Two former Cornwall Royal stars are currently head coaches in the OHL - Doug Gilmour (Kingston Frontenacs) and Dale Hawerchuk (Barrie Colts)

PHOTO CREDIT - Robert Lefebvre - IceLevel.com

Cornwall - Feb. 12, 2011 - This week I was listening to the Team 990 out of Montreal and there was an interesting interview between Randy Tieman and Guy Carbonneau. They were discussing Carbo's return to coaching, as he has recently been named the head coach of the Shawingan Cataractes.

In the interview, Carbonneau talked about how some people had suggested to him that he had taken a step backwards by accepting a job in the "Q". Carbo saw it differently and pointed out that other former NHL Stars were also coaching in QMJHL. Hall of Famer Patrick Roy coaches the Quebec Remparts and former first overall pick Bobby Smith leads the Halifax Mooseheads.

Knowing that two former Cornwall Royal stars are currently head coaches in the OHL - Doug Gilmour (Kingston Frontenacs) and Dale Hawerchuk (Barrie Colts) - it lead me to do some research to see how many other former NHLers there might be coaching. There are some pretty big names coaching major junior hockey in Canada right now.

In the OHL, Dale Hunter heads the London Knights, former NHL player and coach Robbie Ftorek is with the Erie Otters, Scott Walker is the new coach for the Guelph Storm and Dave Cameron is behind the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors bench. Other names of note include former Edmonton Oilers coach George Burnett who coaches the Belleville Bulls, Jody Hull and Ron Tugnutt are assistants in Peterborough and Jeff Beukeboom is in Sudbury.

In the WHL, Joel Otto is with the Calgary Hitmen, Marc Habsheid is with the Chilliwack Bruins, Craig Hartsburg heads the Everett Silvertips and Guy Charron is behind the bench of the Kamloops Blazers. Other names of note include former Cornwall Ace Jon Klemm with the Spokane Chiefs, Travis Green with the Portland Winter Hawks and Mark Lamb with the Swift Current Broncos.

In the QMJHL, other names of note include Steven Finn with Lewiston Maineiacs, Donald Dufresne with the Rimouski Oceanic, Gerrard Gallant with the Saint John Sea Dogs and Corrado Micalef with the PEI Rocket. Cornwall Royals fans will remember Micalef from his days in Sherbrooke and that he was added to the Royals roster for their last Memorial Cup run.

The Royals have been gone from Cornwall for a very long time, but they still have a great legacy. Gilmour, Hawerchuk and Micalef are coaching in major junior. Other Royal alumni such as Marc Crawford (Dallas), Scott Arniel (Columbus) and Newell Brown (Vancouver) are all collecting regular pay cheques as NHL coaches.

I am sure I am like many in the area who miss the Royals. It would sure be nice to see them return to the Ed Lumley arena someday.