Major, minor issues up north

By Randy Russon
August 13, 2017
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As first pucks are set to drop on the 2017-2018 Great North Midget Hockey League season in less than a month, there are issues of major and minor concern.

At first blush, there is a fresh, new look to the league. The addition of minor midget entries from Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay has increased membership in the Great North from seven to nine teams.

As well, there is a new commissioner with the energetic Darren Potvin taking over from the reluctant Bob MacLean. MacLean, over the course of the 2016-2017 season, could not be bothered to respond to e-mails from a writer seeking comment or clarification on several league issues.

So, unless proven otherwise, the addition of the two minor midget teams and the appointment of Potvin as commissioner can be viewed as positive moves.

Even in Sault Ste. Marie, where negativity has swirled in and around the local hockey association for a couple of years, there are now enough players to outfit two teams — the holdover Soo Greyhounds (major midget) and the expansion Soo Thunderbirds (minor midget.)

Not to say that issues don’t remain in the Soo.

There are parents who remain intent on sending their kids out of town to play midget hockey elsewhere in northern Ontario. Indeed, many parents have made their dissatisfaction with the Sault Major Hockey Association plain, clear and direct via e-mails which I have received copies of.

Just as I am told that there are issues in Sudbury, which is also home to two teams in the Great North — Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves (major midget) and Sudbury Wolves (minor midget.)

I have been made aware of ongoing player development concerns involving the Nickel Capital Wolves allegedly preventing their players from moving up to practice and play some games with the Rayside-Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

In fact, after I wrote a story in that regard during the 2016-2017 season, Nickel Capital Wolves head coach Peter Michelutti Jr. subsequently sent me an e-mail in which he tersely told me to refrain from ever contacting him again.

It should be noted that unlike Michelutti Jr., Nickel Capital Wolves general manager Albert Corradini has remained professional and courteous with me despite not agreeing with some of what I wrote regarding issues with his team and the Rayside-Balfour juniors.

Meanwhile, player relocation played havoc with the Timmins Majors during the 2016-2017 season.

The Majors finished last in the Great North with a record of 2-32-2. And a major reason why the Majors were so bad was that nine midget-aged players left the Timmins area to play elsewhere last season.

And while some concerns remain in Timmins, there’s a new look to the Majors staff from last season to this that includes first-year head coach Brandon Perry. As the Majors seek a fresh start, the 28-year old Perry returns to coach the team that he captained and starred for a dozen years ago.

As Timmins is poised to hold its main tryout camp next weekend, new assistant general manager Ron Holmes told me that the Majors have two or three openings on defense, four or five forward spots open and one goalie position available — while noting that there is a “more positive atmosphere surrounding the organization.”

Meanwhile, as the aforementioned Potvin takes over as the 29-year old commissioner — despite his young age he has spent eight years in the league with the Kapuskasing Flyers, beginning as general manager at age 21 and then moving up to president — he is aware of the challenges facing the Great North loop.

Self-described as “passionate about hockey” and a born-and-bred northerner, Potvin is anxious to get to work as Great North commissioner.

But the young commissioner threw caution to the wind when he bluntly stated: “There are several pressing issues concerning midget hockey in northern Ontario. We must do a better job.”