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Temiscaming hockey steaming with success

The small border town on the Quebec side has been having a memorable year in the game of hockey
2022 07 03 Nico Laforge Mem Cup
Nico Laforge poses with the Memorial Cup and the Blanchard’s, his billet family in Saint John. Photo courtesy Facebook.

The small border town on the Quebec side has been having a memorable year in the game of hockey. 

Of course, the year started off strong with an impressive run to a championship for the local Temiscaming Titans who captured the Russell Cup as Greater Metro Junior 'A' champs of the non-sanctioned junior league. 

See related: Temiscaming Titans run the table for Russell Cup title 

The Titans ran the table en route to their second GMHL title back in April.  

Then, in late June Temiscaming's Nico Laforge and the Saint John Sea Dogs upset the Hamilton Bulldogs to capture the Memorial Cup. 

The 18-year-old did not play in the Memorial Cup but did get into 21 games with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club netting and two goals and two assists for four points in 21 regular season games with the Sea Dogs. 

The former North Bay Trappers star forward could be seen in uniform celebrating on the ice after the Sea Dogs 6-3 win over the OHL champs. 

Laforge also played 13 contests with the Maritime Jr A Hockey Leagues Grand Falls Rapids finishing with three goals and three assists. 

"It was and unreal experience going through the Memorial Cup," stated Laforge to BayToday. 

"Even though I did not play, I was fortunate enough to learn so much from my teammates and take on so much experience from being there. Our team became even closer in the last month and that was something that helped us in our journey to win the Cup." 

Another young Temiscaming star is hoping to see his name called in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's U16 Draft which takes place online starting with the first round on Monday night and then followed by rounds 2 to 14 on Tuesday, July 5. 

Goaltender Justin Robinson played his U16 year with the Brantford 99ers putting up impressive numbers, and a solid performance during the OHL Cup.  

Robinson, another former Trappers player who was part of a solid 2006 Trappers age group which had five players selected in the OHL Priority Selection in April. 

"Since I haven’t played in the Quebec circuit," said Robinson, "I don’t really know what to expect for the outcome of my draft. However, I would like to see myself going between the 2nd and 4th round or at the very least amongst the top goalies being drafted." 

Then, if you are involved in hockey in Temiscaming, you would recognize the name Denis Lacourse. 

"Bubba" as he has been nicknamed, was recognized recently during the community's recent 100th Anniversary celebrations. 

Lacourse, who is the uncle to local NFLer Ryan Hunter, received his Centennial medal for recreation but a majority of that recognition comes for his support for hockey in Temiscaming including playing a key role in the re-birth of junior hockey with the Royals in the late 00's and start of the Temiscaming Titans franchise in 2011.