Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 71

32 Issue #71 October 2018 www.sportsenergynews.com

presents Then and Now:

Cornwall Colts Edition…Kyle Flanagan

and 24 assists). Looking back at his Flyers’ expansion squad out of Glen
By Carrie Seguin
time with the Junior A team, Flanagan Falls, NY. Flanagan played with the
feels that his time with the Colts was Phantoms for two seasons.

valuable time spent. “Playing for Following his time with the
the Colts helped me in my hockey expansion franchise, Flanagan
career. It helped my experience as travelled to Sweden where he played
a player since I was playing against for MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik
older, stronger players. I learned a of the Swedish Hockey League
lot about the game, on and off the ice, for one season. “I’m thankful
from the coaches who had all played for the opportunity to experience
at the high levels of hockey that I was hockey overseas, in Sweden. I got
aspiring to.” to experience life in the Swedish
Playing higher levels of hockey is culture. I made countless memories
exactly what Flanagan did following while being overseas.” Photos Submitted
his three year Junior A hockey Returning from Sweden in 2015, with Ottawa’s organization, who I
career. He played college hockey Flanagan then accepted an invite to played for over the past three seasons
for St. Lawrence University’s D1 the Stockton Heat’s training camp. with their AHL team. My territory
team for 4 seasons. While earning a The Heat’s parent team is the Calgary includes primarily the OHL, CCHL,
degree in communications, Flanagan Flames of the NHL. He signed with OJHL in Ontario, and I will also
ight hockey teams, spanning played 134 games, racking up 127 the Adirondack Thunder, an affiliate spend time viewing the QMJHL and
Esix leagues - Kyle Flanagan points. “Playing hockey at SLU team within the ECHL. In that same NCAA prospects.”
has played in a lot of different rinks was one of my favorite experiences. year, Flanagan found himself back in
From the Cornwall Colts to now,
and skated on countless ice surfaces St. Lawrence is a small school in a the AHL playing for the Binghamton
Flanagan’s hockey journey has
during his hockey career. This small community with a loyal fan Senators (who later moved to
taken him to many places and great
includes playing for the Junior A base. There were a lot of students Belleville, Ontario). He played with
heights. During all of it, what is
Cornwall Colts at the Si Miller arena who went to the games that were in the Ottawa Senator’s AHL team for
his favourite memory? “My most
in Cornwall. “When I think of my your class and who you also saw out two years.
treasured hockey memory is playing
time with the Colts, I quickly think on the weekends and enjoyed a beer At the end of the 2017-18 season, with my older brother, Sean in our
of my time playing in the old arena, or two with. It made for some great Flanagan announced his retirement first game together at St. Lawrence.
the Si Miller. It was the last year the times.” from professional hockey, indicating As a kid that was my biggest dream,
team played there. The atmosphere In his final year of NCAA hockey, an interest in staying involved with to play at St. Lawrence alongside
was amazing. It felt like the fans Flanagan was selected to play on the hockey. “Hockey has helped me learn my brother. Everything else I’ve
were right on top of you, right there First Team at the 2012-13 ECAC All- a great number of lessons throughout gotten to experience after that is just
on the ice.” Conference Tournament, held at the my career, and I feel there are plenty a bonus.”
Flanagan played with the Colts end of each regular season. Coaches more to be learned, whether that be Flanagan is an avid outdoorsman.
during the 2006-2007 season, his first of conference teams vote for players through coaching, scouting, or skill He spends most of his free time hiking
in the CJHL. “What brought me to to play on one of 4 tournament development.” and fishing in the forested areas and
play for the Colts was the coaching squads: the First, Second, Third, or It hasn’t taken long for Flanagan rivers of the North Country. Goose,
staff, the people surrounding the Rookie Team.
to settle into a new hockey role. his dog, is usually by Flanagan’s side.
team, and the proximity to home. In March of his final year of Just recently, he joined the Ottawa
The Colts organization was a great college hockey, Flanagan signed Senators scouting staff as an amateur Flanagan’s hockey career, which
one to play for.” began with the Cornwall Colts in
an entry level contract with the scout. “I am excited to start this 2006-07, saw him play with affiliate
During his time with the Colts Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. new role in my hockey career. It teams to the Philadelphia Flyers,
team, the left-handed winger played This landed him a spot on the AHL’s will keep me involved in hockey the Calgary Flames, and the Ottawa
44 games, tallying 42 points (18 goals Adirondack Phantoms roster, the along with continuing a relationship Senators.