Page 38 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 61

38 December 2017 Issue #61 www.sportsenergynews.com

presents Then and Now:

Cornwall Colts Edition…Eric Lalonde

By Carrie Seguin teammates and coaches, the road trips
and times in the dressing room – these
Cornwall is a great hockey town,” are some of my best memories.”
“states former Cornwall Colt, Eric Following his stint with the Colts,
Lalonde. “My parents are from Cornwall, Lalonde played a season for the Kingston
and the first time I was on the skates, it Voyageurs of the Ontario Junior Hockey
was at the Civic Complex with my dad, League (OJHL).
Rob Lalonde. It’s pretty surreal to think
that that very same rink ended up being “Playing junior hockey helped me to
my home for two full seasons of junior believe in myself. I was never the best
hockey.” player on my team growing up. I always
had to work extra hard to get ice time or
Lalonde played with the Junior A Colts power play time. In the end, landing an
for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. opportunity to play junior hockey with
“Living away from home for the first the Colts proved to me that hard work
time, attending a new school (CCVS), really does pay off,” explains Lalonde.
making memories with new friends who
became more like family, the time I was After his junior career, Lalonde
able to spend with my grandparents attended the Royal Military College of
who were season ticket holders, my Canada (RMCC) in Kingston. “There, I

Lalonde currently works as a firefighter with the City of Kingston.
Photo Submitted

was fortunate to continue playing hockey while I was playing.”
as an RMCC Paladin in the CIS (Ontario
University Athletic Association).” After attending Lakeland College,
Lalonde took the opportunity to stay
Ironically, Lalonde continues to wear
Paladin colours, working as an assistant out west for a few more years, living
in Kelowna and Vancouver, BC. “I
coach for the RMCC team. “I really
enjoy being a part of the RMC team,” he took time to enjoy snowboarding at Big
White, boating throughout the Okanagan,
states.
and golfing on some of the most pristine
In addition to coaching the military courses in Canada.” Returning to his
college’s team, Lalonde presently works hometown of Kingston means time for
as a firefighter with the City of Kingston, Lalonde to reconnect with family and old
a career path he set for himself early on friends while concentrating on his career
in his teens. He credits his time with as a firefighter and coaching.
the Colts for the success he has had in
Lalonde appreciates the opportunity
attaining this goal. “After my time at he has to continue a life connected to the
RMC, I ventured out to Vermillion,
Alberta to attend Lakeland College hockey world. “I get to inspire young
athletes in the same way that my coaches
and pursue my dreams of becoming a
firefighter. Playing for the Colts gave me inspired me when I was a junior hockey
player,” he says. “I love mentoring young
the confidence and bravery I needed to
do this, to chase after my dreams. Junior athletes. My best advice to my players is
to imagine where it is they see themselves
hockey is a huge reason I am where I
am today. The leadership it taught me, as a part of their team, and in their
future. Then, work hard and challenge
the teamwork skills, the motivation to
succeed, the independence and maturity themselves; prove to themselves that
they can do it. And definitely enjoy every
it helped me develop… these are direct single minute while it lasts because it
Eric Lalonde played with the Junior A Cornwall Colts for two seasons. results from pushing myself to do better goes by fast.”
Photo Submitted

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