Page 25 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 22

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The Games are Over:

Anthony (Tony) Joseph: Hockey’s Life Lessons

By Derrick LoRusso Joseph remembers his first time manager of the Jets at the time and he turn supports the children locally.”
hitting the ice very fondly, “I told me that they had drafted me in Over the years, Joseph has seen
remember the equipment being either the fi fth round and they were excited a dramatic change in the sport of
way too big or too small. I was 11 to have me. I remember calling home hockey. But it’s not on the ice he’s
years old at the time and didn’t know immediately to tell my parents. It was worried about. “The biggest thing I’ve
any better, just that I loved playing another one of my dreams coming noticed is that hockey has gone from
hockey.” true.” being a winter sport to a year round
But for Joseph, none of his future Joseph has since retired from sport, and I’m not convinced it’s a
career could have been possible, professional hockey, hanging up his good thing especially at the younger
were it not for one person who he jersey in 1994, but he still hits the ice ages,” he says. “Everyone see’s
looks upon dearly, his father. “He form time to time. “I have two boys the enormous salaries professional
had a passion for hockey and sports who play and my wife and I just love athletes are making and want their
in general and got me involved in watching them play. I help out with child to be the next Sidney Crosby.”
many different sports growing up,” their teams from time to time and Joseph sees things differently for
Joseph says. “He always worked with will probably coach more as they get his sons, “I try and let my children
n a League of his Own
me, supported me and made sure that older,” he says. follow their own path to happiness
I The Cornwall Sports Hall of sports were fun.” After his retirement, Joseph did and give them guidance when I think
Fame is a place where legends are Joseph has been on many teams something not too many people saw they need it. I want them to play
forever enshrined for all generations
over his career, with so many teams coming. He became a police offi cer because they love it and not because
to see. Anthony Joseph played under his belt, it was still easy to of the local Cornwall Police Service. I want them to love it.”
professional hockey for many years,
pick what he personally says was his Joseph says it was something he In all, Hockey has been more
and recently became one of the favourite. “It would have to be my always saw doing, even before than a sport for Joseph, it has been
newest members to join the elite. time in Oshawa with the Generals,” he hung his skates up, thanks to a an opportunity to grow. “Hockey
Joseph tells us the thought hasn’t
he says. “I went there when I was 15 friend he grew up with who was on has given me so many opportunities
fully sunk in. “I received a call from years old and played there until I was the force. “When I fi nally hung up over the years for which I am very
Thom Racine and he told me that I
20.” For Joseph, it was the learning my skates I got serious about taking grateful,” he says. “I’ve travelled
was going to be inducted into the experience that made him choose the necessary steps to apply and the world, met incredible people and
Cornwall Sports Hall of Fame,” he this answer. “That’s an important fortunately I was hired in Cornwall become the person I am today, in
says. “He mentioned how proud my
time in your life when you do a lot in 1999,” Joseph says. Even in the part due to my experiences playing
father would have been (he passed of growing mentally, physically and law enforcement, there are fans and hockey.”
away in 2010) and that was basically
emotionally,” he says. “I met some people who recognize him. “Cornwall When asked what advice he can
the end of the conversation because I terrific people and made friendships being a small town, I probably knew give for someone to get into the sport,

got all choked up and couldn’t speak that have lasted my whole life.” At most of the guys when I started, so he gives some advice everyone could
anymore.”
the time, Oshawa had a rivalry with the transition was pretty smooth,” he learn from. “The best advice I can
Every hockey player has to the Peterborough Petes. “It was says. give anyone, whether it be hockey,
start somewhere, and for Joseph,
always interesting when those two Joseph is a member of the Cornwall another sport, or life in general is to
it was playing ball hockey on his teams got together and I believe the Police Association, where they make sure you enjoy what it is you
neighbourhood streets. “Most of the rivalry lives on today,” Joseph says. support the Max Keeping Foundation choose to do,” he says. “And when
kids back then were also playing
In 1988, a phone call would change fi ve years running. “The money is you fi nd what it is that you love to
Cornwall Minor Hockey and asked Joseph’s hockey career forever. “I used to help support kids who want do, make sure you do it to the best of
me why I wasn’t playing ice hockey,”
remember being in Oshawa the day of to play organized sports but whose your abilities and that way you will
he says. “I told my parents I wanted the [NHL] draft and getting a phone families might not be fi nancially never have any regrets.” Joseph ends
to play, we scrounged together some call. I answered the phone and it was capable,” he says. “I believe we with a quote he is very fond of, “‘You
used equipment and the next season
John Ferguson on the other end of the have raised in the neighbourhood of are the product of your choices, make
I was playing ice hockey at the Bob line,” he says. “He was the general $60,000 for the foundation, which in the right ones!’”
Turner.”

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