Page 52 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 130

52 Issue #130 November 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

Lalonde Brothers: Sibling Referees

By Casey Leger team out of the Cornwall Curling
Centre. He recently returned from
ong Sault’s seventeen (soon a curling tournament in Hamilton
Lto be eighteen) year-old Owen where his team played sixteen of
Lalonde and his fifteen-year-old the best U18 teams in Ontario and
brother Sean are fixtures with the ended up losing in the semi- finals.
South Stormont Minor Hockey Their goal this year is to make the
Association. According to their provincials.
father, Denis, from a young age Both of the Lalonde boys also
Owen would constantly raise his arm enjoy fishing. They also plan to keep
and call penalties from the players’ officiating. For Owen, it’s a great side
bench at his minor hockey games. job and great exercise. For Sean, the
Living within walking distance from scheduling works well with his busy
the arena and being able to schedule curling schedule. As for the future,
his availability around his hockey Sean still has lots of time to change
schedule, made it a great choice for a his mind, but civil engineering is his
part time job. career path.
“Sean just followed in big brother’s The boys say they both love hockey
footsteps,” Denis explains. “During and get to work in some great hockey
their first game officiating together, games and see some pretty good
Mom and Dad warned them that plays. It’s rewarding, it pays fairly
they better not start arguing during well, and they can schedule their
the game. Thankfully, they save their availability around their other sports.
sibling arguments for at home.”
Not making mistakes ranks among
Owen graduated from École their biggest officiating challenges.
Secondaire l’Héritage in June and They agree the HEO’s green armband
is currently apprenticing at Benoit initiative, which identifies officials
Electric. He also recently “graduated” under the age of eighteen, has been
from minor hockey and has started great at protecting young officials
playing as a spare in men’s rec league from too much criticism. The cold
hockey, and he’s really enjoying it. hands are probably the worst part by
He also golfs. far, Owen feels.
Sean is in grade 10 at École On a final note, this past weekend,
Secondaire l’Héritage, and when Owen and Sean’s cousin, Alyssa
he’s not in school or officiating, he’s Richie, worked her first game as an
playing his first year of U18 hockey official. Owen got to be the referee for
for the South Stormont Selects. He that game. Owen, Sean, and Alyssa Photo Submitted
is also an avid and talented curler, look forward to possibly working a
according to his father, playing third game together later this season.
for Team Wright - a competitive U18
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