Page 13 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 13

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CORNWALL Presents...Cornwall Royals Edition

BAR-B-Q Then and Now...Gary Herrington
RESTAURANT

By Morley Seaver returned home to Cornwall and
worked for Domtar for several years
ary Herrington modestly says he before returning to school where he
Gdoesn’t remember his stats from got his diploma in business. He then
his playing days with the Royals but went to work for Coca-Cola. Today
the left winger had a solid two years he works “in the retirement home
in 1968-69 and 69-70. In fact, in 52 business.”
games in his second year, Herrington
scored 24 goals and added 16 assists His love of hockey was passed
onto his two sons, Patrick and Jamie.
for 40 points.
Pat played minor right up to midget
“I don’t think any of those were and Jamie went to play for the Colts.
deserved,” he deadpans when From there he ended up with a
reminded he also drew 111 minutes hockey scholarship and played eight

in penalties. “They weren’t fighting years of minor-pro. Today he works
penalties. They were probably all for the Nashville Predators running a
for boarding or high sticking or junior hockey program.
something like that.”
Like a lot of ex-players, the part
Herrington played with Cornwall
he remembers most about his days
in their last year in the Metro League with the Royals is the interaction
in Quebec and also with their first with other players. “I enjoyed the

in the Quebec League. He is in the
camaraderie with the local guys that

record books as scoring the very first I grew up with and played hockey
Royals goal in the QMJHL in a game
with,” he says. “There were a lot of
against Drummondville.
really good guys that came out of
He remembers both leagues as Cornwall that could have played pro
being rough places to play. “Yeah, and didn’t. We had guys like Bob

both the Metro and the Quebec Currier who was the first over-all
league were tough to play in,” he pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the

says. “A lot of the skaters in Quebec first round, over Bobby Clarke. Also

were very quick but it was a tough the first year in the Quebec league,
league too. St Jerome was a tough we had Billy Smith as our goalie.
rink to play in. Three Rivers, Sorel of He was pretty emotional. If anybody
course, and Verdun. Quebec City in knocked him around the net, he

those days had Guy Lafleur playing would drop his gloves and go at it.
for them so they had a powerhouse.” I think that year he was the second
most penalized player on the team.”
Herrington says that playing for Markell, Bill McNally and Mike home and went to school in Montreal
the Royals was a bit easier because he Ruest. “I played minor hockey with where a few of my old teammates Most of all, a lot of memories
had grown up in Cornwall and come most of them,” he says. “I’m still from the Royals were playing. Then come from playing at the Water
through the minor hockey system. good friends with them today. We I came back to Cornwall and played Street Arena. “It was great,” he says.
Playing with good competition and went on to play a lot of old-timers two seasons with the St Lawrence “The old Water Street Arena was a
familiar faces meant the jump to hockey and I played for the Cornwall College Roadrunners. After that I terrifi c atmosphere to play in. The
Junior “A” was smooth. “I played Hubs for years.” went to school in Windsor for two fans were right on top of you. I had
right up to Junior “B” so it was not years and was the captain of the St two younger brothers who followed
Following his last year with the
much of a transition to Junior “A”,” Royals, Herrington got a try-out in the Clair Saints in the OCAA. Those me quite close when I played junior.”
he remembers. “We had a very strong two years we went to the nationals. He laughs before continuing, “And
NHL. “I got drafted by Los Angeles,
Junior “B” league in Cornwall so it same as Billy Smith,” he says. “He We were undefeated and went on to my mother followed the Royals back
was just a natural progression.” win the national championships in in those days and she was probably
went to the pro camp out in LA and I
Playing with his friends helped, went to the rookie camp in Kamloops 1976.” my worst critic. But it was a great
guys like George Rodney, Bill but I didn’t make the team. I got sent Following that, Herrington time.”

Owners George, Paul and Tom have been involved with Cornwall
CORNWALL community sports since 1975.
The original and longest operating Family Restaurant in Cornwall, providing
BAR-B-Q a healthy choice with our famous barbecued rotisserie chicken.
RESTAURANT FREE DELIVERY

436 Second Street West, CORNWALL • 613-933-1000 • www.cbbq.ca