Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 73

32 Issue #73 December 2018 www.sportsenergynews.com

presents Then and Now:

Cornwall Colts Edition… Mauro DiPaolo

By Carrie Seguin to develop, to mature.”
From RPI, DiPaolo went to play
“I played one season with the Colts, in Halifax for the Mooseheads of the
and it was probably one of the best QJHL. “In hindsight, I wonder what
seasons of my entire hockey career,” might have happened had I stayed to
states Mauro DiPaolo about his time play with the Colts for two or even
with the Cornwall Junior A team. three more seasons. But Halifax was
DiPaolo, from Montreal, QC, good. I played some good hockey
tells about how he came to be with with some great players.”
the Colts team. “Frank Deegan was After playing junior hockey in
down watching Carmine Anoia play. Photo Submitted Halifax, DiPaolo returned to school,
We were with QMAAA’s Montreal attending Concordia University.
Bourassa at the time. While he was to say about my year with the team. There he played two seasons with
watching Carmine, I caught his eye. We had a great season. Playing at the Stingers, logging 35 games, 10

He liked my style of play. The next the Water Street arena (Si Miller) points, and 98 minutes in penalties.
thing you know, I am invited to the was awesome – it was a great hockey Following his time with the Photo Submitted
Colts team, and I’m playing with barn. We played in front of a packed Concordia, DiPaolo turned semi-pro
Carmine again!” house every game.” and joined the LaSalle Rapides, a family – I have a 10 month old and a
During his one and only season “The coaching staff and operations senior amateur hockey team which 2 ½ year old. They keep me and my
with Cornwall’s Junior A team, staff were fantastic,” continues played in the Quebec Semi-Pro wife busy! With real estate, you work
DiPaolo logged 50 games, tallying DiPaolo. “Wagar gave me my Hockey League. a lot of late evenings and weekends,
26 points (13 goals and 13 assists). nickname – High Tower. Dave “The best part about playing so when I do have down time, I enjoy
“I was a physical player. I fought a Murphy was always joking. Mike semi-pro is that you are still playing spending time with my family.
lot. I didn’t mind dropping the gloves Piquette always made sure we had hockey. You don’t play semi-pro That’s not to say that DiPaolo
and I didn’t back down. Even when I what we needed. Even the ladies in with aspirations of making it to the won’t find room for hockey in the
was younger. Even against the bigger the front office…I get choked up just big leagues. You are playing for love days and years to come. “There was a
boys.” DiPaolo logged 242 penalty thinking about these people.” of the game. Most players work at three year span where I helped coach
minutes that season (1995-1996). Following his year with the Colts, a job or career, and play hockey at AAA minor hockey as an assistant. I

“We had great players that year: DiPaolo attended RPI (Rensselaer the same time because they love it, liked it. Now I watch hockey games
Anoia, Meloche, Harrington, Polytechnic Institute), an NCAA because they enjoy getting together when I can, and I will gear up once
McDonell, Boisvert, so many good Division 1 school located in Troy, with the guys and competing. That’s in a while. But, my next hockey
players. In fact we sent a whole New York. There, he majored in why I played.” venture will be if and when my own
handful of players from that year management and technology. “I only DiPaolo played the 2001-02 boys strap on the skates.”
to D1 hockey the next season. We stayed with RPI for a season and a seasons with the Rapides. “One of Mauro DiPaolo describes himself
finished top of our division. We half. The coach and I didn’t see eye the downfalls of playing semi-pro, as a homebody. “I like kicking back
made it to the playoff finals. And to eye about how best to utilize me.” especially if you are a fighter like and watching hockey or football at
then we found ourselves down 3 About playing college level me, is that you are playing hockey the end of the day. I like my PS4.
games to none. But we turned things hockey, DiPaolo states, “The level of and working. If you are working in I enjoy spending time with my wife
around and won 4 straight. We took play, it’s like semi-professional. As a profession where you are meeting and my boys.” DiPaulo is pictured
the championship. Van Halen’s a freshman you’d be going against with clients and potential customers, with his wife, Christina, and his
“Right Here, Right Now” became our big guys, more mature players who you can’t walk in to a meeting with two sons, Thomas (10 months) and
theme song, our mantra” reminisces understood more about the game black eyes. And if you are working Gabriel (2 ½ years).
DiPaolo about the 95-96 season. because of their experience. It’s fast a physical job, like construction or Mauro DiPaolo played in five
That year, the Colts advanced to and strong hockey. The players that something, you risk getting hurt and leagues over the course of his hockey
the Fred Page Cup, favoured to win; come out of college hockey resemble not being able to work.” career. He came to the Cornwall Colts
however, the team didn’t manage to NHL-ready players because of the Now a real estate agent, DiPaolo following 2 seasons in the QMAAA
take the cup home. level of competition they’ve played. says playing hockey doesn’t fit into where he played with Montreal-
“I have nothing but good things They’ve had a chance to experience, his life right now. “I’ve started a Bourassa.