Page 43 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 113

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #113 June 2022 43

Continued from page 42 while working the night shift at Domtar. I worked The many conversations that Kirk has had at the

prefers football as that is the one that he knows best with Robbie Wilkes who was a Level 6 referee and sporting events he has been working at with former
from his playing days. “I love doing the football that’s where he taught me how to drop the puck to pro athletes also stand out. “I will come home,
games, being outside in the fresh air and being able make sure that it landed flat each and every time, and Elizabeth will ask me who I met today. I’ve
to smell the grass. I just wish that the season was as well as a lot of other tips. I went on to probably been fortunate enough to have met and have had
longer.” work 200 hockey games with him after that. In conversations with many former pros; I met Ray
lacrosse, Dan Guigarre helped me out a lot. He Bourke when his son was playing at the Bantam
Officiating has been a year-round commitment
would sit in the penalty box during the game and tournament here, I had a good conversation with
for Kirk with seasons that often overlap. “I would come out between periods to show me where Bob Probert after an alumni game, and former
sometimes would have an early morning hockey I should be standing and to offer tips on things that Winnipeg Blue Bomber Pierre Guindon even
game in Cornwall, then head over to Akwesasne
I could do to improve. One incident from lacrosse officiated with us at a football game - he had some
for an 11AM lacrosse match, and then be back that stands out was from several years ago in great stories.”
in Cornwall for a 2PM football game. My wife
Kankakee. Robert Francis and I were the officials
Elizabeth (Fisk) would always ask me which and the wrong team won - they didn’t like it when Kirk and Elizabeth’s three children all took
“costume” I was wearing that day - she has always that happened. As soon as the game ended, I went courses and became referees. Ben refereed minor
referred to my uniforms as costumes. People often hockey in Cornwall for four years, Sadie officiated
to the dressing room, showered, changed, and left
ask me if I ever mixed up the signals from the right away. Robert liked to take his time and have hockey and ball hockey and was once named
different sports. There are a lot of signals, but you Referee of the Year, while Lydia refereed basketball
a cigarette before he left. He was padlocked into
just react to the sport that you are officiating - if I the dressing room and left there for several hours. throughout high school and went on to become an
took the time to think about it, I probably would This was before cell phones, so he had no means RCMP officer. “I think that the confidence that she
mix things up.” gained from refereeing helped her in her career.”
of contacting anyone. The game ended at 3:30 and
Looking back, there have been many memories around 8pm someone “just happened” to be in the Kirk had been employed at Domtar for 27 years
in each of the sports that Kirk has been involved arena and had a key for the padlock.” when the mill closed in 2006. He is now self-
in. “I learned quite a bit about officiating hockey employed, operating his home painting business.

Glad to see the Flyers moving on from Mike Yeo, he never
impressed me. Among other things, I thought his decision to make Keith
Yandle a healthy scratch and end his iron man streak at 989 games was
Whistle Stops not a good decision. Yandle’s play has diminished, but the Flyers were not
Whistle Stops
going anywhere anyway.
The “Team” has just completed Issue # 113, and as always, I Great to see Montreal has signed Martin St. Louis. He is an
would like to thank Lynn (Graphic Design), Carrie (Editor), Bernadette honest, hardworking guy and I think he will prove himself in the coaching
(Website), our writers, Molly, Victoria, Thom, Casey, Jim, and Christine. ranks, much like he did during his Hall of Fame playing career.
Thanks to our editorial columnists, Jim, Jorge, Dave, Peter, Justin,
Nikolai, Janeen, Alex, Roxee, Rosanne, Brad, Dante, and Thorin. Cheers Jay Woodcroft has impressed in Edmonton after taking over from
to The Sports Panel: Peter, Jake, and Jim. Appreciation goes out to Dave Tippett.
our neighborly advice columnists Brian, Mike, and Max, as well as our I did not like it when Vegas fired Gerard Gallant (he’s doing okay
distribution manager, Rene, our ad salesmen, Gord and Robert, our now with the Rangers) and hired Peter Deboer. Then they trade Vezina
distribution locations, our advertisers, and of course the people who are Trophy winning goaltender Marc Andre Flury??? The result, not even in
featured in our stories. I hope you enjoy # 113. the playoffs this year, and Deboer is looking for a job. It sure looks good

on the organization, perhaps the GM should also be looking?
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Ukraine.
Meanwhile in Colorado, Jared Bednar has quietly brought
Our congratulations to newly elected MPP Nolan Quinn. I’m
positive he will become an influential representative for our area at stability behind the bench since being promoted from the AHL in 2016.
Queens Park. In my opinion, John Tortorella and Barry Trotz should both
be back in the NHL next year. The league is not the same without the
Last month we published a 56-page edition and my column got
cut due to space. Ownership does not count! Thanks to the people who colourful “Torts” behind the bench, at least somewhere.
reached out to me asking why I was not in last month. By the way…it Winners Never Quit, and Quitters Never Win!
was an awesome edition - thanks to everyone who participated.
‘Signing out until next month,’
Lots of action on the NHL coaching carousel. Following is my
2 cents worth. Mike Piquette, Publisher