BY RANDY PASCAL
It reads like the dossier of a well-travelled minor hockey
league journeyman: Gloucester, Pembroke, Collingwood, Bancroft,
Prince George, B.C., Peterborough, Cornwall.
But for Rayside-Balfour Jr. Sabrecat graduate and former Great
North Midget League MVP Alain Joanette, the final destination
easily justifies the stops along the way. The 21-year-old
Chelmsford native recently accepted a scholarship to attend St.
Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.
While playing junior hockey in seven different outposts - not
including a stint as an affiliate player with the
Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats - was likely not exactly the game
plan that Joanette envisioned some five or six years ago, the
experience did provide him with some benefits.
"It really helped me to mature and grow up," he notes. "I had a
chance to see a lot of different things, different parts of the
country and obviously learn for all different kinds of
coaches."
In fact, Joanette also experienced a double that few young
hockey players ever will. In the spring of 2007, the talented
sniper was acquired by the Prince George Spruce Kings, as the
BCHL team was preparing to host the Royal Bank Cup - emblematic
of national Junior A hockey supremacy.
Fast-forward 12 months and it's the Cornwall Colts who come
calling, acquiring the former GNML scoring champion from the
Peterborough Liftlock Stars, as the eastern Ontario city
prepared to host the Royal Bank Cup 2008.
While the miles were adding up, Joanette tried to remain
philosophical and positive.
"It's not like I was moving for bad reasons. I mean, people
dream of playing in one Royal Bank Cup. To get a second chance,
with a great group of guys, was incredible," he says.
A natural goal-scorer throughout much of his minor hockey
career, Joanette feels the combination of both his scoring
ability and play-making skills provided the attraction for both
Prince George and Cornwall. Still, the ongoing address changes
were not without their downside.
"A roller coaster ride is exactly what junior hockey was all
about, at least for me," admits Joanette. "There were plenty of
times that I wondered what people were thinking about me, like
am I being moved because I'm a problem in the dressing room,
things like that. I knew that wasn't the case."
Nonetheless, there was a fear that the impression may not have
helped his bid to attract attention within the NCAA Division I
ranks.
"My parents really helped me out - calling me after most of the
games, telling me not to get discouraged."
In the end, Joanette is more than a little pleased with his
decision to head to the land of the cheese-heads. The St.
Norbert College Green Knights are the defending NCAA Division
III national champions, with a roster that included netminder
Kyle Jones, who recently signed a pro contract with the
Worcester Sharks (AHL) - the top affiliate team of the NHL's
San Jose Sharks.
It's a program that sets their sights high.
"The coach (Tim Coghlin) has told me that although they just
won the NCAA title, they don't want to rebuild. They want to be
very competitive again next year," says Joanette.
With any luck at all, the skilled northern Ontario forward will
be centering one of the top two lines, an opportunity he simply
could not turn down.
"They sell out just about every home game. That's an atmosphere
I want to play in," states Joanette of the chance to play in
front of nearly 2,000 fans at the Cornerstone Community Centre,
located just ten minutes outside of Green Bay.
Despite a hockey road map that has taken him to many corners of
the province, his last stop provided a homecoming of sorts, as
Joanette hooked up with former Sudbury Wolves Nickel Capital
forward Joey Derochie as a teammate with the Colts.
"He's a great guy for me to try and compare myself to - his
work ethic is unbelievable... he just goes all the time,"
explains Joanette of his fellow Sudburian.
In fact, the Cornwall squad provided the players with arguably
the best of times in the junior hockey ranks.
"I think things just clicked in right away for me in Cornwall -
I still can't believe how close we were as a hockey team,"
admits Joanette. "Everyone had matured, there was not a lot of
jealousy in the room. It was just always a good atmosphere."
As the week-long Royal Bank Cup 2008 wound down, Joanette found
himself down to his final few choices, seriously examining
offers from both the University of Toronto, as well as the
University of Maine.
But in the end, it was St. Norbert College that would provide
the next stop along the way for this local product. And
Joanette certainly hopes that he can make roots with the Green
Knights for at least the next four years.
Randy Pascal is the voice of Persona 10 Sports and the founder of SudburySports.com.
