Page 23 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 14

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Presents... The Games Are Over,

The Memories Live On
RESTO-BAR

By Terry Tinkess John Chaffee, a Rebel Leader

here is a lot of responsibility that comes with
Tbeing involved as an organizer in minor
hockey or at the junior level, but there must
also be rewards as well. Why else would people
like John Chaffee devote so much of their life to
providing a place where so many could play?

Chaffee was one of the founding members of the
CharLan Rebels Junior “B” hockey team in 1979,
and the only one still remaining on the executive
when the team was sold to other local interests in
2011. He was also one of the founding members
of CharLan minor hockey when the Williamstown
arena was built in the mid-1970’s.
“I was on the executive then, and I got involved
in coaching and managing which is how I became
involved in the junior team in 1979,” says
Chaffee.
There most certainly are rewards to devoting
so much of your time to sports, according to
Chaffee.
“I made a lot of good friends through the years,”
says Chaffee, “parents and players. Many have
gone on to bigger and better things, gone on to
university. One, Kent Mcdonell who played for
us for half a year went on to play for Columbus There is a lot of work being a minor and junior hockey organizer, but according to John Chaffee,
of the NHL and now we’re good friends with the it’s worth it. Submitted photo.
family.”
doesn’t make it any easier. Being in a supportive consider when they put their plan into action.
There were also successes and the memories
community, however, does. Without grade 13, many young men end up leaving
that come with them for the team itself.
the area to go to college or university and never
“It was a job for us, as executive members to
“There was the year we won the Junior “B” have a chance to play at the junior level. There is

championship,” says Chaffee. “It was in 1986, find good sponsors to help carry the team till it
just seven years after we got the franchise. “It was got to the playoffs,” says Chaffee, “and a lot of also a lot more competition for the players who
a highlight because Alexandria had been in the the credit for the success to the sponsors that stuck remain in the game.
with us over the years and who were very faithful
league longer than us and they had never won it. “There’s more opportunity for them to go straight
There was always a strong rivalry between us and and helped us along. from minor hockey to Junior “A”, says Chaffee.
Alexandria.” “We tried to get as many local players as possible “When we started there was only eight Junior “A”
because we didn’t have the funds to go out and get

Then in 2002, the Rebels made it to the finals teams, so Junior “B” was very strong. The year
against the Ottawa West Golden Knights. “It went a lot of imports. We had to rely on Cornwall Minor we won it in 1986 we had a good enough team to
Hockey and CharLan Minor Hockey.”
seven games, and they were all so close, so exciting. compete with half the Junior “A” teams,
That was another great year we had. Of course we It seems to have worked. The Rebels are one
had players like (Brett) Liscomb and Todd Perry, team that rarely misses the playoffs. “Our defense was good, we had big forwards
both who have gone on to play pro hockey. Jason The hockey landscape at the Junior “B” level and guys who could score, and some of them were
Lepine, he was on the team and Brennan Barker with us for four or five years. Now kids leave early,

has changed a great deal since the CharLan Rebels
too. It was a really great year.” they might get one year or two years, if they’re
came into the league and someone thinking of
It costs money to run a team, even at the Junior starting a team today would face a number of going to Ottawa they might commute back and
“B” level, and being based in a small community challenges that Chaffee and his group didn’t even forth, but other than that, you lose them.

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