Page 8 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 18

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Presents...Then and Now

Cornwall Royals Edition ... Larry Gabri

By Ashley March National Hockey League teams,”
recalls Gabri. “Places to play
he 1960’s were an exciting professionally were very limited.
Tand prosperous time for the Not like it is today.” Seeing his
city of Cornwall. The city was options dwindling, Gabri turned
starting to come into its own and his attention to another aspect of
you could say the same for the the game: coaching. Beginning
area’s hockey scene. The efforts his coaching career in the 1974-75
of the Cornwall Royals came to season, the job behind the bench
fruition during this decade, and saw Gabri take local teams right
their battles would grasp the city’s across the country culminating
attention and love of the game. in valuable experiences for both

Larry Gabri started his him and his players. “I wasn’t a
hockey career in the Montreal hard coach. I demanded a certain
Metropolitan Junior League. kind of conduct and I was fair,”
Later, when Cornwall successfully says Gabri. “I was always one
put together a junior team of their the players could come to with
own, he welcomed a chance to cut anything.” Many young athletes
down on some of the travel and had the chance to cross Gabri’s
play hockey at home. Gabri joined path and he’s forever grateful.
the Royals squad in its infancy Players he’s had a hand in
when they were playing out of coaching have gone on to become

what was the Central Junior “A” police officers, doctors, university
Hockey League. His time with the professors and more. “I hope I
Royals saw him capture a CJHL played a small part in shaping the
championship and then go on to directions they chose.”
play against the Halifax Canadians The love of hockey didn’t stop
on their trek to compete for the with Larry Gabri though. In the
Memorial Cup play downs but 1970’s, Gabri coached his son
unfortunately they lost to Halifax Kevin and led them to a fi rst
after a home and home series. ever appearance of a Cornwall Larry Gabri devoted much of his life to the game of hockey, and says
he was happy to make a difference in the lives of young athletes.
Gabri had nothing but good team with the Royals name in the Submitted photo.
things to say about his playing Quebec City Invitational Pee Wee
career with the Royals. “We were Tournament. In the early 1990’s commitment by Gabri ended up Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
a very successful team. We had Gabri decided to coach his other surpassing 25 years. He served on
the right players in place.” Not son, Craig. “The opportunity the executive board of the Cornwall Gabri says the memories he
one of the bigger players, Gabri to coach my sons was a great Minor Hockey Association has will last a lifetime. “A couple
says his skills were utilized in moment for our family,” said (CMHA) for over a decade and weeks ago, an old player of mine
other areas on the ice. “I made up Gabri. Craig went on to obtain a has been in many roles including stopped me on the street,” says
for my lack of size with my speed degree in Mechanical Engineering coaching, managing and a part of Gabri. “He stopped to thank me

and finesse,” he says. at Queen’s University in Kingston, the executive staff. In recognition for ‘teaching us how to win’ both
Ontario. “I don’t regret it,” said on and off the ice. That right there
Professional hockey itself was of his monumental contributions
Gabri. “I’m glad I got that chance is my proudest accomplishment;
not the massively popular product to coach both.” to hockey in the City of Cornwall, knowing I made a difference in
it is today. “You have to remember, the city honoured his efforts by those athletes’ young lives.”
back then there were only six What started as a three-year inducting Gabri into the Cornwall

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