Page 43 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 112

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #112 May 2022 43

money from the tournaments and other Regis, competing in the Quebec Sr.
Continued from page 42
fundraisers went towards covering our Lacrosse League. In 1965, Ron was
expenses. When I went to Switzerland, one of the players who were added to
Dennis DeJordy and Roy Edwards were it didn’t cost me anything.” the Cornwall Jr. Wildcats team, led by
our goalies, and Rudy Pilious was the Chuck Li, that competed that year in the
coach. Rudy became the head coach Ron mentioned that the unfortunate Quebec Sr. League. Most of the Wildcats
of the Blackhawks the following year thing about the Switzerland tournament
and he went on to win a Stanley Cup in was that his wife Fleurette (nee were only 17 yrs. old, so some senior
Chicago. Richard, married in 1960) was players were added. Those included
unable to accompany him. “My wife Ron, Bunny Warner, Doug Carpenter
Ron had a contract with the Cornwall (future Toronto Maple Leaf and New
Chevies in the OHA Senior League for was a schoolteacher, and unless the Jersey Devil coach), Pete Burns, Chico
the 1958-59 season, but about 10 games tournament was during March Break, DeCola, and Cam Dillabough.
she was unable to come with me. She
into the season, he was approached by
missed out on a few good trips, but she Ron coached both hockey and
team owner Ray Miron, asking him to
take a pay cut. The Chevies weren’t did get to come with me to Holland lacrosse, coaching his sons’ teams in the
drawing the expected crowds and were once. The year that the Hubs went to Cornwall Minor Hockey system, and
looking to cut costs. Unwilling to take Florida, I took our two sons, Richard in 1972, the Cornwall Minor Lacrosse
and Robert, out of school for two weeks Association named Ron Coach of the
a pay cut, Ron asked for his release and
Photo Submitted and we drove down. We went to Disney Year.
then joined the Louisville (Kentucky)
Rebels of the International Hockey One of the teams in the league at the World and a few other places, and they Ron misses playing hockey: “I
League. time was the Johnstown Jets, a team really enjoyed it.” enjoyed the game, the players that I
which several years later featured the Following the advice of his surgeon, played with, and the many good fans
During the 1959-60 season and part of
the 60-61 season, Ron was playing with three Carlson Brothers who became Ron decided to end his hockey career that I met throughout the years. We still
the Sault St. Marie Thunderbirds of the the inspiration for the hockey movie, after having hip replacement surgery in have good friends in Greensboro N.C.”
1996.
Eastern Professional Hockey League, Slapshot.” Ron Quenneville was inducted into
which was a Chicago Blackhawk farm Ron would return to Cornwall each A versatile athlete, Ron played senior the Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame in
team and quite comparable to today’s summer and worked at either Domtar lacrosse at the semi-pro level with St. 1984.
AHL. “My first year in Sault St Marie, I or Entwistle Construction. “My father
was paid $4000 with a $1000 bonus and and brothers worked at Domtar, so I had
the second year was $4000, but without connections there, and I played football

the bonus.” with Jack Entwistle, and we became
very good friends - Jack would find a
Early in the 60-61 season, Ron

was released by the Thunderbirds. job for me at his father’s company.”
Wren Blair, who was coaching the In 1966 Ron began a career with
Kingston Frontenac’s at the time, the Cornwall Fire Department, retiring
made a connection for Ron to join the thirty years later in 1996.
Clinton Comets (NY) the of the Eastern Ron continued playing hockey, now
Hockey League. After playing forty- with the Morrisburg Combines in the


five games for the Comets, Ron was Ottawa St. Lawrence Sr. Hockey League.
then traded to the Greensboro Generals. The Combines were a successful team,
Ron Spong, who was the player-coach winning the OSLHL and advancing to
of the Generals, had played with Ron play teams in Corner Brook Nfld. and
in Louisville and made the trade. Each Moncton NB. in the Alan Cup Eastern
team in the Eastern Hockey league Finals. The Combines also won the
carried a twelve-man roster. Ron stated, Kennedy Memorial Winter Classic in
“There were two complete lines, three Lake Placid, NY, defeating teams from
defense men, two extras, and one goalie. Canada, the USA, and Europe.
If the goalie got injured the trainers
For many years Ron played with
were the back-up. Defenseman were
always double shifted, and sometimes both the Ottawa Old Pros and with Moe
even longer if there was a penalty. It Lemieux’s Cornwall Hubs and he was
was a tough league, and I played a lot a member of the Hubs team which won
of hockey in Greensboro. My first year the World Oldtimers Tournament in
Switzerland in 1977. “The Hubs, we
in Greensboro, I was making $250 per

week. I played five seasons there and were a good team and we won fourteen
the final year I was up to $350 weekly. tournaments in a row once. The prize