Page 32 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 75

32 Issue #75 February 2019
presents Then and Now:
Cornwall Colts Edition… Mike Bushaw
By Carrie Seguin
I grew up in Canton, NY and my high
“school team had won back-to-back state
championships in 92-93 and 93-94. It was time
to move on to further my hockey career,” Mike
Bushaw, former Cornwall Colts’ alumni explains
how he came to be a part of the Junior A team.
“I attended Northwood Prep in Lake Placid
where I met up with Matt Reid from Massena,
who was slated to play with the Colts the
following year. My parents and I thought this
was a good idea, that playing with the Colts team
would be the best for my development before
attending college with hopes of a scholarship.
It worked out well that the junior team was so
close to home. My mother lived less than 10
minutes from the border!”
Despite being from just across the border,
Bushaw billeted with a family in the Cornwall
area while playing with the Colts team. “I lived
with Janet and Clem D’Amour, who sacrificed
daily to make my stay so comfortable. There
was two of us, me and Glenn Coupal. Janet is
a great cook and she always had a big meal for
Glenn and me. I still keep in touch with Janet on
Facebook.”
“My most memorable Colts’ moment was
definitely winning the league championship in
95-96 over the Gloucester Rangers in a 7-game
series that culminated in a home game at the
Civic Centre. Our team, with guys like Eric
Meloche and Hugo Boisvert was able to come
back from a 3-1 deficit by winning 3 straight
games and then winning the title. What a party
there was after that game! We had played in
front of a capacity crowd. It was fantastic!”
Bushaw played only one season with the Colts,
logging 54 games and tallying 80 points. From
the Junior A team, the forward was offered a
partial scholarship to play at Clarkson University
in Potsdam. “Playing in Potsdam was great
for my parents because I was close to home.”
Bushaw played well during his freshman year,
playing 42 games and logging about 10 points.
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The degree did end up being helpful in the end.
Bushaw was able to work in sales at Niagara
Label Company near Buffalo, NY a business he
had worked at during summers between school
years. Eventually, Bushaw started his own
painting business, which he ran for many years
in the same area. Today, he works in the quality
department at Tesla.
Hockey still has a place in Bushaw’s life, even
though he hasn’t laced up a pair of skates in many
years. “Living in Buffalo, my wife and I have
become big fans of the Sabres’ organization.
The team is having a good season this year, so
it’s exciting.”
Bushaw played for the Junior A Colts
during his last year of eligibility, 1995-96.
He graduated from the Colts’ organization to
play NCAA hockey at Clarkson University,
1996-97.
Spending time with his wife, Jamie is
Bushaw’s favourite thing to do. “We find time
to travel to Florida once a year and we are huge
Buffalo Bills fans, so attending games together
is always fun.”
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His team lost in the ECAC title game 2-0 to
Cornell and in the NCAA tournament first round
5-4 to Colorado College. “Guys from that team,
like Todd White and Chris Clark, went on to
have fantastic NHL careers, so that was a great
opportunity for me and a really fun year.”
Following his year at Clarkson, Bushaw
transferred to SUNY Oswego where he logged
two seasons with the Lakers. “Both years we
fell just short of a SUNYAC title to Plattsburgh
State, but I really enjoyed school and came
away with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business
Administration.”
Why Business Administration? “I just felt
that at the time it was the right curriculum for
me. I knew it would be a good degree for me to
have coming out of college and I would be able
to choose a good career with it.”
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