Like it or not, Belleville Bulls defenceman SHAWN LALONDE, who begins the professional phase of his hockey career this weekend with the ROCKFORD ICE HOGS of the AHL, will be forever linked to an ill-conceived one-game standoff with GM-coach GEORGE BURNETT. When differences with Burnett boiled to the surface during the 2008-2009 season, Lalonde staged a one-game walkout right before a key intra-conference contest with Brampton. (Bulls won without him.)
To his credit, Lalonde immediately realized the error of his way, took full responsibility and went on to apologize to Burnett, his teammates and Bulls fans.
This season, Lalonde — rightly or wrongly — took heat from some critics for not waiving his no-trade clause and allowing the Bulls to deal him during a rebuilding season. Though it would have been an unselfish and team-first act, Lalonde cannot be faulted for wanting to take control of his own destiny.
We maybe didn’t always see the best of Lalonde this season but he leaves as the all-time goal-scoring leader for Bulls defencemen (47) and wins points in this corner for never ducking an interview and always returning phone messages.
I might not have agreed with everything Lalonde did during his time here, but he was always willing to discuss it.
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