The Cornwall Colts are pleased to announce their first ever combined Junior/Midget AAA training camp.
Midget and Junior aged players can register beginning Monday, August 10th.The first day of camp will be fitness testing at the Benson Centre on Friday, August 21st and players will begin skating on Saturday, August 22nd.
“It’s a good opportunity for the players to realize what it takes to play at a high level,” said Colts Coach Ian MacInnis.
The training camp schedule is as follows:
August 21st, Fitness Testing – Jiffy Auto Service Field House @ Benson Centre
August 22nd, daily on ice sessions begin
August 25th, Midget AAA Colts @ Hawkesbury
August 27th, Colts Jr. A Blue & White game 8pm @ Ed Lumley Arena
August 28th, Colts Jr. A @ Hawkesbury
August 30th, Colts Jr. A vs. Hawks 2pm @ Ed Lumley Arena Midget AAA vs Hawks 5pm @ Ed Lumley Arena
For more information about HEO Midget AAA please visit http://heomidget.pointstreaksites.com/view/heomidget .
For more information on the camp or to register, please contact Ian MacInnis – ian.macinnis@cornwallcolts.com or 613-662-3216
The Central Canada Hockey League is pleased to announce the participants selected for the 4th Annual Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge to be held at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto, ON November 14-16, 2014.
Among the forty players selected are 18 who have committed to attend NCAA Division I programs and 3 players rated by NHL Central Scouting for the 2015 draft.
League leading Carleton Place Canadians also led the way with seven players selected, including Bowling Green bound captain Stephen Baylis, 2013-14 CCHL and CJHL MVP Penn State commit Andy Sturtz, veteran centres Jordan Larson and Craig Peffley (Ferris State) as well as defencemen David Eccles and Cornell bound Trent Shore. Goalie Guillaume Therrien who backstopped the Canadians to the RBC Final last season also was named.
Five members of the Pembroke Lumber Kings were selected including the high-flying line of Anthony Nellis, Alexandre Boivin and Canisius bound Felix Chamberland as well as Colgate recruit Adam Dauda. Goaltender Connor Hughes rounds out the Pembroke contingent.
Four members of the Fred Page Cup host Cornwall Colts will participate including Clarkson bound captain Marly Quince, linemate Kevin Hope and the dynamic defence pairing of Zac Tierney and Ross Craig who are headed to Ferris State and Cornell respectively join four Smiths Falls Bears including top scorer and Princeton commit Neil Doef as well as defenders Jared Henry and Chris MacMillan and goaltender Cole Skinner in Toronto.
Three members of the Yzerman Division leading Ottawa Jr Senators with Alexandre Savard in goal, and veteran rearguards Matt Cruickshank and Robert Michel join three Nepean Raiders in Josh Zizek, Broydon Stufko and Robert Morris commit Brandon Watt in the event.
Top scorer Ryan Kuffner (Princeton) and linemates Max Veronneau (Princeton) and Matt Foget (Merrimack) represent the Gloucester Rangers as a high flying unit with three Hawkesbury Hawks, forwards Jason Brochu, Hunter Racine (Colgate) and defenceman Damien Charette.and three Brockville Braves-Andrew Peski, RMU bound Eric Israel and Liam Folkes also selected.
A pair of Kemptville 73’s in Jason Tackett and Erik Brown and two Cumberland Grads, Max St. Pierre and Dartmouth defenceman Cameron Roth with Kanata’s Domenic Camastra round out the rosters.
The tournament begins on Friday November 14 and concludes on Sunday November 16.
On the Ontario shores near the central part of the St. Lawrence River lies a city whose habitants ignite a passion for a cold and frosty game. As most Canadian cities do, this one has been breeding hockey players and fans for the better part of 100 years. The history of hockey runs deep in the hard working and blue collar city of Cornwall, Ontario. Many teams have come and gone; championship memories are few and far between but most residents can recall where they were when the Memorial Cup was raised on three separate occasions and which hometown boys have made names for themselves in the game.
After the demise of the major junior powerhouse Cornwall Royals in 1992, fans were left with a gaping hole in their hearts. Junior hockey had just started to become a major attraction across the country. Prayers were answered quickly however when across the river in nearby Massena, New York, the Junior A team of the Americans were sold over the Seaway International Bridge to Cornwall. Renamed the Colts, the new group quickly grew an intensive following even if it was step down in play from the Royals.
Small Canadian cities such as this always come with their own breed of hockey fan. This fan will not only know the life story of every player to ever step onto the hometown rinks, but every stat that comes flowing in. It was no different when hometown boy Jeff Legue laced up his skates night after night and stepped out onto the ice at the Si Miller Arena. He felt like a superstar as fans would stop and ask him for autographs and kids would chant his name as they filled the old barn. “Growing up in a small town that has a successful hockey team is any young players dream,” recalls Legue fondly. “When I got the chance to play in front of a sold out Si Miller Arena, I fulfilled that young hockey players dream.” It wasn’t just his dream. Family, friends and fans alike knew how special it was to have a homegrown superstar stay on the city’s squad. “Both my friends and family got to watch me grow and progress as a player and to this day I believe that’s what helped me the most throughout my junior career.”
In the late 1990’s, the Cornwall Colts were nothing short of a wrecking crew. Finishing a top of the Robinson Division in the Canadian Junior A Hockey League, Legue and the Colts captured two Art Bogart Cups which sent the squad to the Fred Page Cup championships. During his second season with the Colts, the dominance continued as they won the Fred Page tournament and headed off to Nationals in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Even though they went winless, Legue remains proud of the accomplishments. “That year stands out to me the most; we played as a team. We all had our own part in helping our team become successful.”
Successful they were. Legue lists off players who he recognises as the “unsung heroes” on the ice that year. Names like Lindsay Campbell, Ross McCain, Sylvain Moreau, Jarret Robertson and Tim Vokey are thrown about with smiles and fondness. The ultimate compliment however is reserved for someone who doesn’t need any introduction to Cornwall hockey circles, Coach Al Wagar. “Al believed in me,” says Legue with authority. “I was put in all situations at the beginning of my career which gave me lots of experience early.” Wagar coached the Colts for the better part of the decade and along with ownership played a pivotal role in the teams’ success. “He told me my job was to go out and create opportunities. He gave me freedom on the ice. Al Wagar was a great coach for me.”
Legue’s skills both on and off the ice started catching the eyes of NCAA recruiters. After looking over a few offers, the Bulldogs that belonged to Ferris State University became the perfect fit for Jeff to start his successful collegiate career. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, the Ferris State Bulldogs skate out of the Robert L. Ewigleben Ice Arena; an arena that seats just about 2,500. Along with former Colts teammates Tim Vokey and Matt Verdone, Legue skated alongside current NHLer and Pittsburgh Penguins’ Chris Kunitz; no doubt learning as much as he could from such talented leadership. After contributing a point in each of his 152 collegiate games, it was time to turn professional. After a stint on two different teams in the East Coast Hockey League, Europe came calling. It was time to make some hockey ‘Anarchy in the U.K.’.
In the middle of the United Kingdom lies a city of just over 500,000 people. A hard working and blue collar steel town, the passion for sport runs deep in the city’s inhabitants. Football was a main stay for many in the city of Sheffield and with it came its own special breed of sporting fan. Still reeling from the loss of 96 passionate football fans that were crushed to death in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster two years earlier, a new sport was about to take over in the fall of 1991. Sheffield Arena (now known as Motorpoint Arena) had been built with much precision and its main resident became the Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Club. While hockey had been played in the UK for over a hundred years, it just never seemed to catch on. That was about to change.
Arguably the Sheffield Steelers had reached their peak in popularity during the mid-1990s. Partly due to the renaissance that the sport of ice hockey was having and partly due to the squad becoming the first real professional club of its kind in the UK; for all intents and purposes, money talked. You could watch most games from this era and you’d swear it was an NHL game just from the fans that filled the arena. The Steelers were crowned the last champions in 1996 of the Heineken sponsored British Hockey League before the premier of what was the British Ice Hockey Superleague.
(Photo: Dean Woolley)
By the time the modern day Elite Ice Hockey League came to fruition, the Steelers were one of the most decorated clubs in the United Kingdom; obviously a selling point for anyone willing to hop across the pond. Legue was offered a spot and made the trek to set up shop in Sheffield for the 2007-2008 season. Admittedly he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. “When I came to Sheffield I didn’t know what to expect because to be honest, I didn’t know there was hockey here in the UK.” The naivety was soon lost on Legue as he made his first strides on ice in front of the home crowd at Motorpoint Arena. “I soon realised that they are some of the most passionate fans imaginable.”
Legue spent his entire seven year Elite league career with the Sheffield Steelers; the city and the club made an important impression on him his first season. Half way through the campaign Legue got a phone call that no one wants to take while being the furthest away from his family. His father and ultimately one of his biggest fans had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. The organisation didn’t hesitate to send Legue back to Canada. “Sheffield became a big part of my life during that first year,” recalls Legue. “I will always be thankful for how they treated me at that time.”
“My father told me to go back and finish season.” What a finish they had. The Steelers ended up winning the playoffs that year. “Captain Jonathan Phillips made it a point to hand me the trophy first.” With no doubt his father smiling down at him, Legue knew he made the right decision. “That was my most memorable moment as a Steeler.”
Of course, the people he met throughout the city of Sheffield and the success on the ice made it easy for Legue to come back year after year. Meeting his beautiful wife nearby and having his adorable son to raise made it the perfect ending to an illustrious Elite league career.
The game of hockey and the city of Sheffield just couldn’t get rid of him though.
(Payette (7) instructs his Legue (11) and his Steeldog squad. Photo: Roger Williams)
With the EIHL schedule being so demanding with his new family, Legue dropped down a tier to the English Premier Ice Hockey League and is now suiting up for the Steeldogs. Head manned by another Cornwall, Ontario native Andre Payette, Legue is humbled by the fact that there’s another one with him who knows the trials and tribulations of the city he’s from. “It’s always nice to have someone to back up your stories of the beautiful St. Lawrence River.”
Back on the Canadian side, the hockey doesn’t stop in his family at any point. Legue’s brother in law, Brennan Barker, is suiting up for the Cornwall River Kings of the LNAH. Known for its no holds barred fighting, does Legue have any advice? “Other than keep your head up?” he says with a laugh. “Brennan is a tough cookie and he can take care of himself. I’ve seen his hands. I wish him and his team all the best and good luck for the rest of the season.”
As Jeff Legue suits up for the Steeldogs, we can only speculate what’s in his future. Who knows, maybe we’ll see his son continue the tradition and end up back in Canada. The saga continues. For now, this remains how a tale of two cities, with an ocean that separates them for miles, became closer to each other with the power of sport.
I leave you with a video from the Cornwall River Kings from last year that some of you in the UK made not have seen.
Matt Cruickshank may be only 19 years old but he’s certainly making a name for himself on and off the ice. The Owen Sound, Ontario native was acquired by Ottawa from the Cornwall Colts and as a veteran in the CCHL, he is excited to become a leader with a new group of young players. At 6’0″, the towering defenseman holds the blue line like there’s no tomorrow but with his skill is able to join the rush. No doubt eyes will be watching his play this year. I had a little chat with Cruickshank and it’s amazing to see a player of his age so humble and have a good head on his shoulders.
March Hockey: What do you think you’ll be able to bring to the Jr. Senators this CCHL season? How do you think the Ottawa Jr. Senators will do?
Matt Cruickshank: This year I am a veteran in the league with some high level experience in the game. With half my team being rookies I hope to bring leadership and confidence to the locker room. It’s my job to let all players know that I got their back if ever needed on or off the ice. Also my defensive role will be a factor to our already well rounded defense core.
So far with a record of 0-2-3 we are being doubted from other teams and people around the league. As a leader of the team and knowing the amazing players and coaching staff we have, our record now does not fear me at all. With half of our team being hard working speedy rookies and the other half being committed mentoring veterans, I truly believe we can be a top 5 finishing team in the league. Just need to stay positive and stick to what we are doing. The wins will come.
MH: How would you describe your style of play? What players do you look up to, if any?
MC:I consider myself as a stay at home defenseman. The kind of guy to get lots of penalty killing time to block shots, keep the puck out of my net, and play against top lines. Just because I lack skill, doesn’t mean I don’t have a role. I would compare my game to someone like Adam Foote or Scott Stevens.
MH: How was the experience of representing Team Canada East last year? What did you learn?
MC:My experience at Canada East will last a lifetime. From one week not even knowing what Canada East was to being able to put on the red and white was just a dream come true. The feeling you get stepping on that ice with over a thousand screaming fans in read and white still gives me shivers today. Besides the hockey aspect, I had a great time touring Nova Scotia with the guys and seeing a part of our beautiful country that I’ve never seen before. Also can’t forget I had my first lobster!
MH: Off of the ice, you are dedicated with volunteering. Obviously that’s a great characteristic to have. Why do you think it’s important to give back?
MC: Growing up as a young kid I lived for the game of hockey. I would always watch NHL on team and go to local Jr. B and OHL games in my hometown of Owen Sound to cheer the players and guys that I looked up to. If I saw them slam their stick then I would too; if I saw them with a certain haircut I’d get the same. So saying that I find it very important to be a role model off the ice for young athletes to follow because if they see you being respectful, caring, and a nice person off the ice, those characteristics will be noticed and rub off on them. To completely answer your question, it’s important to give back because without the community, or family and the people around us, we would not be where we are today. Just because I am busy with junior hockey, doesn’t mean I can’t give back to help others succeed and make their life easier, the same way others did for me when I needed it. A smile goes a long way!
MH: Where do you see your hockey career taking you?
MC:Well being 19 I need to be realistic with my hockey career. I love the game and will do anything I can to be the best I can be. But saying that, my dream is to finish off my junior career on a high note and attend university at the highest level possible playing hockey and getting my degree.
MH: If you could watch one game between any two teams of your choice, who would you choose and why?
MC: I’d have to say Slap Shots Charlstown Chiefs and the Cornwall River Kings. Most likely my favorite movie ever and the most exciting and entertaining team to watch last year. Who wouldn’t wanna grab a bag of popcorn and watch that game.
Last season marked the 20th anniversary of the Fred Page Cup, a distinguished trophy given out to the best team of a four team tournament. Making up the tournament quad would be the respective season champions from Ontario’s Central Canada Hockey League, Quebec’s Junior AAA Hockey League, the Maritime’s Junior Hockey League and the team whose city has won hosting capabilities. The winner moves on the Royal Bank Cup, Canada’s national Junior “A” championship.
Most of us who follow junior hockey have heard of the tournament. Some have even taken part in some aspect be it spectator, volunteer or player. Some have read about it in the newspaper. The question is though, do you know how the Fred Page Cup came to be? Do you even know who Fred Page is? Well, grab a cold pop and sit back while Marchy tells you the tale.
Frederick Page was born September 29, 1915 in Port Arthur and at the time, Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario. In January of 1970, Port Arthur, the town of Fort William, and a couple of nearby townships, joined forces to become what we know as Thunder Bay.
Even though Page was trapped further north than most, he didn’t let his unique location get in the way of his love for hockey. Furthermore, there was no shortage of the game in the area. Page’s first championship trophy came in 1935 under the wing of the Port Arthur Juniors who claimed the title for the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association. After an early choice to retire from the game as a player in 1939, Page turned his hand to refereeing and coaching. For the next 15 years, he switched back and forth from coaching and referring in the Fort William Minor Hockey Association and refereeing in the aforementioned Thunder Bay league.
His skills as an official caught the eye of national attention. Page received and accepted an invitation to keep control of games in the 1958 Memorial and Allen Cup playoffs.
The 50’s and 60’s got even busier for Page. The early 1960’s saw him make the move out west to British Columbia and turn his focus to the administration part of the game. He was executive staff and sometimes president of various leagues in the area. He also began work nationally with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and coordinated Canadian team entries into European tournaments. That job grew into the 1970’s as Page continued to negotiate teams and tournaments between the two continents. It grew so much that Page was elected to represent Canada in the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Page helped organize World Championships and helped grow hockey internationally during the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. He was also the chairman for the hockey competition for the 1972 games in Sapporo, Japan. Back home, Page showed no signs of slowing down as he helped form the Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League in 1973 which eventually merged with the British Columbia Junior Hockey League in 1997 and is now the league that we know today. Their league championship is also named in his honour.
Fred Page played a pretty important role in our country for not only in development of hockey but in branding and awareness. His contribution throughout the entire country for junior and amateur hockey spans over seven decades. For his monumental efforts, Page was elected in the Hockey Hall of Fame as a honourary member in 1993. Fred Page died in 1997. His selfless efforts to the game we love will never be forgotten. We will keep Page’s memory alive as long as there’s kids playing hockey.
The 2015 Fred Page Cup will take play in Cornwall, Ontario. The Central Canada Hockey League’s Cornwall Colts are eager to hit the ice and represent the host city and keep the Fred Page flame burning.
What an illustrious career so far for Cornwall’s Jeff Legue. In his 7 seasons with the Sheffield Steelers of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom, Legue has become only the fifth player in Elite league history to reach 500 career points.
His time in Sheffield has made him a household name in the U.K. league. Legue’s assist on the game winning goal against Hull on Saturday night locked him into the league’s VIP. Sheffield fans flocked to Ice Sheffield to see their franchise player in action and on Sunday night they paid tribute to Legue in fine fashion. At the 11th minute, (a tribute to number Legue has worn since his Cornwall Colts days), the entire arena stood on it’s feet and gave him a one minute salute. Securing the win against Fife and Hull the night before on Saturday gave Sheffield a big 4 point weekend that was much needed.
Legue in his Colts days. (Photo: MarchHockey)
Legue is an alumni of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, most notably the Central Canada Hockey League. He stuck out his Junior A career with the Tier II Cornwall Colts. From there he skated to an outstanding collegiate career with Ferris State University. After a quick stop in the East Coast league it was off to Europe for the man they call “Leggy”.
Legue is over a point a game player and is proving that once against this season with his current 30 points in 28 games. His speed, skill and hockey sense are a joy to watch for Steelers fans for many more years to come.
Here’s to you, Leggy, Cornwall’s still looking out for ya!
The World Junior A Challenge is set to take action this November and team training camp rosters have been announced. Countries invited to the tournament include Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland and of course, the United States.
Canada has two entries into the tournament: Team Canada East and Team Canada West. Out of the 65 invitees from each eastern Junior A league, 20 are from the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) and 7 of those are from the Cornwall Colts.
Of course, you can say it’s a bit biased to do Cornwall’s Head Coach Ian MacInnis was selected to man the bench for Team Canada East for the tournament. However, each one of the 7 Colts invited have rightfully earned their spot with their hard work through out the first part of the CCHL season.
(photo: Robert Lefevbre, icelevel.com)
Red hot goaltender Jordan Piccolino has played 12 games with Cornwall so far and boasts a 1.96 goals against average. That’s good enough to throw him in second in the league, just behind Carleton Place’s Cory Simic who was not even offered an invite to the team. The Pierrefonds, Quebec native is in his second year with the Colts and already lead them to a championship in his first year. Not a bad selection to have between the pipes for Team Canada East.
On defence, Callum Hofford and Matthew Cruickshank were selected as invitees. The possibly college bound Cruickshank has played in 16 games for Cornwall this season and is deadly on the point. He won’t be taken lightly either as he’s wracked up 15 penalty minutes.
(Photo: icelevel.com)
Forwards is where you need your strength and Team Canada East has invited Lawson MacDonald, Chase Pearson, Marley Quince and Tanner Spink. Quince and Spink need no introduction to Cornwall fans as they both lead the team in points with 18 and 13 respectively. Not to be outdone, Pearson is right up there with 10 from his side of the ice. Quince and Spink could be deadly when stuck between the right wingers, Pearson included. Hopefully we’ll see what the rest of leagues offer up for Team Canada East.
The tournament gets underway November 4th when Team Canada East takes on Team Russia.
Kelly Summers. (Photo: Robert Lefevbre. IceLevel.com)
After a myriad of penalties in the first period by the Carleton Place Canadians, the Junior A squad found themselves in a 3-1 deficit heading into the second against the Cornwall Colts.
Heading into Cornwall’s barn, Carleton Place was looking to keep their first place Robinson division standing intact. If it wasn’t for Cornwall’s red hot goaltender Jordan Piccolino, there was no doubt Carleton Place would have been way ahead. More chances and keeping the puck in Cornwall’s end seemed to be all that was happening in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Then came the penalties. 4 penalties in 10 minutes kept the Cornwall Colts on a never-ending powerplay. Capitalizing on the Canadian’s mistakes, the Colts managed to score 3. However, that was pretty much all she wrote.
The Carleton Place Canadians are a big group of lads who use their size to their advantage. Not afraid to use the body against the smaller Cornwall Colts. Penalties seemed abundant, but some were warranted. The second period saw the teams play almost evenly against one another. It was the third where the Canadians woke up.
Clarkson, Michigan native Vinny Post earned second star of the game honors by beating Piccolino to notch the game up at three. With one more goal each to head into overtime, it was Clarkson University’s committed Kelly Summers who sealed the deal for Carleton Place.
CCHL’S THREE STARS
1. Stephen Baylis (CPC)
2. Vinny Post (CPC)
3. A.Roumeliotis (COR)
MARCH’S THREE STARS
1. Jordan Piccolino (COR)
I can’t say enough about this kid. If it weren’t for him, the score would’ve been run up by a mile. Thoroughly excited for his future; brilliant to watch.
2. Kelly Summers (CPC)
Scouts were abundant in the Ed Lumley Arena, including one from the Dallas Stars. No doubt this is who they were keeping an eye on. Summers hockey sense and ability to drive plays is what makes him a key part for Carleton Place and will be for Clarkson University next season.
3. Marley Quince (COR)
While he was kept off the score sheet and took a stupid penalty, Quince is a joy to watch. His speed and stick handling are what keeps him on the ice every second shift. Sometimes can be a bit flashy though.
Last season’s powerhouse champions, Cornwall Colts started off this year victorious but saw their 3 game win streak come to an end. Thursday night saw them fall to the Cumberland Grads in a 3-2 shootout loss and last night the Smith Falls Bears took a 1-0 shutout win.
It’s nothing to have Cornwall fans worried about. It’s still very early in the season and a lot of new faces on the Colts need to have that time to gel. Despite the losses, Cornwall’s starting goaltender Jordan Piccolino is incredible in net. If it wasn’t for him and the Colts red hot defence, these games would be blown out of the water.
Scoring chances are still abundant for the Colts despite only registering 9 goals. However, they need to somehow find a way to turn those chances into pucks in the back of the net.
Cornwall’s other strong netminder, James Edwardson is expected to get the call this Sunday when the Colts visit the Nepean Sportsplex to take on the Nepean Raiders. Game time there is 2:30.
The Colts will be back in front of a hometown crowd next Thursday, September 19th. The Carleton Place Jr. Canadiens will invade the Ed Lumley Arena. Puck drop is 7:30.
On a special night in front of a hometown crowd of 829, the Cornwall Colts put all the drama between them and the LNAH’s Cornwall River Kings in the back of their minds and played an exciting game of hockey to open the 2013/2014 season.
Commissioner Kevin Abrams started off the pre game speeches congratulating the Colts on their hard fought win of the Bogart Cup last spring. The championship banner was raised to the rafters of the Ed Lumley Arena in honour of their efforts. From there, it was time to usher in the home opener.
The first brought a solid period of hockey with both teams playing evenly. Cornwall’s Grant Cooper had two brilliant scoring chances early on but was stopped by the glove of Hawkesbury’s Guillaum Therien. Although the teams seemed to match one another, the Hawks were pulling away with better opportunities both offensively and defensively.
Hawkesbury’s Trent Durocher used his size to his advantage to keep the Colts away from the net. Nicholas Vlahos capitalized on the opportunity and put one past Cornwall netminder James Edwardson. The Hawks went into the third with not only the lead but a commanding presence on the ice. At the same time they also went into the third with a 4 minute major.
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