Page 27 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 128

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #128 September 2023 27

Visions Cabinetry
isions Cabinetry
V

Michael Valade • Shane Caskenette
visionscabinetry@gmail.com
613-577-0429 613-551-8105
Continued from page 26 was nineteen and in his final year Cornwall Hubs and they had a few took it up the ice as far as their blue
the team was eliminated in the very good defensemen that I was line and then circled back - as I got
the franchise owner and everyone quarterfinals of the Memorial Cup able to learn from as well.” Gerry near their bench they were yelling
‘played for Red.’ I only weighed in Halifax. Desjardin, who played right wing “Get that old ******.” I was tired
about 140 lbs. at the time, but I on Bobs line with the Royals, was out by then, so I threw it over to
survived - I guess they had to catch After the Royals Bob played some now playing with the Hubs and Billy McNally and he dumped it
with an Ingleside team sponsored
me first.” had also transitioned to playing in. We beat them 2-0 and won the
by RC Paints and followed that
A smooth skating left winger, up by playing another three years defense. “Gerry was a right winger tournament.” Bob started playing
Bob was often described as being with Berwick in a North Stormont now playing left defense and I had with the Hubs at 25 years of age
the fastest player on the ice. In his League playing out of the Finch been a left winger and was now and was 71 when he played in
second season with the Royals, Arena. He played two years with playing right defense. We played his last tournament with the team.
Bob and Gerry Lemire were the Stormont County-men, a team a Russian team that had some left “Moe Lemieux ran the Hubs and he
offered a tryout with the Toronto sponsored by Barry Brownlee. shot defensemen playing on the helped a lot of people, pros, Semi-
Marlborough’s.” They had just “The County-men were a diverse right side and I watched how they pros, Jr’s, Jr B’s - twice a week we
won the Memorial Cup and about team,” Bob said, “We had a couple played. Once you learn to think practiced and we couldn’t wait to
all they needed was a right winger, of lawyers, some teachers, factory the game differently, playing on get there. We played tournaments
and they were a very heavy team workers, and several farmers - your offside has some definite most weekends. One year I think
averaging close to 200lbs.” Bob we had a good team, and we won advantages. I often felt that I had we were gone every weekend
said, “Gerry played defense and a tournament once, beating the wasted my time playing left wing from the fall through March. Bob
I was a LW - it was quite the Cornwall Hubs in the final.” Bob for all those years.” mentioned that in his 60 plus years
experience. I hadn’t had a hockey also played one year of Intermediate Bob continued to make use of of playing hockey he never wore
stick in my hands all summer and A hockey in Rigaud Qc., where his skating ability while playing shoulder pads. “Maybe I should
just after I stepped on the ice, I got his team played the entire season defense, recalling one game have worn them,” he said, “I had
run into the boards like it was Game without ever losing a game. in particular. ‘’We were in a to have a shoulder replaced. I tried
7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, that’s them once and didn’t like the way
just the way it was in training camp. Employed at Domtar, Bob tournament in Williamstown that they felt so I never wore them.”
We stayed in the camp for about began playing with his co-workers had some tough competition. Char- Bobs quick acceleration, fluid
ten days. Jim Gregory, the Marlies in the mill’s interdepartmental Lan had a stacked team that had skating, and keen hockey sense
coach, wanted us to stay longer as league. Some of the other teams several OHA players including seemingly allowed him to control
other OHA teams were scouting complained about Bob playing in Dougie Gilmour and Todd Gill. a hockey game at will. During the
the Marlies and he thought chances that league, so he offered to switch They were on the other side from us, forty-six years that he played with
were good that someone would to defense from left wing, the and they were slaughtering every the Hubs, Bob often won either the
position he had always played. team they played, and we were
want to make a trade for us. The Best Defenseman or MVP award at
Marlies had an exhibition game “Well, I started to play defense just making it through on our side. the numerous tournaments that the
against the Montreal Jr. Canadiens and that’s where I really learned The Hubs had a good team as well team entered.
in Cornwall coming up. He wanted about the game, watching what was and we had picked up a couple of
us to remain with the team until the going on when I was on the ice,” semi-pros for the tournament. We On August 11th, 2023, Bob
game in Cornwall, but we decided Bob stated. “I started practicing met them in the final and it was a Deschamps was inducted into the
to come back to the Royals.” Bob twice weekly and playing in tight game. We had to kill a penalty South Stormont Sports Hall of
played with the Royals until he Old-timer tournaments with the and I picked the puck up in our end Fame.