NEWS

By Kristopher Bras

The Fred Page Cup (FPC) isn’t an exclusively “Cornwallian” experience, but after this year’s iteration, the Colts will be tied with Hockey Town (Pembroke) for the most appearances by any team (seven). And the connection between town and tournament doesn’t stop there.

There from the beginning
Cornwall participated in the inaugural FPC back in 1995, with a lineup that featured future Pittsburgh Penguin Éric Meloche. Although the team was defeated by the hosting Joliette Nationals in the final, Meloche has fond memories of the winning season that got them there.

“The experience is always in the back of your mind. From juniors, all the way to pro, it’s hard to win any championship. You remember the road getting to that championship, especially winning the (CCHL). Beating Gloucester and beating Ottawa…winning is what you remember the most,” said Meloche.

This year’s version of the Colts may have lost to the Canadians in the league semi-final, but they’ve done plenty of winning this season—and they know they have a shot at taking this tournament. With 38 victories, they’ve won one more game than Meloche’s team did back in 1994-95 (albeit in fewer games).

Raising your game
The FPC will give the Colts a second chance to find out if they can bring their game up to championship level, against top-tier teams from across Eastern Canada. The challenge is something players relish at this time of the year—even the ones who have already proven themselves.

“The experience of being in a tournament with good teams, at that point of the year…you’re going to get the cream of the crop, and some of the best Jr. A players in Canada,” said Meloche.

Many players might go on to better teams and bigger tournaments, but for the players who don’t score an NCAA scholarship, it’s their last chance to win big games with good friends. And even the ones who do go on to play at higher levels are awed by the experience.

“At that point, you don’t foresee that you’re going to go to the NCAA Frozen Four, or win a Calder Cup (as Meloche did). At that point in my career, it was probably one of the biggest tournaments I had played in,” Meloche said. “That really meant something, and there was a lot of pressure to win.”

The importance of adversity
After their second straight CCHL Championship, Meloche’s Colts found themselves back at the FPC in 1996. This time, Meloche was coming off a huge season offensively, scoring 68 goals and 121 points—and his Colts had finished with a jaw-dropping 45-6-3 record.

“I was playing with Hugo Boisvert at the time, and we just knew each other by heart. And we had Marc Lamontagne on the left side. Experience kills, and I think that’s what happened. We all completed each other really well. Hugo was a great playmaker, and I was scoring that year.”

Unfortunately, their incredible CCHL season didn’t translate into FPC success.

“We didn’t have that much adversity during the year, so when we did hit teams that were really good, and were really strong, that competed a bit more, we couldn’t bring our game up to a competitive point,” he said.

“You need to be challenged during the year so when you do get to those tournaments you know how to turn it on to beat the bigger teams, and the rest of Canada.”

Although Meloche's team never managed to win the FPC, the Colts finally had success at the tournament in 1999-00—one of the team's seven appearances over the years.

Colts have the firepower
If challenge and adversity helps to win championships, the Colts have had that in spades. This year, the CCHL featured three teams that made the CJHL’s final Top 20 Rankings going into the postseason, including Ottawa, Pembroke and Carleton Place. The Colts have played underdog to them all season.

They also have talent, work ethic and experience.

Led by the CCHL’s Top Graduating Player, Marly Quince, the offense is bolstered by Kevin Hope, Grant Cooper and former London Knight Tristen Elie. All four players scored over twenty goals this season.

Cornwall also has one of the best defensive pairings in the country in Zac Tierney and Craig Ross; and the extremely capable goaltending tandem of Denny Dubblestyne and Brett Nichol.

With heavy assets at both ends of the rink, the Colts have a squad that can win any game, and one that historic CJHL greats like Éric Meloche can be proud of.

Who doesn’t love an underdog home team story?

 

Follow me on Twitter: @KristopherBras