Page 27 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 131

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #131 December 2023 27

V isions Cabinetry
Visions Cabinetry

Michael Valade • Shane Caskenette
visionscabinetry@gmail.com
613-577-0429 613-551-8105
Continued from page 26 so I ended up moving into his home hockey, not putting the pads back on resigned from the Cornwall Colts,
and helped him recruit players for the again until he was in his forties. After was brought in as Marketing and
held at Maple Leaf Gardens and was
Nationals. We had a desperate team earning his journeyman’s license Business Manager. In Mike’s second
won 6-3 by St. Catherines. When the
that first year,” Gord reminisced. “Our and spending eleven years gaining year he became the GM. Chris Byrne
FLQ made threats against Black Hawk coach had played in the East Coast experience in the trade, Gord formed (now with the LA Kings,) was hired
players, the team refused to return to League which was just like something Black Electric in 1985. The company as coach. Mike brought Bill Murphy
Quebec City and forfeited the series. out of the movie Slapshot. One night in specialized in providing services in as Head Scout. “Bill did the same
The Ramparts then went on to win the Nepean a line brawl broke out and one to facilities where having a power thing with the Raiders that he had done
Memorial Cup.
of our players was getting pounded, interruption was not an option, such as for the teams that he had scouted for
Gord spent the ‘71-‘72 season with so he goes out onto the ice and starts hospitals. The Canadian government previously,” Piquette said. “He found
the Black Hawks, developing his skills beating up their player. A parent comes was their largest employer, with Black the players to win. Bill Murphy had
as a seventeen-year-old third string out of the stands, and he assaults him Electric doing work in embassies all the uncanny ability to assess hockey
goalie. Wanting to return to Ottawa, as well. He was taken off the ice in over the world. They also spent a few talent and character.” The Raiders had
Gord got permission to play exhibition handcuffs and later given a lifetime years with CSIS, working out of the gone twenty-two years without ever
games with the ‘67’s, but when a ban from arenas. We went back home American compound in Afghanistan. reaching the league final - during the
trade couldn’t be made, the only way and are now looking for a coach. I told Black Electric grew to forty employees ten years that Gord owned the team,
he could obtain a release from St. Jean-Mark about a guy that I know with around thirty-five of them being they reached the finals on five straight
Catherine’s was to jump leagues. Gord from Shawville that had once coached electricians. “I surrounded myself seasons. In 2003-’04, and again in
began the season with the Cornwall Pembroke in our league but had been with really good people and that ‘04-’05, they were league champions.
Royals playing in the QJMHL but tore let go following an ownership change. was a large part of what made the “The year that we won the Fred Page
a knee ligament early in the season. His name was Bryan Murray, and he company successful. I liked to hire Cup we had won the CJHL and went
When it healed, Gord went back to was working in his sporting goods country kids and hockey players as to Valleyfield and played the host team
the OHL to play a few games with store in Shawville. Bryan came down, apprentices because most of them had in the first game. We lost 6-0 and the
the London Knights, then returned to he was hired right away, and brought the dedication, commitment, and work game wasn’t even close. The fans were
Cornwall before the trade deadline in structure and vast improvement to the ethic that was needed to be successful loud and rude, someone asked me,
January to finish the season with the team. Bryan was a teacher and that’s in the trade.” “Are you guys really the best team in
Royals. The season ended with a game where his roots were, playing my final When the Ottawa Senators came to Ontario?” I told him that we brought
7 loss to the Quebec Ramparts in the season of Jr hockey for him was really town in 1992, they had to play the first what we had, but we didn’t seem as
QJMHL finals. Gord was backing up special.” few seasons at the Civic Center before strong as they were.” The Raiders
Mario Vien, who would later go on to Bryan Murray, as we know, went on the Palladium (Canadian Tire Center) ended up playing the host team in the
win the MVP award in the QMJHL. round robin final, winning 5-0. The
to become an NHL head coach and later would be finished. Black Electric did
During his time with the Royals Gord a GM, spending time with Washington, the electrical fit ups at the Civic Center Fred Page Cup was to be presented by
had met and become friends with Jean- Detroit, Florida, and Anaheim, before that would be required for NHL hockey. a local celebrity who was also a player
agent, Gord recalled, “He disappeared,
Marc Lalonde, who was starting the Jr A joining the Ottawa Senators in 2005. Gord had Senator season tickets right and they just handed us the trophy, they
Rockland Nationals, which would have There were five boys and five girls in from the beginning until he retired and were pretty embarrassed, and I can still
a connection with Cornwall. Gord had the Murray family and growing up in began spending the winter months in see the smile on Bill Murphy’s face.”
the option to return to the Royals but Shawville, Gord had gotten to know Florida. When Chris Byrne left the Raiders
had started an electrical apprenticeship every one of them. “Bryan and I went In 1999 Gord purchased the Nepean in 2006 for a coaching position with
with an Ottawa business and Rockland on to become very good friends,” Gord Raiders Hockey team which played in the Ottawa ‘67’s, Rob Black became
was closer to his job. Gord joined stated, “we had cottages on the same the CJHL. Taking the same approach the youngest GM in Jr. Hockey at age
the Nationals for their initial season lake, and we went up north on fishing with the Raiders as he had with Black twenty-one.
and his final season of Junior hockey. trips several times.” Following Junior, Electric, he surrounded himself with
“Jean-Marc had become a good friend, Gord took a twenty-year break from
good people. Mike Piquette, who had Continued on page 38