Mario Joly

Late last Friday the Cornwall River Kings dealt fan favourite Mario Joly up the road to the new expansion team of the Valleyfield Braves.

Of course, there was immediate backlash and who’s to say is wasn’t warranted. However, when it comes down to reasoning in a trade, you may never find out the real reason. Maybe management decided it was time to move on; maybe it was the player. You can speculate all you want and come up with a million reasons. (Hell, when Rod Brind’Amour was with the Flyers, he was traded to Carolina because Eric Lindros was having an affair with his wife. But I digress.) The fact of the matter is, what’s done is done and it’s time to move forward.

The River Kings are entering their second LNAH season this year. While they bolstered their line up last year to make an impact, things can change in an instant. With a wild and bumpy road that’s been the past few months and as a second year team, its only right to work your way up the league with experience and determination. You’re not going to win the championship overnight. Let me repeat that for certain people.

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP OVERNIGHT. But, what do I know. Anyway.

In return, the River Kings picked up Yvan Busque and Sebatien Payette. Busque was acquired by Valleyfield from St. Georges where he notched 26 points in 28 games. Compare that to Joly’s 16 in 31. (Yes I realize he was injured for the most part too.) Busque has put up solid numbers for his 4 years with St. Georges and a year long stint in Austria.

Payette just finished his junior career in the QMJHL with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He’s a rugged defenseman who picked up 32 points in 54 games. A solid final year.

There’s more to a hockey team then just grit, strength and toughness. Case in point, Mario Joly. Joly was linked to the Coventry Blaze of the EIHL the past two seasons and it wasn’t because of his fists. Most leagues are trying to move away from that aspect. The game just isn’t the same anymore and it’s time people start realizing.

Whether you like it or not Cornwall won that trade. But what do I know right?

While this summer has been relatively quiet on the River Kings front, today was handed a piece of news in the form of a shocker. Tough guy and fan favourite Mario Joly has been traded up highway 401 to the Valleyfield Braves.

Although no official statement has come from the team yet, it was Joly himself who announced his being traded on the Cornwall River Kings facebook fan page.

Joly is no stranger to LNAH rinks having spent the past four years in the league with stops in Saguenay, Windsor, Cornwall and now Valleyfield. Starting his hockey career off with the Hull Olympiques in the QMJHL, hockey has brought Joly all over North America including an amazing 2 year run with the Odessa Jakalopes of the Central Hockey League.

In his one year he spend with the Cornwall River Kings, Joly notched 16 points in 31 games. However, he was more known for his fists as he wracked up 110 penalty minutes. It will be interesting to see who, if anything, Cornwall gets in return.

Just this week the city has agreed to keep the River Kings in Cornwall for another two years. Sharing rink time and space with the Junior A Cornwall Colts, Cornwall hockey fans should be delighted that they have two teams competing for them.

Training camp opens up for the River Kings on September 14th and 15th followed by four exhibition games at the end of September and beginning of October. Hold on to your hats Cornwall, it’s going to be a wild ride!