the Rangers as a 17 year old. The same smart, hard-working style as
later, that’s just what he got. Though Glens at the time. “It was all bonus,”
then 6’3”, 195 pounder (large by a coach that characterized his game
his time on the ice in Geneseo said Goulet of the fi rst impression
CJHL standards) went on to have on and off the ice. But even if this
was limited by a series of injuries, his new assistant made. “He knows
a very productive career shutting is the highest level of coaching he
Charbonneau graduated from the game, he played in our league,
down opposing offenses as a lunch- does, if he keeps taking his own
SUNY with a degree in Business we were looking for a defensive
pail style defenseman for two years advice, he’ll be a success by any
Administration in 2011. He was coach – he played defense, I liked
in Gloucester before getting traded standard.

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