Acquired during the off-season from the Cornwall Colts to provide more scoring up front, Nick Lalonde promptly scored eight goals and posted 10 assists in his first 10 matches for the Ottawa Junior Senators.
Lalonde’s offensive firepower helped his new team get off to a fast start before suffering an injury in a 4-2 home win against the Colts on September 27. The 19-year-old is scheduled to return in mid-November and Coach/GM Martin Dagenais will be happy to welcome the player back to an Ottawa squad that still sits atop the CCHL’s Yzerman Division.
Although the Junior Senators have been among the league leaders in goals against for the past several campaigns, Dagenais brought in Lalonde, along with Owen Guy, to add more goals for another run at the Bogart Cup.
“I really like the style of play here,” Lalonde said. “The coaches want someone to be on the puck at all times. It’s always go, go, go. That usually gives us the initiative and forces other teams into making turnovers. We’re also a disciplined team defensively. That’s one aspect of my game I’ve had to pay more attention to because the coaches demand it.”
A year ago in Cornwall, Lalonde let the Colts in scoring with 32 goals and 43 assists. Along the way, he also attracted the attention of Robert Morris University and Lalonde committed to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania school in November of 2016. The 5-9, 175-pound forward joined Cornwall as a 16-year old and immediately showed flashes of brilliance, ending his rookie campaign with 10 goals.
During his second season the Colts missed the playoffs despite a 30-27-4-1 ledger and last year Cornwall took second place in the Robinson Division and fourth place overall in the CCHL. In his three seasons with Cornwall, Lalonde posted 65 goals and 80 assists in 163 games.
With a year to go before heading to Robert Morris, Lalonde asked to be traded.
“Coming to Ottawa gives me a chance to live away from home to prepare for college,” said Lalonde, who had been living with his dad in Cornwall. “I wanted the opportunity to adjust a bit before I leave for school. I enjoyed playing for the Colts and appreciate that they gave me the chance to play in this league.”
Living near the nation’s capital also enables Lalonde to take courses at nearby Carleton University to also prepare himself academically and maintain his study skills.
Moving to a new team, Lalonde wanted to prove himself quickly and adapt to the environment in Ottawa. He also knew that as a veteran, the coaches would expect him to provide leadership.
“My teammates were very accepting from the beginning,” Lalonde said. “It was easy for me to fit in, plus they had some great leaders here already with guys like Cameron White and Isaac Anderson. That enabled me to adjust quickly and focus on my game.”
Lalonde is clearly a big cog in the Dagenais’ quest to win the Bogart Cup in a season where the Junior Senators also have the privilege of hosting the Fred Page Cup.
“We started the season with a lot of new guys and already we’re a very close team,” Lalonde said. “Everyone is on the same page. We’re all focused on winning and I think as a team we’re going to just get better and better.”
