Jeremy Cornish in depth Interview

DURHAM, UK – Jeremy Cornish has spent the majority of the last 7 years plying his trade in UK hockey appearing for the likes of the Sheffield Steelers, Newcastle Vipers and the Wightlnk Raiders as his career has progressed from an enforcing role to being involved in just about every decision that effects his current side on the Isle of Wight.
Cornish first came to the UK back in 2004 when he signed for the London Racers in the Elite League. Jeremy explains how this move came about
“I had played back home for 5 years and realised that I wasn’t going to move up any farther, so I decided to come over and experience a new country and culture. The thought of moving to a city like London was a great opportunity for me at the time and I enjoyed my time there”.

“The hockey back home is very similar to the hockey here, both are a tough physical style which has always suited me and the game I play”.
“In London I was really finding my game and throughout the first ten games or so of my 2^nd season there I was playing lots of minutes and contributing on the scoreboard”.
However the Racers soon hit some serious financial problems which led to the side pulling out of the league. Jeremy moved on to the north east to sign for the Newcastle Vipers even though other offers from more established organisations were on the table.
“I had an offer from Sheffield at the time, but Newcastle was a great fit for me. I had previously talked to Rob Wilson (Newcastle Vipers coach) and I really liked the direction that his team were heading in at the time. We ended up second in the league and won the play-offs, so that was a decision that paid off”.
“In Newcastle we all had a role to play. When a team wins the league or playoffs, players must fit into a team concept and make sure they do a job”.
“To be honest, winning the playoffs in Newcastle was my career highlight up to that point, so that made playing a third line role and protecting my teammates very satisfying.   Also in Newcastle I wasn’t alone doing that role, we had Andre Payette and Paul Ferone, so I was able to play hockey and fight when it was needed”.
While chatting about the physical side of the game Jeremy revealed that
“Wade Belak is still the toughest guy I have ever fought. When I fought him he was a top 5 guy in the NHL and in his prime. He was a player that wanted to hurt you when he was fighting, he’s a really tough guy”.
After a successful 2 year spell on Tyneside Jeremy signed for the Sheffield Steelers in the summer of 2007. Cornish only played just over half a season for the Steelers before he was released by the Yorkshire side.
“I liked the guys in Sheffield and still keep in touch with some of them. The club is one of the biggest in the country and it was a fun place to play. I was only there for 40 games, but the time I did spend there was enjoyable”.
“I was disappointed when I was released especially as there were other players at the time not doing what they were meant to be doing out on the ice. I felt I did my job to the fullest while I was there, so being released for a goal scorer wasn’t the nicest feeling”.
“Now that I coach myself, I can see why the move was made, but at the time I was pretty upset. The hardest part of the whole situation was that the owner was the one who told me after the game and that just showed who was really in charge of that club at the time”.
After his acrimonious departure from Sheffield, Cornish moved back to North America and secured a spot on the roster of the Bloomington Prairie Thunder in the IHL.
“Moving home to play in the IHL with Bloomington was a fun experience. It had been a while since I played back home, so it was a welcome change. We put on a good push to make the playoffs, but just came up short. I found the league was really professional and that was something I had missed when playing in the Elite League. I loved my time in the Elite League, but the leagues back home are run a little better, especially when it comes to the rinks and the travel”.
Despite the more professional approach in North America, Jeremy clearly missed the UK game as he was back plying his trade in the Elite League the following campaign. Cornish signed for the Hampshire side the Basingstoke Bison. The Herd struggled that year both on and off the ice as the Bison struggled to operate at the top level in British hockey.
£Basingstoke was a tough year, but for me and a couple other players we got a University package, so it made the season very worthwhile. I’ve just finished my degree up at the University of Winchester, and without that season, I would never had been able to prepare for a job when I’m done playing”.
On leaving Basingstoke it was clear Jeremy was going to continue his studies in Winchester so when an opportunity to join ENL South side Wightlink Raiders as their player/coach came along it was a perfect fit for the Ontario born forward.
“My role on the Island is to firstly coach the team, then after that my focus is being the best player possible. My role has changed a lot since I played in the Elite league and the past two seasons have been a lot of fun just focusing on coaching and playing the game”.
Wightlink won the ENL South Championship last term and it is clear Cornish wants to see what Raiders can achieve under his tutelage.
“I do see myself progressing as a coach, but I would like to stay on the Island until the team is totally re-built from the juniors all the way up to the senior team. We did win the league last year, but the team still has work to do both on and off the ice to become a consistent team in the ENL”.
“I would have to say last season was the best season I have ever had as a player or coach. The guys were great and we might not have had the best players in the league, but we had the best system in place and the guys played it with commitment almost every single game. To build a team and run it a certain way is very satisfying. Winning the championship is a tough task in any league and having the players commit and sacrifice their own personal stats to win shows the types of characters we have on the Island. The core of our team is comprised with only team first type of guys and that’s what’s needed to win at any level”.
“When you are a player you think you can always do better than the coach that you have at the time, so when you get a chance to build a team and make it play a certain way and you win, it’s a very satisfying feeling”.
Many promising young players have come through the youth set up on the Isle of Wight in the last couple of the years and Jeremy made it clear just how highly he rates former Wightlink netminder Matt Colclough.
“I think Matt has a very bright future in the game, he gave us two solid seasons and last year he was by far the best goalie in our league. As long as he gets ice time this season in Basingstoke I don’t see any reason why he can’t become a solid starting goalie at EPL level”.
Jeremy also spoke about all the different buildings he’s iced in during his time in the UK.
“My favourite rink in the UK? That’s a tough one. I’ve got lots that I hate….more so now playing in the ENL. In the Elite League I really liked Belfast, great team and fantastic organization, but for our league I like the Ryde Arena, it’s small and now that we are getting a good amount of fans out each game, it has a great atmosphere”.
With the interview coming to a close I asked Wightlink’s Player/Coach what stood out as the highlights and disappointments from his career.
” I don’t have many disappointments, to be able to play for as long as I have I feel pretty lucky. I have had my share of injuries, played for a couple unsuccessful teams, but overall I’ve been fortunate to make a living from hockey for over ten years.   Playing on the Island has been a welcome change and the owners Geoff Underwood and Steve Price have been great in helping me get my coaching career started”.
Contact the author – chris.mackenzie@prohockeynews.com