The Jonquiere Marquis have wasted no time in putting together the pieces that could very well become a third straight championship; something that has not been done in LNAH league history. After two years of consistent attack on the ice, the Marquis and Coach Dean are shaping up to continue that reputation that is following them.
At the beginning of the summer, Jonquiere announced a couple of what some say odd signings. The original “sheriff” Sean McMorrow will be suiting up for the big green in the league that he is not a stranger too. After spending two years with St. Hyacinthe, McMorrow headed across the pond and donned the teal and red of the Elite league’s Belfast Giants. He managed 201 penalty minutes in 25 games. At 6’4 and over 200 pounds, McMorrow will be a rock on the ice.
Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Back on his home continent, McMorrow was charged with smuggling marijuana into the U.S. after being stopped at the Niagara Falls border in 2012. Canadian border guards seized $27,000 in cash and a hockey bag full of marijuana. This will be McMorrow’s first return to the ice after spending close to two years in an American prison. What a moment it would be for McMorrow to capture and be a part of a Marquis three-peat.
Returning to the ice alongside Gaby Roch, captain Bruno St. Jacques and Hugo Carpentier is the feisty madness of Alex Penner. Penner had himself a hell of a tangle in Cornwall last season, climbing the bench into the stands after some unruly fans got the better of him. Always entertaining to watch, Penner is a key fit to this Marquis squad and he’s definitely in a strong mode.
Right winger Patrick Bernier is set to come to training camp this fall. An alumnus of the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes, Bernier held his own throughout the last half of the season and into the playoffs. Joining him on his return is defenseman Mike Novosad. Novosad is a towering six feet on the blue line with one bullet of a point shot.
The Marquis know how to build a team from year to year. With the right pieces building on the same model, we might see LNAH history this season.
The wait for the roster of the Cornwall River Kings is slowly coming to an end.
General Manager Rick Lalonde has signed a group of players who is adamantly described as the core of the squad. Coming back for another year are: Nicholas Corbeil, Jean-Phillipe Caron, Doug Andress, Jonathan Jasper, Ryan Sullivan, Pierre-Luc Faubert, Chris Cloutier, Mario Joly and everyone’s favourite goon, Francis Lessard.
Lalonde is also working on bringing back star goaltender Loic Lacasse who is rumored to sign on next week. Two or three more players may be announced as well.
Things are starting to look up for the ill-fated team. The past two years have been nothing but trouble on and off the ice but a surprise by Brock Frost has turned the tide into making this hockey team a viable product. With the addition of the Booster Club and now the Ice Queens, the club will have plenty of ways to attract new fans and sponsors to the rink. Hockey in Cornwall is here to stay.
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In other news around the LNAH, the Trois Rivieres Viking have changed their name to the Cloutier Nord Sud. The sudden name change is due to new ownership. Their team slogan is “100% Three Rivers”. Earlier this summer, the Laval Braves changed their name to the Predateurs.
Former LNAH and NHL player Patrick Cote has been sentenced to 30 months in jail for pleading guilty to a series of bank robberies. That’s definitely a new one in my books.
The Jonquiere Marquis added two players to their 2014/15 roster. Alexandre Comtois comes to the green and gold after a very successful five year career in the QMJHL. Last season he suited up for McGill University collecting 18 points in 25 games. Luis Tremblay has also signed with Jonquiere after a year with Riviere Du Loup. The 31 year old veteran is a helpful addition to the reigning champs although he has yet to achieve his ECHL status from years passed. Fun fact: Tremblay suited up with the Wheeling Nailers alongside Paul Bissonette and Dan Carcillo.
In anticipation of the LNAH’s 19th season, I think it’s time to take a look at some of the reasons why people in the hockey world constantly talk about this league. The LNAH’s legacy lays in its hockey fights and no holds barred attitude towards them. While some do not like the audacity of fights happening for no reason, it’s no shock to see why people do. Everyone loves a good hockey scrap, even if it happens at the opening faceoff. It’s no secret that teams pay players just for their fists. A star fighter signing with your team could guarantee a money pile with tickets sold.
The LNAH turned pro in 2004 after operating for 8 years as a senior semi pro league in Quebec. Its reputation quickly rose as the toughest league in the world and for its lack of skill level. Thankfully, its skill level his risen quite a bit and earned itself some credibility, complete with NHL stars suiting up during lockout years.
One of the league’s craziest enforcers came in the form of a guy named Link Gaetz. Kids, ask your parents, uncles, grandparents, mailmen, pizza delivery guy, and I’m sure each one of them can recite a crazy story (on or off the ice) about Gaetz himself. Of course, some would come in the form of drinking stories as Gaetz could down the alcohol like it was going out of style. Search for him on google and words that come up include the word psycho. Whether the story was true or not, his reputation as the meanest and most insane hockey player to ever lace them up is solidified.
Gaetz grew up in the west coast of Canada, enforcing his way through teams in the WHL and IHL. After being drafted 40th overall in the 2nd round of the 1988 NHL entry draft, the Minnesota North Stars took a chance on Gaetz to have him for protection on their star players, more specifically, a guy named Mike Modano. Legend has it that Gaetz was in a bar fight the night before and showed up to the draft with two big, swollen black eyes. This is just the tip of the iceberg of stories that follow Gaetz around like the plague.
His stint in the NHL came in the form of two teams. The aforementioned North Stars and in 1991 when the San Jose Sharks took him in the expansion draft. His list of opponents on his fight card is not only endless but impressive: Joey Kocur, Kris King, Randy McKay, Warren Rychel, Bob Probert, Kelly Buchberger, Mike Peluso, Gino Odjick, I could go on. He managed 412 PIMS in 65 games while in the NHL. If you’re keeping score, that’s not even a full season.
In one of his more known stories, Gaetz’s NHL career came to a screeching halt (no pun intended) in 1992. Driving with a friend who was under the influence, Gaetz was thrown from the passenger seat after losing control on an off-ramp. He ended up with many facial and back injuries and a paralyzed left side after the injuries moved up to his brain stem. He was lucky to be alive.
Any other person would probably take that as a wake up to how your life was playing out. However, we’re talking about Link Gaetz. He’s an entirely different personality. That fall he was arrested and convicted for his own DUI. Gaetz was traded to the Oilers soon after but never stepped on NHL ice again.
Gaetz’s legend might come more alive in stints with the various minor leagues he was in. Hell, the lineup of cities he played for looked like a KISS comeback tour: Mexico City (Mexico), Madison (Wisconsin), Toledo (Ohio), Anchorage (Alaska), and more. In San Antonio, he was kicked out of the Central Hockey League for life for trying to saw off the arm of Dallas’ Frank LaScala. In the LNAH though, is where he gained icon status.
Gaetz played for seven seasons over 6 teams. He even managed to contribute on the score sheet for the Riviere-du-Loup Promutuel in the 2002 playoffs. One of his better fights came in the form of a bout and maybe rivalry with another LNAH heavyweight, Patrick Cote.
Upon watching that you might say to yourself “Jesus, why didn’t the linesmen break it up earlier?!” Well son, this is the LNAH. The rules are different. You try telling a guy who has beaten up a miner in Quebec and left his face dismembered or shot out the stain glassed windows of a church without a gun permit while hammered. There’s just something not right.
(Photo: LNAH)
Gaetz’s antics have spoiled over to the penalty box where he’d be eating hot dogs, to running up into the crowd, to numerous bar fights and brawls after the game. Like I said, everybody has an “I heard Link did this…” story. It’s up to you to figure out what is true or not. The crazier they are, the truer they become.
Gaetz has retired from the game and has been since 2010. Hasn’t stopped him from creating more urban legends however. As of February of this year, Mounties on the west coast are out for him. A warrant for his arrest was put out by a provincial judge in Kamloops, B.C. for his failed court appearance. In 2012, Gaetz was charged with assault and causing a disturbance.
Link Gaetz will always be considered a legend in the hockey world. It may not be for the same reasons as most but there is no doubt that he one of the best personalities the game has ever seen. The game was a different monster in the early 90’s and it fueled a different breed of player. Gaetz may not remember most of the tangles and scraps he’s been in but his fans won’t ever let him forget.
With what has been quite a dramatic off-season so far for the Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey, the league is getting settled for its 2014-2015 entry draft taking place on June 14th. Three clubs that were on the brink of being folded, the Riviere Du Loup 3L, St. Georges COOL FM, and the Cornwall River Kings will have their hands full as they prepare with only a few days to scout out some players after being saved earlier in the week.
Taking place at the Colisee Cardin in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, the home of the Eperviers, the draft will consist of 10 rounds of 8 picks each. The defending champs, the Jonquiere Marquis have three picks in the first round that will no doubt be used to their advantage. Cornwall won’t be in the mix until the second round with the second pick and tenth overall.
Among the players that Cornwall drafted the rights to last year were two goaltenders, sharpshooter Jonathan Zion (who ended up heading over to the Netherlands to play) and Brett Angel who ended up being traded mid-way through the season to Laval. A couple players who suited up in the CCHL, Chris Ayotte and Mike Byrd were also among the 10.
All teams will be looking to make an impact at the draft. Needing to shake off the drama that has already preceded the 2014-2015 season, the LNAH wants to start the campaign on the right foot. Here’s the list of who has the first ten picks:
1. Jonquiere (from Laval)
2. Trois-Rivieres (from Cornwall)
3. St. Georges
4. Riviere Du Loup
5. Thetford Mines
6. Jonquiere (from Sorel-Tracy)
8. Trois Rivieres
The Laval Braves and Cornwall River Kings have their first pick in the second round.
The hockey gods that are the LNAH board of governors have decided to give the River Kings back where it belongs; to the city of Cornwall.
Local businessman, real estate agent and now owner of the Cornwall River Kings, Brock Frost had made a successful pitch to the powers that be of the league. The secret was kept under wraps for a number of weeks. David Small and his partnership had given the team back to the league at the end of May and it was all in the league’s hands.
This won’t be an easy task. With little to no advertising being used inside the rink due to a lopsided deal between the Junior A. Cornwall Colts and the City of Cornwall, Frost and the River Kings will have their work cut out for them. However, the word of mouth is a powerful thing.
At the beginning of last season there was talk of the fans starting up a Booster Club. I can not stress how important this club will be to the team once it gets going. This has the oppourtunity to generate a secondary income for the team. Teams in the UK have paid their entire teams roster when struggling through tough financial times. Let’s be smart Cornwall and make sure our team never ends up this way again.
Kudos to Councilor Brock Frost (Yeah, he’s running for council but I’m going to call it now and say he’s earned a spot at the round table), and whoever helped him along his way to keep the blue, red and white of the River Kings on course. The real work starts now.
That means you, reading this. YOU need to come out to the games. YOU need to buy merchandise. YOU need to GET INVOLVED. Let’s make sure this upcoming season is one we’ll never forget.
A lot of people have been asking me why I haven’t commented on the Alex Penner fiasco that took place a couple weeks ago at the Ed Lumley Arena and commenting that I should be sticking up for my team, the Cornwall River Kings.
Sticking up for my team is one thing, agreeing with Alex Penner’s actions and not my team’s fans is another.
Look, even though this is the LNAH, a line needs to be drawn. I have no problem with what Alex Penner did. Yeah okay, his past events indicate he’s not one to back down from a fight be it how small but when somebody throws a damn can at your head (and makes you bleed no less), fan or not, you have a right to be pissed and retaliate.
These players are there for you enjoyment. They are there for your entertainment. Hell, some nights they beat each other to a bloody pulp just so you and your buddies can have something fun to do on a Saturday night. I have no problem with chirping and getting involved but when you start to get aggressive, it’s time to cut you off and say goodnight.
I don’t care what Penner did to provoke it, which I don’t even know if he did. If you watch the video (youtube it, I’m too lazy to link it), the fan comes running out of nowhere to launch the can as Penner skates off the ice. Like him or not, he’s a hockey player. He’s on the ice getting paid, you’re not and probably never will be.
Cell Block E can get rowdy and I think that’s fantastic. For the most part and the handful of games I’ve been too, I enjoy their heckling and commentary. I think some of the other teams find it amusing too. I know this guy might not have even been sitting in that section either.
Cornwall, you want to put a stop to this? Get some decent security who doesn’t just stand there. Tell them to not interfere with the chirping, only when things start to escalate. There’s no harm in a little heckling, hell this is hockey and the LNAH. If you do interfere, you’re only going to make it worse for yourselves.
It was a Simpsons themed night at the Civic Complex complete with “D’oh!” and even Homer Simpson himself made an appearance. In case you weren’t up to speed, the Simpsons shtick was due to Laval Braves headman Dannick Lessard calling the Cornwall River Kings a bunch of a “homers” in a recent interview.
Running with it, the fans and even the Kings brass decided to throw it into the much talked about and hyped up re-match between the two teams Saturday night. Two weeks ago, the two teams met for almost 10 fights, an 8-2 Cornwall victory and Lessard himself getting suspended 4 games for trying to start something with Cornwall’s coach.
However, the match failed to deliver to expectations.
Cornwall was terrible in their own end. On powerplays, there was nobody in front of the net more times then I’d like to admit. Loic Lacasse was brilliant as usual as the game probably could’ve ended up in the double digits for Laval. Laval played a speedy, grinding game to come away with their 6-5 victory.
(Photo: Rick Bowen)
It’s the LNAH so people are in the stands for the fights. After a huge fight filled contest in Laval, the fans were expecting something similar. With only 3 fights on the card, and subdued ones to say the least, it wasn’t worthy of an LNAH caliber game. However, that might not have been the River Kings fault as most of the tough guys on Laval didn’t seem like they were ready to drop the gloves.
Some points I’d like to make. Cornwall was down in the score by 3 and the atmosphere was well, not very electric. Captain Steve Simoes must have realized that the momentum needed to change so he took it upon himself to up the ante. After drilling three guys and dropping the mitts with a damn good tangle, the momentum was finally in Cornwall’s favour. 2 or 3 goals (goals were scored but I’m flaky on how many) were scored while Simoes was in the box and it seemed like Cornwall had a life.
Until knucklehead Francis Lessard takes a double minor.
That my friends was Laval’s turning point. Now don’t me wrong, I like Lessard as much as the next person. AS A FIGHTER. Even though he landed on the scoresheet tonight, a 40 second shift of circling around In the offensive end doesn’t sit as great hockey presence but I digress.
On Laval’s side though and after finally getting to see them in person, it boggles my mind how this team is in last place! Does it have something to do with them having half of our roster now? No, I don’t think so. The goaltending of Stephane Cesar was brilliant to say the least and the hockey presence and mind of Maxime Boisclair was just amazing. Boisclair is a smart, smart hockey player. If Cornwall ever has a chance to trade for him, I’d pull the trigger in a second.
(photo: Allison Papineau)
I know this a relatively long post but I had to be critical this time and if you don’t agree with me then so be it. I know it’s hard to gel as a team when you have very little practice time. That being said, the powerplay needs a complete overhaul. In fact, I overheard in the crowd that if Cornwall were to get another powerplay, they should just decline it.
It’s not all doom and gloom. There’s still plenty of hockey left so no need to get on the worry bandwagon right now. Plenty of life to put into this team and keep the Complex rocking. I hope to god that the next home game the same amount of almost 3,000 fans keep coming out. The atmosphere was electric and I’m sure the players love the support.
Last weekend the Cornwall River Kings entered the so called “House of Pain” and came out with an 8-1 thumping of the Lavallyfield Braves. (In case you’re not up to speed, the team originally started in Valleyfield but soon moved to Laval due to financial and municipal reasons.) Now Laval has a storied history in the LNAH with the previous squad in the Chiefs and are trying to live up to the reputation.
The “House of Pain” didn’t seem to work in their favour however as Cornwall’s tough guys tossed the Braves around like there’s no tomorrow. Including Braves team coach Dannick Lessard pulling a John Tortorella and making his way over to the Cornwall bench. All in all the game ended in 204 penalty minutes.
Oh LNAH (or Laval for the most part), stay classy.
Anyway, this Saturday is bringing the two teams back against each other but this time down the 401 down in Cornwall’s barn. With the intensity of a fierce home crowd, I would assume the outcome is going to look a lot like last Friday. Cell Block E will be ringing with pandemonium to get a chance to get their chirps in at Dannick Lessard and the Braves. However, Dannick won’t be behind the bench as a 4 game sentence was handed down from the LNAH for his actions.
No matter, the best team on the ice will prevail and River Kings had made some changes and have proved to icing a more then competitive team. Not everybody will agree with some of the decisions they’ve made but this is hockey and stars/players move on. It’s the nature of the sport. Management has done everything in their power to make this a fan’s team and they haven’t let up.
Photo: Rick Bowen
Loic Lacasse will most likely start and will be a gem in net as usual. Look for the last place Braves to try once again to put on a show and throw the River Kings off their game. Obviously Cornwall is much stronger and won’t let anybody push them around in their house.
The Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey has been known in the past to be one of, if not THE, toughest league in North America. Hell, for all I know it still could be. However, that credibility is starting to slide.
Before I go any further, I want to state for the record that I am all for keeping fighting in hockey. The LNAH keeps an old school style play of hockey in which if one teams throws a deadly hit to a star player, you better be ready to respond and answer the call to that opposing team’s enforcer. I’m sure everyone would like every league in the world to adopt this mentality again but in this day and age and information we have on injuries and concussions, it’s just not going to happen.
I’m all for it. Staged fights is another article all together but for arguement sake, I can deal with it. What’s happening now though is that the fights in the LNAH are being levitated to a point where brawls are breaking out every game. That’s nonsense. It’s starting to turn into, dare I say it, sports entertainment. Of course fans are going to pay money to see grown men brawl each other on skates for 4 or 5 hours a night but it’s ruining the game. It’s sad to see. The fact that the damn league website has it’s own little tab for “Suspensions” should tell you enough.
Speaking of suspensions…
How does one warrant a two game suspension to a player for self defence after having a urine filled cup thrown at them by an unruly fan? Fan ended up falling into the player’s bench. Well my good friend, fans have no right to end up there, home or visitors. After your actions, you should have come prepared to get the piss taken out of you…no pun intended.
Another explanation please. How does one NOT warrant a suspension for leaving the bench? Players have gotten upwards to 10 games in the NHL leaving and jumping in a melee yet none of Thetford Mines last Sunday received any discipline after the WHOLE team left the bench.
And Angel with the “agressor” suspension? How about retaliation after getting a stick in the mouth.
Am I being biased because I’m from Cornwall? No, I’m not. I’ve been to the games and the referrees of the league seem to turn a blind eye to a lot of calls for both teams or let things get out of control. They have chances to stop it. They don’t. It’s disgraceful. However I can’t help but take notice that the stupid suspensions are towards an Ontario team but I digress.
The Bourret/fan incident got international exposure and not in a good way. I wish the masterminds who run the league will take notice and ownership of the players and the way they’re acting otherwise, this is just going to turn into a league for goons.
After a few first regular season games on the road, the Cornwall River Kings finally returned to their own barn Saturday night. In front of a crowd 2,453, all the hard work put into the last 6 weeks to keep the team in Cornwall finally started paying off.
Although, not in the way they had hoped.
The Marquis de Jonquiere showed just why they are the defending champions. A tough, fast and physical team, the Marquis came away with a 5-2 win. Francis Charette was the best player on the ice for both teams. His hockey sense is something to be in awe of, scoring 2 of the 5 goals on the night. Former River Kings back up Frederic Piche picked up the win.
Francis Lessard waits for a play in front of Frederic Piche. (Photo: Alison Papineau)
However, the River Kings held their own and showed that they can hang with the big boys.
Remember, the Cornwall River Kings have only been together a few weeks and really need a chance to gel. Which no doubt, will happen with time. After coming off a loss the night before in St. Georges, Alex Bourret played an amazing fast-paced and physical game; notched the first goal for the Kings on a beauty shorthanded breakaway and earned himself second star of the game.
Another show of dedication came from Brennan Barker as he stood up to Gaby Roch who threw an elbow to the head to one of the River Kings. Although Barker seemed to take the punches, there is no denying the strength of sticking up for your teammate.
Heavyweights Francis Lessard and Chris Clouthier also dropped the mitts in a few fisticuffs. With time the River Kings will not be pushed around in their barn. Once the players start to get used of one another on the ice, hell folks, it’s nothing but up from here. Bow down to the Kings.
Next home game is Sunday, October 3rd when big Jon “Nasty”Mirasty and Sorel come to town. Puck drop is 3p.m. You won’t want to miss this one.
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