Cornwall Nationals

The Cornwall Nationals were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Federal Hockey League (FHL) that played in the 2016–17 season and folded during the 2017–18 season. Based in Cornwall, Ontario, the Nationals played their home games at the Ed Lumley Arena.

Cornwall Nationals
CityCornwall, Ontario
LeagueFederal Hockey League
Founded2016
Folded2018
Home arenaEd Lumley Arena
ColoursBlack, red, white, gold
       
Owner(s)Rodney Rivette & Will Beauvais
General managerBasem Awwad
Head coachJoel Trottier
MediaCornwall Standard Freeholder
Franchise history
2016–2018Cornwall Nationals

History

The Nationals were founded in September 2016, when the Cornwall River Kings of the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH) folded just prior to the 2016–17 season. The team was led by general manager Mitch Gagne and team president Rodney Rivette.[1] Prior to creating the Nationals, Rivette led a last-minute fundraising campaign to save the River Kings but did not get enough support in time for the LNAH's deadlines.

On September 14, 2016, the city of Cornwall, Ontario, approved a team called the Cornwall Nationals to begin play for the 2016–17 season out of the Ed Lumley Arena.[2] On September 16, the Federal Hockey League (FHL) approved of the addition to the league for the upcoming season.[1][3] On September 17, Rivette and Gagne presented the first four players (Lou Dickenson, Jeff Legue, Jason Lepine, and Kris McCarthy) and revealed logo and jerseys.[4]

Midway through their first season, team president Rodney Rivette bought out Mitch Gagne's share of the team and Gagne left his position of general manager on 18 December.[5] On December 21, the Nationals announced that it had secured another local investor, Will Beauvais, to help support the team.[6] Nationals forward, Basem Awwad, also took over general manager duties at that time. On February 28, 2017, captain Joel Trottier took over as head coach.

On February 20, 2018, Rivette announced that the team folded during the season and were unable to continue citing lack of spectators and income, despite the team sitting in second place in the league standings.[7] Their last game was played on February 17 in a 13–6 win against the North Shore Knights in front of a crowd of 358.[8]

References
  1. "FHL Formally Approves Expansion to Cornwall, Ontario for 2016-17". September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  2. "Cornwall city hall inks deal with FHL Nationals". Standard-Freeholder. September 14, 2016. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  3. "FHL Formally Approves Membership to Cornwall, Ontario For 2016-17 season". September 16, 2016. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  4. "Cornwall Nationals are born". September 18, 2016. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  5. "Cornwall Nationals: Gagne's gone". Standard-Freeholder. 18 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  6. "NATIONALS HAVE NEW INVESTOR". FHL. 21 December 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  7. "Cornwall Nationals fold". Cornwall Seaway News. 20 February 2018.
  8. "Stats - Official Site of the Federal Hockey League". www.federalhockey.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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