Page 22 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 31

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Best buddies Lace ‘em Up in Mattawa
By Todd Anderson
hile their playing styles
Wcouldn’t be any more different,
best friends Eric Verville and Brett
Ouderkirk share one common
passion, the game of hockey.
That passion brought both boys on
a four-hour drive down Highways
417 and 7, this past hockey season,
as they suited up with the Mattawa
Jr. Blackhawks. Recently returned
home, the boys reflected on their
time away. “I loved it,” says Verville,
an 18-year-old Moose Creek native.
“We were on the ice for 1 or 2 hours
each day and we played games
on the weekends. Our opponents home defenceman,” says Verville.
were far away so it was fun to go “I found that league (North Ontario
on road trips, in hotels, etc., with Junior Hockey League) to be a tough,
the boys. It’s an awesome hockey
attention
vmacdonald6@cogeco.ca
Please support our Advertisers, it’s a winning combination.
town. Everyone knows who you are grinding league. It fi t my style. My away from home,” says Verville. “I
and they all accept you. It was fun highlight from last year was during like experiencing new things and
getting to know the kids during team a rough game in Timmins. They meeting new people. We had guys
events.” always have a big crowd out there. from places like Alaska and Texas
When it started to get chippy, my on the team. We all grew very close
Ouderkirk, 17, from Monkland, coach gave me a nod and said ‘get to each other.”
shared many of the same sentiments.
out there’. I got into a fight, and I
“Overall, it was a great experience. Ouderkirk’s mother, Christine,
It was a lot of fun and I am thankful did well. The next thing you know, says it was tough to see her son
for the opportunity. It’s a real hockey all of Mattawa was talking about leave, especially on such short
community. They all came out to it.” notice, but she sees the benefits.
watch us play, they all loved us.” Ouderkirk, a forward, finished the “We heard about this opportunity
season with a bang. A late arrival on a Tuesday and he was gone on
When asked to describe to the team, Ourderkirk missed 13 the Sunday,” she recalls. “One of
themselves on the ice, both former
games of the season but still finished his buddies was there, so that made
Cornwall Colts draft picks have a
5th in club scoring, with 32 points it a little bit easier. It was a great
clear indication of their roles. in 39 games. Many of those points opportunity for him. The coach
“I’m more of a physical stay-at- came during a seven-game scoring they brought in really helped Brett
streak to close out the schedule. “I and he came back home much more
ended on a bit of a hot streak,” says mature.”
Ouderkirk. “I was kind of upset we
With their children playing as far
couldn’t keep going. As a rookie, it as eight hours away last season, both
Former Cornwall Royals Players was nice to have that kind of pressure families utilized the online service
on me to score. I like being one of
Fast Hockey to follow the team.
1971-1982 the go-to guys. I’m an offensive guy. Verville’s father, Denis, a big
I like to set up my teammates.”
hockey fan, didn’t miss a game.
The two friends were re-united in
After each game he would call his
Mattawa, after Verville approached
Wendy MacDonald club management about that son to reflect on the good and bad.
Eric says he loves those phone calls.
has a large collection possibility, when the team started to “Ever since I was young, we’ve
of photographs taken have players go down with injury. talked and he helps me figure out
Not only were they back together
things I need to fix. It’s always like
by her father Vernon on the ice, but the boys also lived that and I like it. Maybe he addresses
MacDonald. together with the same billet family things my coach might be too timid
Paskal and Tallya Indenbosch and
their kids Kowen and Kaydence. to talk about. It’s helped me reach
the level I have. We’ve always
If you played for “The GM called me and asked gone to hockey games together. It’s
the Royals between if I was interested in becoming a a great way to catch up.” The father
1971-1982, she may Blackhawk, it was very nice of Eric and son recently enjoyed a trip to
to get that going,” says Ouderkirk. Grand Rapids, Michigan where Eric
have photos of you. “Eric and I have been best friends was named to the all-star game after
forever, so it was a lot of fun. The a North American college prospects
To arrange to billets are a younger couple and they tournament.
treated us just like their own.”
obtain them (FREE) Verville started playing hockey
Verville added, “It was nice to be at age four with the NGS minor
contact Wendy. included in the big family dinners. hockey system. He played as a
613-933-4003 We got to meet their whole family. Brave until major atom, when he
Brett and I got into a few arguments, started with the Seaway Valley AA
but we’re good buddies and were Rapids. When he was in his second
both easy-going guys.” As for the year of midget, two seasons ago,
time away from home ... “I’m the he joined the Alexandria Junior B
type of guy who doesn’t mind living Continued to page 27