CCHL Launch New Team Websites
Date: Aug 30, 2017
By Kevin Gould, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
Interesting off-season so far in local hockey circles.
Grant Hebert going to Fargo, his brother Cameron coming to Cornwall, Nick Lalonde off to Ottawa.
And, not quite local, but one of our favourite CCHL coaches heading out east.
We’ll start there, with Sylvain Favreau, the infinitely likeable former coach of the Cumberland Grads.
Had tried to get in touch with Favreau a few weeks back, when doing a story on Grant Hebert’s leaving the Grads to play in the USHL, with the Fargo Force.
Couldn’t get a hold of Favreau to get his comments before the story ran, and when he got back to me, there was no rush to return the call. Finally did a couple of weeks later, just to chat, and it was a timely call. Talked a little about the loss of the CCHL’s leading scorer, before the conversation turned to his younger brother who, unbeknownst to me, had just been traded to the Cornwall Colts, first being shipped from Cumberland to Ottawa.
“Bet you thought that’s why I was calling,” I said to Favreau.
“Actually no, I thought you were called about the other thing.”
(Crickets).
Favreau had just accepted a job with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, as the team’s assistant coach.
Though no longer with Cumberland, Favreau was helping with the transition. While losing a player such as Grant Hebert surely hurts the organization, there was no ill will from the coach.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for Grant. We support our players 100 per cent,” said Favreau.
“I understand the USHL is close to our league, but probably a step up.
“Obviously, selfishly as a coach, you want to keep your players, because you have a strong belief in your program.
“But, it’s part of the game, part of a business.”
Hebert will attend Robert Morris University on an NCAA D-1 scholarship in 2018-19. That’s what Favreau is most pleased about.
“That’s a big win for the Cumberland program, with Grant. Scholarships are what players are here for,” said Favreau.
It’s all about moving on to the next level, and not just for players.
“Just like players move on, so do coaches,” said Favreau, of his decision to join the Mooseheads.
Cameron Hebert also attended a hockey camp in Fargo, and there was some talk he might also jump to the USHL. He didn’t, but did want to play hockey closer
to home, and finish his high school years at St. Joseph’s.
The Grads were accommodating, and they didn’t have to be.
“I’m not one to sit on a player, or anything like that,” said Favreau.
Over to another of our favourite CCHL interviews, Martin Dagenais of the Ottawa Jr. Senators.
Dagenais and the Jr. Sens are hosting the Fred Page Cup this year, and he looks to be loading up for a good run, bringing in some recruits in the offseason, and adding Lalonde and Owen Guy of Kemptville.
“They’ll probably play on the same line,” said Dagenais of Lalonde and Guy.
Guy was acquired to complete a previous deal between Ottawa and Kemptville.
What say you coach, a different approach when you’re hosting the FPC?
“Maybe a little more aggressive, but at the same time, we’re not really doing anything different,” said Dagenais. “If Nick Lalonde was available last year, we would have went after him.”
The Sens wasted little time in going after Lalonde.
“When you hear that a player of that stature is available, obviously I called him (Ian MacInnis) right away,” said Dagenais.
“It cost a lot, I won’t lie. We had to give up a regular and two young kids who are going to play in this league to get Hebert, and then we had to give up (Zachary) Cross to Cornwall as well.
“We got the best player in the deal, but still, we gave up a lot.”
Lalonde asked for a trade, as he is taking some courses at Carleton University in the fall, before attending Robert Morris University on scholarship in 2018-19, where he’ll become a teammate of Grant Hebert.
“I think it will be good to move away from home for a year too,” said Lalonde, who was born in Cornwall and raised in Whitby. While with the Colts, Lalonde stayed with his father, who lives in Cornwall.
“It’s not real far, but it will be a little different.”
The fact that the Jr. Sens are hosting this year’s Fred Page Cup?
“That was a component, but not really a main one,” said Lalonde of the decision.
Initially, there was a proposed trade that would have moved Lalonde to Cumberland, but the CCHL vet wanted to play with the Jr. Sens.
“I’m excited. I’ll miss the guys on the team, but I’m anxious to play in Ottawa,” said Lalonde.
“It will be a strong team. I’m not sure what kind of role I’ll have, but I’m anxious to get started.”
For now, he’s still in Cornwall, working at Benson for the summer.
He has nothing but good things to say about his time with the Colts.
“Coming in as a 16-year-old, from the Toronto area. Ian (MacInnis) was really great to me. Playing in the Fred Page Cup with the team. A lot of good memories, a lot of good friendships.”