Page 19 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 11

Please support our Advertisers, it’s a winning combination. 19

FILION AWARDS & SPECIALITY GIFTS

“Helping people honour people”

All regularly priced hockey
All regularly priced hockey
All regularly priced hockey 606 Montreal Road
Cornwall, ON
sticks are buy one get one 50% off! K6H 1C2
Tel: 613-938-0545
400 Second St. W. Cornwall Fax: 613-938-0067
613-938-0001 • www.rookez-edge.com filiontrophies@sympatico.ca

Celtics’ Labelle Fight Back From Concussion,

Wins OLA East Defensive MVP Honours

By Vincent Cama Not only was Labelle an integral
part of the Celtic’s leadership core
t was supposed to be a routine play. in 2013, he led the Celtic’s defense
IThe ball bounced into the corner and in points (eight) and was voted
his eyes were fixated on its careening Defensive MVP of the OLA’s East

path. Then a tremendous impact, from Conference. The MVP voting was
where and from whom he couldn’t conducted by the league’s presidents
say – he still can’t. Blindsided by and managers and Labelle was
a pick from an unseen Clarington nominated by Celtics president Terry
player, Jr. “C” Celtic’s defenseman Turcotte.
Brandon Labelle’s body crumpled
“I knew I was one of the stronger
onto the hard lacrosse pad. He got up.
players in the league but I couldn’t
He kept playing. It was a good hit,
believe it when they told me (I
nothing more. The queasiness he felt

would pass. This was the first game had won),” said Labelle of the
honour. When asked about Labelle’s
of the 2011 Meredith Cup and he
contributions both Turcotte and
wasn’t about to give up so easily.
Celtics head coach Shawn Lauzon
Two shifts later he noticed that he Brandon Labelle’s “never quit” attitude helped him to not only return were less surprised, using many of
to lacrosse after a year and a half absence, due to concussion issues,
still wasn’t feeling so hot. Leaning but also manage to be selected as the Defensive MVP of the OLA’s East the same terms to describe their star
on the bench he lost his balance and Conference. defenseman: 100% effort, never quit
nearly fell over. He had felt this way Photo by Vincent Cama. attitude, vocal leader, makes others
once before when he played Jr. “B” around him better.
hockey in Akwesasne back when That was what the doctor told said Labelle. “I just had to realize that
he was 16. It was a concussion then him. it was out of my hands and the only Entering his second year at U
and a pretty serious one. He knew he “Every day see how you feel. Stay thing I could do was stay focused on Ottawa, where he’ll be joined by
had to stop so he told the trainer how out of the light, don’t watch too much feeling better.” It wouldn’t be until teammates Connor Primeau, Joel
he was feeling. His Meredith Cup T.V. and don’t be too physical. That October of 2012 that the headaches Marleau and Brandon Perras, Labelle
was finished, the continuation of his last part, for me, was really hard.” would cease and he could think about is hoping to translate his studies into

lacrosse career halted in its tracks. playing again. either a phys-ed teaching position or
In the meantime, Labelle was working in physiotherapy. Coaching,
“It was pretty much a year and a accepted into the kinesiology program He practiced all winter with too, would be a natural progression.
half (after the hit in 2011) that I had at the University of Ottawa and was teammate Brandon Perras (who’s “I feel like when I’m playing, I’m
headaches every day,” said Labelle, beginning studies there. He admits also had concussion issues) and, with almost like another coach on the
now twenty. He saw a concussion that his injury had a larger impact medical clearance, Labelle returned to field,” said Labelle.

specialist in Ottawa. A concussion than just keeping him off the lacrosse the Celtics this year with something to
is an injury very hard to pin down. pad, hindering both his social life and prove. “I had my lacrosse stick in my This year will mark the return of

It can only be diagnosed from its schooling, but he tried to stay positive. hands every day for months leading field lacrosse at U Ottawa. With
symptoms. There is no rehab regimen. “It’s so easy to be pessimistic about up to the summer,” said Labelle. Labelle’s injury behind him, they’ll
You just sit and wait, hoping one day moving forward when you’ve had That dedication paid off. be getting a good one – in more ways
the symptoms dissipate. headaches for almost a full year,” than one.

“People Pulling Together for you”

613.936.0660 • www.minimaxexpress.com
605 Education Rd. Cornwall, ON, K6H 6C7