Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No_122

32 Issue #122 March 2023
Continued from page 27
the result of an injury. “It was 1969
and Yvon Disitol was our goalie. He
got hit in the face during a practice
and he needed stitches. He wanted to
come out of the net, so I volunteered
to go in and we switched positions.
Both Yvon and I went on to play with
the Cornwall Royals and both of us
were drafted into the OHL - Yvon by
the Peterborough Pete’s and I was
drafted by the Ottawa 67’s.”
Both Yvon and Mario decided to
stay with the Royals in the QMJHL.
When drafted by the 67’s, the Royals
had just won the Memorial Cup
and Mario, who was only 16 at the
time, was the third goalie behind
Richard Brodeur and Tom Wynne.
“Leo Boivin from the 67’s came to
talk with me, explaining that I would
be replacing Bunny Larocque, that
I would have a large following and Royals when he was just 15 yrs. old,
get lots of exposure. We had won in 1970. “We had gone through 29
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the Memorial Cup and the guys got goalies during training camp and our was a defenseman and our enforcer.
rings, but mine “didn’t come in”. As coach, Norm Baril informed me that Mike Conway became our captain,
the third goalie, I really had nothing I would be starting the first game in and he did a great job. We made the
to do with the team winning the Quebec City against the Remparts. playoffs that year and I was a busy
Memorial Cup, but I went almost They were a powerhouse team with goalie, playing 71 of 72 games. My
every day to see if the ring had arrived Guy Lafleur, Andre Savard, Jacques backup, Barry Borette started one
– I was always told the same thing. Richard, and Pierre Roy. They would game against Sorel and got hit in the
Once I decided to stay in Cornwall go on to win the Memorial Cup that head by a stick in the first period, so
and signed again with the Royals, year. There was a huge trainer’s table I had to finish the game.”
two days later my ring showed up. in the dressing room and Norm had The QMJHL named Mario the
I believe they were waiting to see us all kneel around it, asking Captain MVP for that year, beating out Pierre
what I was going to do. Had I gone to Mike Ruest to say a prayer. Mike Larouche, Mike Bossy, Bob Sauvé,
Ottawa, I probably would never have had gone to a French church and
and Mario Tremblay. 1974-75 was the
gotten the ring.” knew his prayers in French, but what
came out was a hilarious mish-mash. first year of the CCM Award for the
Reflecting about his options at the Pierre Duguay, our top scorer, was top Canadian junior player which was
time, Mario explained that playing still laughing about it on the bench. to be presented at the Memorial Cup.
in Ottawa with the 67’s would have There were 10,000 fans in attendance Doug Jarvis from the Peterborough
been good, but so was the Quebec that night and we got beat 8-1. That Pete’s was representing the OHA
league, and playing with the Royals was my first game with the Royals.” as its MVP and Ed Staniowski, the
meant he was only three blocks from Regina Pats goalie, was MVP of
the arena. Mario played with the Jr. B the WHL. The QMJHL then made
Mario started practicing with the Royals but practiced every day with the decision to send a player from a
the Royals and was their back-up. team located in Quebec to represent
“Norm Baril made me my first goalie the league. Representing the QMJHL
mask that year. He put Vaseline on as its MVP would have put Mario
my face, cotton batten in my nose, 2 in a position to be chosen in one of
straws to breathe through, and then the first two rounds of the upcoming
covered my face with cellophane. I NHL and WHA entry drafts. When
lied down on the table and then my Mario heard about the decision, he
face was covered in plaster of Paris. approached the Royals coach and
It took about a half hour to dry and the team owner, only to be told that
that would be my mold. When the their hands were tied and there was
mold was drying, all of a sudden I nothing that they could do about it.
couldn’t breathe. Bill Smith, the “I told our coach that his tongue was
Royals #1 goalie, had snuck in and never tied and that neither of them
put his fingers over the straws. I sticking up for their player was a real
didn’t know what was happening insult - I never spoke to either one of
until Bill started to laugh. Norm then those individuals again. The Quebec
took the mold over to Fibrez to get player was at the awards ceremony,
the mask made. Norm always used standing by the Briere Trophy with
me very well, he made me my first my name on it.”
mask, gave me Harold Murphy’s
The NHL’s Los Angeles Kings
goalie pads that he had when he was and the Toronto Toro’s of the WHA
with the Royals, and he gave me my
both picked Mario in their respective
first chance. I wish that they’d all drafts. “The Toro’s GM Gilles Leger
been like Norm.” was from Cornwall and knew my
1974-75 was a rebuilding season pedigree. Gilles and Buck Houle met
for the Royals. “We lost Gary with me in Montreal and offered me
McGregor, Bob Murray, Dan a decent contract with a good signing
Lupinette, Kevin Tracey, Al Simms, bonus, so I signed with the Toro’s.”
and John Wensink. On the plus-side,
It was then off to Europe with the
we were able to replace them with Toro’s for training camp, playing
some good players. Gerry Barden