Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 74

32 Issue #74 January 2019 www.sportsenergynews.com

presents Then and Now:

Cornwall Colts Edition… Marc Lamontagne

By Carrie Seguin English and I didn’t fit in. In Cornwall, Colts. People had a hard time saying
I was able to pick up the English, which my name and they would cut it short.”
I wanted to do, and still fit in. Plus, Lamont Productions Inc. has
when you play hockey in Cornwall, provided the stage sets for productions
you tend to get noticed. People come such as Oliver, Mary Poppins, and
out to watch you play because you are Beauty and the Beast for theatres across
close to a lot of NCAA schools.” New Brunswick. “My experience
Lamontagne played three seasons in construction during summer jobs
with the Junior A team, from 1993/94-
as a student helps me with my sets.”
1995/96. In total, he logged 133
Lamontagne also acts, sings, and plays
games and 152 points. The team won
guitar. He performs in talent shows,
Photo Submitted the league title twice in that time, competitions, and concerts in eastern
earning them a spot at the Fred Page Photo Submitted
“The story of how I came to play Cup tournament. “Unfortunately, we Canada. He has also played parts in
with the Colts is an interesting one,” didn’t win either time. But, we were captain called me and said I needed to CBC Radio Canada shows and mini-
explains Marc Lamontagne, former a good team, a strong team. We had go back and play hockey with them. series like Le Clan, Le Siege, and Le
Cornwall Colts’ player. “I had moved Burgess, and Boisvert, Meloche, and So I did.” divan du monde.
to Manitoba because I wanted to learn Mackisoc, Anoia. We were a solid Lamontagne returned to New “I didn’t know what to study when I
English. I was to play with the Flyers squad.” Brunswick and rejoined the university went to school. I talked to a counsellor
out of Winkler. I was considered a top It was at the Fred Page Cup that team for three seasons, from 2000/01 and he asked me what I liked to do.
player, but I ended up being a healthy the Université de Moncton, Canada’s to 2002/03. “I still see my old I told him I like to sing in bars and
scratch in the first game of the season. largest French-language university teammates a lot of time. Many live perform. He told me I should study
Then, at a team party, I got into an outside of Quebec, set sights on east because they married east coast music, but they only offered classical
altercation with the coach’s son, and I Lamontagne. “They asked me to go girls and settled down. We’ve built training at the school; so I studied
was benched from playing. I asked to and play. I moved to New Brunswick a family together and we get together drama instead. I was the only hockey
be traded, and I was put on the waivers in 1996 and became a Blue Eagle.” often.” player studying drama - you don’t see
list. Thirteen teams asked me to play “I didn’t stay at the school long. Lamontagne currently lives in New that too often! I never thought I’d be
for them but I said no. I had another The coach and I didn’t see eye-to- Brunswick. “Moncton reminds me a doing this as my life, but I am glad I
plan.” eye on many things. So, I took off lot of Cornwall, actually. It’s a small do. I have such a great time.”
Lamontagne’s plan was to move to Tulsa Oklahoma where I played city that keeps growing. It’s bilingual.
back home to Montreal and to play with the Oilers for 16 games. Then The city has lots to offer but without Lamontagne enjoys singing
for the Cornwall Colts. “When I was I was traded to the worst team in the the stress of the big cities like Toronto and playing guitar, performing in
younger, I had a cousin who played for league. But guess what…we ended up or Montreal. You don’t get stuck in competitions and concerts. He also
the team when they were the Massena winning the league championship!” traffic here too often!” he quips. acts. Lamontagne is pictured in his
Americans. I knew they were a good chuckles Lamontagne. Interestingly, playing hockey role as Joe in the French dramatic
team. I wanted to play for them.” After playing in Tulsa, Lamontagne doesn’t fit into Lamontagne’s life series, Le Clan.
Originally, the agreement was for moved on to Flint Michigan to play any longer. “During my last year Lamontagne’s business creates
Lamontagne to practice with the team with the Generals. “I got injured of university, I was re-injured and I about 4-6 set designs per year. Lamont
with the possibility of being signed the in exhibition and ended up needing required many surgeries to repair the Productions Inc. has recently created
following season, but things worked surgery and so I couldn’t play. I was injury. I can’t play without pain now. the set for Noel au Saloon, a theatre
out much more quickly. “After my let go. Hockey is a business. The I would love to play, but I suffer for production at Le pays de la Sagouine
first practice, I didn’t even make it coach couldn’t keep me if I wasn’t too long after. I had to hang up my in Bouctouche, NB.
back to the locker room. The coach able to play. I took the next year-and- skates.” Dominique (7 yrs) and Hugo (5
called me in and told me to sign the a-half off.” Lamontagne is too busy for hockey yrs.), Lamontagne’s son and daughter.
contract so I could start playing with During his time off for recovery, anyway. He runs his own theatre set “Hugo is starting hockey. Once he gets
the team right away.” Lamontagne’s old U of Moncton team design company, Lamont Productions older, I can see myself coaching if I’m
Lamontagne was happy to play ended up losing in the championships. Inc. “Lamont is actually a nickname needed. My daughter dances and she
junior hockey out of Cornwall. “I “I kept in touch with some of the that comes from my hockey days. smiles the whole time she dances.”
could be closer to my family. It was players at Moncton after I left. The Burgess and Mackisoc started calling Photos on page 33
lonely in Manitoba. I didn’t speak any me that when I was playing with the