Page 21 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 16

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CORNWALL Presents... The Games Are Over,

TIRE The Memories Live On

SERVICE

Sport Community Loses Two of Its Best

By Terry Tinkess Royals had left town,” says Piquette.
“I coached with Mike Groulx at
he Cornwall sports community midget “AA” and he was thinking
Tis much poorer following the of bringing a team into town and he
recent loss of two members who asked me if I thought Don would be
were instrumental in its development interested in being involved. I set up
and growth. the meeting between them and they
actually went over to take a look at
Si Miller, 84 and Don Derry,
the Massena Americans.
68 both passed away on Saturday,
February 22, Miller at the St. “Don called me the day after the
Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre in meeting and said, “I just bought the
Cornwall and Derry at the Elizabeth Massena Americans!” He went on
Bruyère Centre in Ottawa. to tell he that he discovered that he
actually had shares in the team and
Both men made an impact on the
local sports community through didn’t know it. He had sponsored
their involvement and willingness Si Miller • 1930-2014 Don Derry • 1946-2014 them a couple years earlier and in
return they had given him some
to do more than they could ever
have been expected to do. While which at the time was known as coaching bantam “AA” hockey,” shares in the team. “
the Water St. arena. Si was always says Piquette. “I approached him to
both were known to many, they That was the beginning of it.
both, coincidently, had a personal accommodating to all the user groups be a sponsor. I remember having a He gave me an opportunity to be
relationship with Mike Piquette, who used all the city facilities. concern because his son was trying involved. I look back and I was with
the publisher of Sports Energy. His Even when Miller was away from out for the team and I said he might him for eight years. We had a great
memories are indicative of those work, he couldn’t seem to stay away want to hold off on the sponsorship working relationship and we had a
until the team was made because I
shared by many other players, from the arena. “He coached City lot of fun over the years and he cared
wasn’t going to take his son because
coaches, administrators, fans and Junior “B” (Jack Lee’s Leafs), he about the kids, which was number
parents as they reminisce. coached minor hockey. He coached of the sponsorship. I can remember one. He always had an eye on the
him laughing a bit and saying, “I
travelling teams when his son (Mark) players developing and getting
Piquette says his relationship with don’t sponsor teams so that my son
Miller started at a young age and was growing up and in the system. can make them. If you do a little scholarships. That was one thing
He was always at the rink.” he loved about the Central League
continued throughout their adult bit of investigating you’ll see that
lives. “I’ve known him since I was Miller was never one to seek the I sponsor two teams for Seaway is that we combined education with
a young boy,” he says. “Growing spotlight either. “You could say that Valley, three in Cornwall Minor hockey. He loved seeing kids get
up he was always at the Bob Turner. he was seen, but not heard,” says Hockey, a couple in CharLan …” scholarships.
As a parks and recreation manager Piquette. “Unless you had something As is the case with most

“That was my first meeting with
he was always involved in all the to discuss. He was a great ambassador organizations, when people leave,
Don and we became great friends
programming that was put on. As for the city. He knew when to fi ght other’s step in, and in fairness, years
over the years,” says Piquette. “I
a man he was always approachable for something and when to give in from now you could probably speak
have nothing but respect for the
and always friendly and a very good a bit to help something succeed. of them with the same reverence. If
man, he was a total gentleman and
role model to the kids at the Bob He was a very good person in that we do, we will know that it is well
Turner. role.” a totally community-minded person deserved, because Si Miller and Don
who always wanted to help people.”
“When I was older I had a lot of Piquette’s relationship with Don Derry have set the bar high
Derry is perhaps best remembered
dealings with him when I was with Derry began much later, but it was Sports Energy would like to
as the man who tried to fill the void

the Colts. I negotiated with him, no less memorable. He says he express its condolences to the friends
created when Cornwall lost its Jr.
along with Don Derry, to move the discovered very early the character and family of both men as they deal
“A” hockey team. “In 1992 the
Colts over to the Si Miller (arena), of the man. “I met Don when I was with their loss.
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