Page 10 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 10

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CORNWALL Presents...Cornwall Royals Edition

BAR-B-Q Then and Now...
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Passion on Skates: Gary MacGregor

By Terry Tinkess finished last in the league in 1971 and entry draft (thirtieth overall) while With his playing days behind him,
only had about a half-dozen players the Chicago Cougars of the upstart MacGregor returned to the Kingston
returning. Then new coach Orval World Hockey Association (WHA) area, where he became a successful
Tessier knew that there was a strong in the fi rst round, tenth overall. businessman. His health issues,
group of midget players in Kingston, however, presented an opponent he
Faced with the choice between
players such as Kevin Treacy, Bob playing with the iconic Montreal was unable to defeat. MacGregor
Murray, Tom Wynne…and Gary died suddenly and unexpectedly at
Canadiens and the WHA, a league with
MacGregor. Tessier went about trying his home on April 20, 1995.
an unknown future but (apparently)
to lure the Kingston midget graduates
lots of money, MacGregor chose Much like the better-known Bobby
to Cornwall.
the unknown, despite the advice of Clarke of Philadelphia Flyers fame,
“The key was getting Gary Tessier, his former junior coach. MacGregor refused to let diabetes
MacGregor,” says Tessier. “I talked prevent him from pursuing his goal
“I remember Gary talking to me
to Bob Murray and was introduced to and asking me what I would do,” of being a professional hockey
him and his father and they said that player. That he achieved so much of
says Tessier. “I told him that to me,
where Gary’s going to go, the boys the disease makes the achievement
there are two prestigious places to
are going to go. that much more remarkable.
play hockey right now and that is in
“We finally convinced him to come Montreal and Toronto. You’ve been What MacGregor lacked in physical

to Cornwall, it wasn’t easy, and they drafted by the Chicago Cougars, but stature, he more than made up with
Pound for pound, Gary all followed.” they’ve got the Blackhawks there. drive, intensity and desire. Anyone
MacGregor was perhaps the You might get a little bit more money who saw him play will remember the
most exciting player to ever The rest, as they say, is history. now, but if the Canadiens want you sandy mop of hair, the steely glare
wear a Cornwall Royals jersey.
File photo. “Mac” played three seasons in now, and the way you can play and the way he would always fi nd a
Cornwall (1971-1974,) and was hockey, and the way you can handle way to the net.
he Cornwall Royals had many instrumental in the Royals Memorial the puck and shoot and skate, you’ll MacGregor was inducted
Texciting players in their illustrious Cup run in 1972, scoring the winning be up there, you might even be there posthumously into the Kingston and
history, but few could create the same goal in the championship game. In next year. District Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
sense of anticipation when they had 171 regular season games he scored “He said he agreed with me, but
the puck on their stick as number 182 goals while adding 126 assists the next thing I hear is that he signed
seven, Gary MacGregor. for 308 points. with Chicago.”

MacGregor was born on September His most successful season, MacGregor went on to play parts of
21, 1954 in Kingston Ontario, and however had to be 1973-1974, when seven seasons with Chicago, Denver,
developed in the Rotary-Kiwanis he scored 100 goals and added 74 Ottawa, Cleveland, New England,
Minor Hockey Association before assists for 174 points. He ended up Edmonton and Indianapolis of the
moving on to a very successful junior winning the Michel Briere trophy WHA, scoring a total of 90 goals and
career with the Royals. as the league MVP as well as being seventy assists for 160 points in 251

It could be said that getting recognized as the league’s most games. In his fi rst season, he scored
MacGregor was in large part why gentlemanly player. 44 goals and was named as the WHA
the Royals won the Memorial Cup Rookie of the Year.
His success in junior was enough
in 1972, not only because of what
to convince professional teams to He also made brief stops in Spokane
he did, but also because of who he take a second look at him, despite his (WIHL), as well as Nova Scotia and
brought with him.
being a diabetic and of small stature Springfi eld of the American Hockey
Kingston has always been a place (MacGregor is listed as 5’9” and 170 League (AHL). He fi nished his
where the Royals have had success lbs.) The Montreal Canadiens drafted playing days with Manheim ERC of
in finding players. The team had him in the second round of the 1974 the German league.

Owners George, Paul and Tom have been involved with Cornwall
CORNWALL community sports since 1975.
The original and longest operating Family Restaurant in Cornwall, providing
BAR-B-Q a healthy choice with our famous barbecued rotisserie chicken.

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