Cornwall Ontario – The Cornwall Nationals of the Federal Hockey League have signed a pair of hometown players.

General Manager Basem Awwad has come to terms with Sean Rudy and Ian Boots.

Rudy is a 26-year-old from Long Sault. The 6-foot-2, 190 lb. forward split last season between the ECHL and the SPHL.

The speedy forward played NCAA division three hockey at the conclusion of his junior career with the Cornwall Colts and Wellington Dukes.

Boots, another former Cornwall Colt, is a talented 30-year-old forward from Akwesasne.

After his junior career, Boots when on to play at Ohio State University and SUNY-Oswego. Boots has since had pro stops in the CHL, SPHL, ECHL and LNAH, where he played one game for the Cornwall River Kings.

“Sean and Ian are happy to once again represent their hometown,” said Awwad.
Cornwall is back in action Monday night in Watertown, where they’ll take on the Wolves. The Nationals are back on home ice Saturday, Jan. 21 when the Wolves visit the Civic Complex.

The signings might help spark the Nationals who had a tough weekend.

The expansion Cornwall Nationals dropped a pair of Federal Hockey League road contests this weekend.

The Berlin River Drivers skated to an 8-3 win over the Nationals on Saturday night.

Seven different players had multiple-point nights for the River Drivers.

JC Houde, Sylvester Bzdyl and Anthony Mezzagno scored for the Nationals, who were outshot 49-24.

On Friday night at Watertown, Mark Petaccio had a hat-trick to league the Wolves to a 7-2 victory over the Nationals. Kyle Powell chipped in four assists for Watertown, which outshot Cornwall 44-29.

Jason Dolgy and MJ Graham had the Nationals goals.

Cornwall is back in action Monday night in Watertown for a rematch with the Wolves. The Nationals are back on home ice Saturday, Jan. 21 when the Watertown Wolves visit the Civic Complex.