Page 12 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 89

12 Issue #89 April 2020 www.sportsenergynews.com

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Jim Riddell’s Sports Talk with Area Seniors

“Big Doug” Casselman

he name Big Doug Casselman is
Tone that has been synonymous
with hockey and fastball across
Eastern Ontario for more than half a
century.
Doug was born “at home” in the
farmhouse just east of Williamsburg
where he and his wife Gail still reside
today. The Casselman farm sat on
the school border - while his cousins
living next to him went to classes at
Boucks Hill, Doug attended #12 in
Williamsburg, which later became
the Municipal Office. The local kids
played pond hockey, and Doug’s
first pair of skates were given to him
by his next door neighbour, Johnny
Whitaker. “One skate was a size 7,
the other a size 8, and I still have
them hanging up in my shed.”
Doug started playing Peewee in
Morrisburg, hitchhiking from home
with his equipment in a flour sack
thrown over his shoulder. Playing
in Morrisburg until the arena roof
collapsed in 1957, Doug was then
required to play for his rivals in
Winchester as that was the closest
rink. “We beat out Cornwall and went
on to play North Bay in a 2-game 1967 “Big Doug” Casselman - Morrisburg Combines Captain
total goals matchup. We won the first Trophies: big trophy on the left - ODHA Senior A Championship Trophy. Middle trophy: ODHA Scoring
game 4-3 and went out to celebrate. Champion trophy. Right trophy (Doug’s left) Morrisburg Combines MVP Photo Submitted
We were a young team and most of
the players had never been away from Hockey League. “I made the team “Big Doug” and “Little Doug” and Dodgers. “We had some good players
home before. A couple guys never but the ECHL was a bit of a head- we played together for years.” on the team: Allie Cameron, Ed St.
even went to bed that night, and the hunter league at that time. When they The Combines, coached by Ralph Louis, Rowdy Gillard. Les McAlister
next night we lost 16-0. I guess we gave me the details, I found out that Hurley of Brockville, beat out the played out at the time and Bob
celebrated a little bit too early.” they didn’t pay much, only carried Ottawa Montagards (a team made up Carkner, Gerry Fleury, and Donnie
That same year, at age 17, Doug 12 players and if you were injured of retired pros) in the ODHA finals to Grant were in goal. We always had
had a tryout with the Hamilton Jr. someone would be brought in to represent Eastern Ontario in Moncton good goaltending. If the team was
Red Wings, which at the time was replace you. It didn’t take long for NB at the Eastern Canada Allen ever a little flat, they always pulled
a Detroit Red Wing farm team. “I me to make my mind up on that one.” Cup quarter finals. The Prescott- us through.”
was the last cut. They told me that In his first year of senior hockey, Kemptville Combines were inducted The Combines won the Ottawa
my skills were good but to go home, Doug played for the Prescott- into the North Grenville Sports HOF St. Lawrence League in 1965-66
work on my skating, and that they Kemptville Combines and there was in 2017. and again in 1966-67, going east
would bring me back. I think they a second Doug Casselman (from The following year the Combines to play teams in Moncton NB, and
must have lost my phone number.” Cardinal) on the team. “The other moved to Morrisburg and Big Doug Cornerbrook NL, playing in front of
Doug went to Windsor to try out Doug was quite a bit smaller, so to scored the first-ever goal in the new
for Knoxville TN of the East Coast distinguish between us, we became arena, losing 2-1 to the Lancaster Continued on page 13