Page 28 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 124

28 Issue #124 May 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

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Royals the following season and while he was playing. Blake, I, and it.” Mike applied himself in River
coaching the Brockville Braves, that’s where his career really took a couple of the other guys spent Falls and things worked out very
brought Mike, Chris Nichol, and off.” The accommodation that an entire week painting the inside well for him there. He graduated
Paul Marshall in to play for the Mike and John Murphy shared was of the house, drinking Old Vienna with a Bachelor of Education with
Braves. The team played their somewhat less than conventional. beers with Bobby, and listening to a Coaching minor. The hockey was
home games out of the Brockville “The Bulls equipment manager was some great hockey stories, - what good as well and the university
Memorial Arena, but on January 23, a mortician,” Mike explained, “The a special and unique experience of Wisconsin River Falls won the
1978, the roof collapsed following owner of the funeral home where he that was.” In 1980, Mike’s second Division 3 National Championship
a snowstorm and the Braves worked was a huge hockey fan and year in Belleville, the Bulls went in 1983. Mike graduated in 1985
finished the season in Cardinal. The we were living on the third floor to the Centennial Cup, losing to and during the summer he was a
following year Mike, Chris Nichol, of this big old historic building the Prince Albert Raiders who had groomsman in a wedding party for
Paul Marshal, Gerry Ingram, Dave that had a winding staircase that several future NHL players on a former Belleville Bulls teammate
Ezard, Mike LeBlanc, and Brian went all the way up to the third the team. Following Junior, Mike John Mowat. John was from
Fontaine joined the Belleville Bulls floor. Between 9am and 9pm were was recruited by the University of Brantford, Ontario, and had been
for the team’s initial season. “The when they had visitations and Wisconsin, River Falls Division 3 best friends with Wayne Gretzky
Royals wouldn’t let Ezay go, so during those hours, we had to make NCHA at the time. Mike explains growing up. “Wayne was in the
he had to go back to Cornwall, but ourselves scarce, but after 9pm we how that came about, “Back then wedding party as well and we all
the rest of us all made the team,” owned the building.” Blake Hull, there was no ACT and my high spent a week hanging out together
Mike recalls. “Dougie Gilmour the youngest Hull brother, was also school grades were less than in Columbus, Ohio. I had a photo
came out to the team as a sixteen a teammate of Mikes in Belleville. adequate to get accepted into a taken of Wayne and I in our tux’s
yr. old, and may have weighed a “Blake’s father Bobby had just university. The key was that they and had that put on Christmas cards
buck fifty at most, and when we retired from playing in Hartford and were after Belleville Bulls Captain that I sent out to my friends that
first saw him, we wondered what was moving back into his house on John Murphy, who was my best year from “The Great Ones.” Mike
he was doing on the ice with us. the bay near Demorestville, a small friend. They figured that if they got met numerous hockey people that
Dougie went to the Cornwall town just outside of Belleville, me as well, that John would come. week, saying that “one of the guys
which his parents had resided in The next thing I knew I was on a that I met was going to attend Ohio
plane to River Falls, Wisconsin. I University on a full scholarship,
Match Your Area Knowledge wasn’t really sure where Wisconsin which was part of the university
was, and I doubt if I could even Athletic Administration program.
Play Thom’s Trivia have spelled River Falls correctly There were eight scholarships
at the time. I remember when I left available for the hockey team and
1Q) In May of 1962 what team did Doug Hall, my dad told me to “Have a nice those players were responsible

Si Miller, and Bud Lalonde oversee? trip, we will see you in a month.” for running the team. I got one of
It was John Murphy who didn’t last the scholarships and was a player/
2Q) During the 1966 North End Fastball league in Wisconsin. “After a few weeks, coach. There was a player /GM,

season who were known as the Wharfmen? Murph decided that school wasn’t a player / marketing, etc. It was
for him,” Mike said, “He left school, a unique situation that earned us
3Q) What was announced in Calgary on May
got a tryout with the Pittsburg credits towards our Master of
24, 1969? Penguins and they were then stuck Athletic Administration degree.
Page 53 for Answers
with me, and I made a career out of Continued on page 30