Page 21 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 6

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Presents... The Games Are Over,

The Memories Live On

Success is a Relative Term: Orval Tessier

By Terry Tinkess a break, three or four days off and Tessier thought he In the 1960-1961 season he played 32 games, adding
would drive home (to Cornwall) and visit his mother. three goals and four assists for seven points.
According to Tessier, one of the popular places to It’s fair to say that Tessier’s NHL career as a player
hangout at the time was Laperle’s poolroom on Alice wasn’t a long one, but you have to look at it in context.
St. “My father lived three or four doors up from there. When you consider his physical attributes (5’ 8” and
So it was just before we were going to have supper 160 lbs.) and that there were only six NHL teams at
and I said and I’d go and see who was there, and a the time, it becomes much more impressive.
couple of the boys were so we were going to have a Would Tessier liked to have played in the NHL a bit
game together. They had two or three tables. longer and added to his point total? It would be a
“My dad came down and said to come back quickly rare player that would answer “no” to that question,
because Montreal had phoned,” says Tessier. “I but what is most important is that he is pleased with
wasn’t worried, I wasn’t sneaking anything, they the time he spent there and what he managed to
knew I was there. accomplish.
Tessier called Montreal and reached the Royals “I’m perfectly happy with what I accomplished,”
general manager. “He said “You’re going to play in says Tessier. “My pro hockey career as a player was
Toronto tomorrow night,” says Tessier. I asked who 99 per cent in minor pro.
against (not understanding that he had been called “I set records just about everywhere I went. In fact, at
up.) one time I held the all-time goals and points records
The response was short and to the point: “The Maple in hockey: 1959-1960 in Kingston, in the Eastern
Leafs, dummy!” Pro League, I had 59 goals and 67 assists for 126
Tessier was concerned that being in Cornwall might points. The guy who beat it, several years later was
have been a problem, but it worked out. “I told him Phil Esposito. I held that for quite a while.
I was in Cornwall and he says no problem cause the “It was minor, but it was still there.”
team was taking the train at 11:00 o’clock. He says,
“The first stop is Cornwall, so get on in Cornwall. All

your stuff will be on there. When you get on, tell the
guy you’re coming to the last car.”

Orval the player: Orval Tessier played with the “So I go in and there’s Beliveau and all those guys
likes of Rocket Richard and Jean Beliveau. there, and it’s “Hi Orval,” cause I knew them all
Supplied Photo because we used to sit and chat together side-by-
side.”
When hockey talk turns to players from the past,
Orval Tessier isn’t necessarily a name that comes to The team got to Toronto in the morning and had a
bit of a skate to loosen up. It was then that Tessier
mind. Better known as a coach who found success
at every level, Tessier can also add to his list of noticed that they didn’t send his sticks along with
the rest of his equipment. “They sent everything but
accomplishments playing with and against NHL
greats such as Maurice “Rocket” Richard and Gordie sticks,” says Tessier. “The Rocket (Maurice Richard)
Howe. walks over and says, “Here, try this one.” He played
right wing, but he was a left shot, and so was I. Even
Tessier had three short stops in the NHL. The first,

and shortest came in the 1954-1955 season while if I didn’t like it, I was going to keep it.”
Tessier remembers that he didn’t see the ice in the
he was a member of the Montreal Canadiens farm

system. He says he remembers it well. first period, but then got two or three shifts in the
“I was playing for the Montreal Royals,” says second and two or three shifts in the third. “In those
days they played three lines,” says Tessier. “That was
Tessier. “Our dressing room was right next door to

the Canadiens and we were their farm team. In those my first experience.”
Tessier was later traded to the Boston Bruins, playing
days you didn’t get drafted, they just put you on a
negotiation list. You belonged to Montreal, that’s most of the time in the minors, but was called up on
how it went.” two occasions. In the 1955-1956 season he played 23 Orval the coach. Orval Tessier helped bring
games and picked up two goals and three assists for
Tessier was in his second year with the Royals and I the storied Chicago Black Hawks back to

was having a pretty good year. The Royals had a bit of five points. respectability. Supplied Photo
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