Page 39 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 151

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #151 August 2025 39

Continued from page 21 tried to convince Ross that he could year,” and he was offering a full the area. Bob Murray was a great guy,
pursue an OHL scholarship if he scholarship. When I told him I would and he would take the time to help
the first year of operation. “By then
made the team, which wasn’t worth like to discuss curriculum, he told us work on our game during these
it was mid-to-late September, and I as much as the scholarships offered me not to worry about school, that summer sessions. One example was
played the exhibition games. We had by the US schools. Ross came back to he would pick my courses and that I him coaching me on the bench to
several Cornwall guys on the team,
Cornwall and was mulling this offer would “have a piece of paper when slow the play down while we were
including Chris Nichol, our goalie, over when he received a call from I came out.” I was always focused taking a breather between shifts.
Mike Collins, Mike Leblanc, Paul
Brian Gilmour, one of the former on getting a good education and Both Newell Brown and I started
Marshall, and myself. One of the owners of the Huron Hockey School planned to do business first and then playing with those guys when we
exhibition games was against the 79- where Ross had worked the previous law school. When I told him that his were playing Midget hockey and it
80 Cornwall Royals Memorial Cup
summer up at Huron Park. “Brian plan to pick my courses didn’t work was great for our development. There
team and I knew most of the returning asked me to come over to his house for me, he said, “You mean that you were guys like Dan Daoust, Rick
players on the team. The Cornwall
and said there was a coach there that are turning down a chance to play for Patterson, Marc and Bob Crawford,
boys were all pumped for that game, he wanted me to meet. I went over and a Big Ten School?” When I told him Dave Ezard, Mike Conway, Mark
and we were outshot 47-25 with that coach was Jacques Martin, who yes, he appeared shocked, and I can Morris from Massena, who was at
Chris Nichol standing on his head,
later went on to coach several NHL still see the look on his face. I’m sure Colgate, and several current and past
to make it a close game. Chris saw a teams and win 2 Stanley Cups with that wasn’t the standard answer he’d Royals playing. It was great summer
lot of rubber that night, and Cornwall
the Pittsburg Penguins. Jacques was get from a recruit as they’d normally hockey and lots of fun playing with
beat us 5-4 with Dale Hawerchuk coaching the Rockland Remparts in jump on the offer. Ross ended up these guys. Back at this time, I also
scoring one of the Cornwall markers. the CJHL the next season and he said accepting a scholarship with Clarkson, used to train with Bob Crawford in
I managed to put 2 behind the Royals’
if I was interested in pursuing a U.S., played four games in his freshman the summer, going for lengthy, multi-
goalie and after the second one, I scholarship to come and play Junior year and switched to an academic mile runs at a fast clip and doing
skated by the Royals’ bench and
for him,” Ross recalled. “At the same scholarship in his sophomore year. circuit training with weights, off the
gave them the elbow pump - several time Gerry Brown and Frank Mario Clarkson worked out well for Ross ice. Bob was a tremendous athlete, a
of them were buddies of mine. Mike were both scouting NCAA games for from an education standpoint and he top scorer in the QMJHL and went on
Collins also managed to score in the
NHL clubs, asked what I was planning ended up being named to the “Who’s to have a good NHL career with St.
game, so 3 of the 4 Belleville goals to do the next season and offered to Who in American Universities and Louis and Hartford.”
came from Cornwall boys.”
put the word out with U.S. Colleges Colleges,” and National Dean’s List
Later in life, because of his legal
Ross stayed in Belleville for the that I was interested in pursuing the in his Senior Year. Following his game background, Ross was approached
exhibition season, living in a hotel U.S. College route.” I went to play for plan, Ross went on to York University a few times to see if he might be
room most of that time. He was Jacques, was very fortunate to get off and graduated with a law degree from interested in becoming a player agent.
late getting into school and carried to a good start to the season and had Osgoode Hall Law School, followed “The first time, Bob Goodenow had
several grade 13 courses in grade multiple offers from ECAC & CCHA by a call to the Ontario Bar. taken over from Alan Eagleson as
12. Realizing that this wasn’t the schools by mid-November. Stating that Cornwall was a good head of the NHLPA and Newell
best fit academically, Ross made the
One of the funnier recruiting place to grow up, Ross went on to Brown arranged for Bob and me to
decision to return to Cornwall and experiences involved one of the say that “We had some really good meet. I went over to the NHLPA Head
play for Bill Murphy’s Juvenile team. CCHA Big Ten schools. The Head summer hockey here in Cornwall, as Office for lunch in Bob’s office and
After the season ended, Bill took
Coach of that team called me and told Bob Murray would come back while he gave me some sound advice. He
Ross into Kingston to meet with Jim me he was going to my next game in playing for the Chicago Black Hawks told me that if I wanted to become
Morrison, the coach of the Kingston
Nepean and wanted to see me after and he and John Markell would an agent, he would help me do it and
Canadians, to discuss coming out to the game. When we met, he said, “I organize the summer hockey for the then proceeded to take out his wallet
camp for the upcoming season. Jim
really want you in our program next NHL, Junior and College players in
Continued on page 44