Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 123

32 Issue #123 April 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

Formerly Blue Beacon

•

Continued from page 27 played with the Hershey Bears day and played Sunday in Erie, Pa. Mathers. “Frank arranged my ticket;
to know who was responsible for of the AHL, suffering a season That night one of our guys hit one I flew into New Haven, and I played
the event. Four players raised their ending injury around Christmas. of theirs with a cheap shot and there that night. Doug Gibson, who had
hands and Mr. Tessier then let the The ‘78-‘79 season was spent with was a bench clearing brawl with played with the Peterborough Pete’s
four players know that they were the Utica Mohawks of the NEHL several guys getting thrown out. the year the Royals beat them out
all being traded. He said two of the (North Eastern Hockey League), The Erie fans got into our dressing to win the Memorial Cup, was the
players were going to be traded to which was the league that the movie room and attacked our guys that had Bears player /coach. Doug ran
the farthest teams from Cornwall Slapshot was based on. “That was a been thrown out. Our team headed the team day to day, practices and
because they had girlfriends from nightmare,” Cam said, “I got there to the dressing room, it was crazy, things, and Frank going behind the
Cornwall. Another one of the players on a Wednesday night, our first game the game was called, the state police bench for the game, looking after
was going to be sent to a team that is was Thursday night in Utica, after the were brought in, and we had a police the lines. Frank was a real hockey
always on the road because of where game the team all goes to a bar, the escort right to the NY state border. gentleman who always looked after
they were located. And the fourth bus picks us up at 2am closing time We had left on a Thursday night, his players’ best interest, no matter
person was being traded to Toronto and we head to Hampton, Virginia, played three games in four nights, what the situation was. We ended up
because no one would know who for a Friday night game. The trips and only saw one hotel, and the best winning the Calder Cup that year.”
he is in school or on the street. We were long, so we were required to restaurant we were at was a Waffle Another memory from that year
were all supposed to be benched for have two bus drivers – partway there house.” that stands out for Cam was one
the night. Last minute I was told I the driver stops outside of Hershey Larry Mickey was the coach (and involving a new teammate, Brian
was dressing. I didn’t see any ice on Route 81 and goes in to get a occasional player) of the Comets. “Spinner” Spencer, who had been
time until less than a minute left of coffee. The whole team is sleeping Mickey had played with seven NHL sent to the AHL by the New York
the game. Chicoutimi tied the game by now and the second bus driver teams in the ‘60’s and early ‘70’s. Islanders. Spencer had a ten-year
up with less than a minute to go. I gets up from his spot at the back “We were in Johnstown, Pa., to play NHL career spending seasons
remember Graeme Nicolson shot of the bus and goes in too. The first the Jets,” Cam recalls, “Johnstown with the Maple Leaf’s, Penguins,
the puck from the point and it was driver comes back out and heads was always a tough place to play. Islanders, and Sabre’s. Describing
a scramble, and I got my stick on it down the highway. At 6:30 am he Before the game our coach was Brian Spenser, Cam said that, “Brian
and scored with two seconds left in pulls over to switch drivers, but there nowhere to be seen, our trainer was came with a reputation, and he was
the game. When we walked off the is no other driver. So back we go to giving pre-game instructions in the my roommate. Brian and I went out
ice Orval said great game to all the pick him up, three hours. We get to dressing room. I was starting at left- to dinner, and he asked me what got
players. I made sure I was the last Hampton at 11 am and I’m thinking wing, and out skates Larry Mickey me going, what got my juices flowing
one and he didn’t say anything. I that we will go to our hotel and get and he’s playing center. The puck and what got me into the game. I
just looked at him and said, “You’re some sleep, but we get dropped off is dropped, and Larry brings his told him, you may think this is crazy,
welcome.” He just shook his head at a mall and told that the bus will stick right up underneath the other but anytime that I get hit early in
and walked away. It was a long road be back for us at 5pm to take us to center’s chin, slicing him wide open the game, that gets me going.” The
trip because of a bad snowstorm. We the rink. Our team was so punchy – once again, another bench clearing next night we are playing the Nova
arrived back at the Civic Complex that they were fighting amongst brawl. At the end of the period Larry Scotia Voyageurs and it’s his first
6:30 am and Orval called the four of themselves in the dressing room. walks into the dressing room and game. During the warmup we’re
us into his office and said they were After the game we are taken to Taco said, “I just wanted to get you guys doing stops, turn, and go the other
not going to trade anyone. Bell, then back on the bus and drive to play as a team.” That was the way. I turned back and he came
all the way to Erie, Pa. We get there
The Buffalo Sabre’s chose Cam mentality in that league back then. barreling through cross-checking
with the 99th pick in the 1978 early in the morning, and we stay Realizing that he had to get out of me across the chest, I went flying,
at a hotel in the middle of nowhere.
NHL entry draft. In his first year We sat around Saturday most of the that league, Cam made a phone
in the Sabre’s organization Cam call to Hershey Bears GM Frank Continued on page 35