Page 33 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 62

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #62 January 2018 33

Cornwall is Not a Hockey Town

enough to say that “those Nationals are
Letter to the Editor OHL team or AHL team more people would form associated with the previous team that everywhere, they really give back to this
support hockey but we, as a collective, have resided in the Complex before us and as a community so much”. It is no longer enough
here are still so many people in this city proven years ago that this is not the case. In a developmental league, any single person that to see what we are doing and sit back and
Tthat claim Cornwall as a central hub for city of almost 50,000 people there is a small has seen a Nationals game can tell you it’s hope that other people will support the team.
hockey and all of its related activities, calling pocket of under 1000 people that really truly the best hockey this city has seen in ages. It is now up to each individual in this city
our community of 47,000 people a hockey give a damn about supporting hockey in this But you wouldn’t know that because to make a decision as to the importance of
town. I was one of them for a long while, city. you don’t support hockey in this city. No hockey in our town.
as I knew Cornwall from ice-level. I played Cornwall currently has an FHL team, the one, besides a small percentage of people, So, I ask again. What is your excuse? If
girls’ hockey my whole life; I was a proud Cornwall Nationals, to watch and support and does. So, I ask, what is your true excuse? you don’t have a valid one then I suggest
Cornwall Typhoon and represented our city I’m often left scratching my head wondering It can’t be our on-ice product, as we sit you make your way to the Cornwall Civic
for years. I also remember the fun I had at why our average attendance sits at below first in the league. It sure as heck can’t be Complex and start supporting a team that
Aces games when I was just a kid and I can 1000, with some games bringing in only 500 our off-ice product as in just one year we can’t continue to sit back and pray that our
attest that high school wouldn’t have been as fans. In case you didn’t know, the Federal have been involved with more than 30 town’s mentality will change. If you want
fun without Thursday night Colts games. Hockey League is a professional minor A different organizations, raised thousands of Cornwall to be respectfully thought of as
But things have shifted and since returning team that feeds into the ECHL, which feeds dollars for charity, been involved in both hockey town then a shift must happen and
home just two years ago, it is clear that the AHL. elementary and high school initiatives and you, as one person reading this editorial,
Cornwall is no longer a hockey town. The The Cornwall Nationals are not “the helped anyone who has asked for it. We have can be part of that movement. In this case
Royals are long gone but remain an ever- new River Kings”. The Cornwall Nationals thrown ourselves at this city, passionately one person can make a difference, will that
present ghost, convincing people that this are not “staged fighting like the River and furiously, and unfortunately, citizens of person be you?
city is still capable of housing higher caliber Kings”. The Cornwall Nationals are not “a this town have not done the same. Shannon Ferguson
hockey. It is not. Semi-Pro team like the River Kings”. The It is no longer enough to tell me that “our Sales & Marketing Manager, Cornwall
There are whines and cries that if we had an Cornwall Nationals are in no way, shape or marketing has been great”. It is no longer Nationals

Brought to you by Rookez-Edge Brought to you by East Side Mario’s
Rookie of the Month The Budda Player of the Month

Ian Edgar Boom Madison Grant

Grade: 8 Age: 16
School: St Anne’s Hometown: Cornwall, currently residing in
Age: 13 Langford, BC
Hometown: Cornwall School: Belmont Secondary School
Ian Edgar, January’s Rookie of the Month, Grade: 11
was a call-up for the U14 Blazers soccer Despite relocating to Langford, British
team last season at the Regional level. Columbia, and training for international
A goal keeper, this grade 8 student was competition in 7s rugby, Maddy Grant still calls
noticed by the team coaching staff and Cornwall home. Luckily, she gets to spend
three weeks over Christmas and New Year’s in
invited to come out to training. He played a place she says she misses very much: “It’s
a few games for Coach Yvon Plourde. nice to be surrounded by familiar faces. It’s
This season, Ian will graduate to hardened nice to be home.”
veteran, having made the team, which is She might be missing Cornwall, but things are going well for this young athlete
currently training indoors. This is his third season playing soccer. ‘out west’. “I want to play for my country,” says Maddy. She’s indifferent as to
“Playing for the Blazers is a great experience,” says Ian. “It’s fun.
whether that chance comes at the U18 level or at the Olympics: It’s all the same
Everyone knows what they’re doing, and everyone gets along.” to her, as long as she makes to the show.
And the best thing about training in BC? “The weather,” she says.
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