Page 22 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 115

22 Issue #115 August 2022 www.sportsenergynews.com

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Stories And More About The People In Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry with Area Senior : Ken McLaughlin
everyone in line.
“It was a great time to revive
hockey in Cornwall,” Ken stated, Another one of Kenny’s
“It was the Colts 24 / 7, we responsibilities was doing the
were in demand, Mike Piquette teams media work, “We didn’t
handled the sponsors; we had have a computer back then, so I
By Jim Riddell
local businesses like Pommier would have to type out my game
“My parents Carl and Kathryn Jeweler’s and Cornwall BBQ, as report on a typewriter and then
owned Carl’s Smoke Shop, so well as chains like Tim Hortons, fax it off to the various media;
I pretty much grew up on the Wendy’s, and Pizza Pizza. I was the Freeholder, CJSS, CFLG,
corner of Pitt and Third, and kept busy just looking after the CKON. I was usually on the
always had a keen interest in bookings. The internet wasn’t phone at least two or three times
sports.” What intrigued Ken mainstream yet so marketing was weekly with the late Bill Patterson
about sports wasn’t about different in those days, we did of CJOH (CTV) in Ottawa. The
playing the game, but rather everything that we could to keep Colt’s schedule was printed on
all of the things that happened the Colts brand in the public eye. posters and distributed through
behind the scenes that most fans The players were in demand, the area to local businesses to be
rarely think of. While attending and we went everywhere we posted in prominent locations.
CCVS, Ken got his start as could, going to area schools, The large-lettered sign, which
Photo Submitted
manager of various sports teams to church groups, to all of the was on the outside wall of the Si
including the school’s basketball Minnesota North Stars picked town fairs in the area, where Miller, was looked after by Ken
and volleyball teams. Following Mike Modano 1st overall. I we would meet as many people as well. “Each letter had suction
high school, Ken enrolled in the learned a lot during those six as possible, holding draws for a cups on the back to stick to the
Sports Administration program months.” pair of seasons tickets. We would surface, and I had to change the
at Durham College in Oshawa, Graduating from Durham with go out to the Cornwall Speedway name of the opposing team and
which was the only Community Honors, Ken returned to Cornwall for races, and we were always the date for each game. The sign
College in Canada offering the in all of the Christmas Parades. was quite high up and I had to
and soon began working with the
two-year program at that time. Our mascot was popular as well place each letter individually
Massena Turbines, a Jr. A team
and “Slapshot” went everywhere with a pole. On cold winter
During the second year of playing in the Central Canada with us. I would go out to area days those suction cups didn’t
the program Ken interned with Hockey League. The team was service clubs and talk about the work very well, and it was a real
the National Hockey League. in Massena from 1988-92, the Colts. I had a weekly column challenge.”
This was quite an interesting first two years being known as “Colts Corner” in the Seaway
assignment,” Ken mentioned, “I the Turbines, the final two as News, as well as a TV show After four years with the
was with Central Scouting and the Massena Americans. In 1992 “Colts Talk” on Cogeco. We had Cornwall Colts, (8 yrs. with the
Refereeing, which were together when the Cornwall Royals were a lot of fun with that, - we would organization), Ken moved on to
at that time. I got to work the sold and moved out of the city, the have players or coaches on each begin a nineteen-year career with
1988 NHL entry draft which Americans moved to Cornwall, show, other players would call in Walmart Logistics, spending
was held in Montreal, where the becoming the Cornwall Colts. and I had to do my best to keep Continued on page 23