NOJHL gaining in stature
The proof is in the pudding. Those from the outside are taking note. The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is gaining in reputation.
As the calibre of play in the NOJHL improves and as teams attract players from southern Ontario and outside the province, likewise the league is sending more players to higher ranks.
The NOJHL says it sent a “record number” of players to the National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks over the course of the past off-season. And no less than 15 former NOJHLers will begin the 2016-2017 season in either the Ontario Hockey League or the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.
In a recent HockeyNewsNorth.com story relative to former Powassan Voodoos goalie Garrett Forrest signing with Flint of the OHL, Firebirds general manager George Burnett referred to the NOJHL as a “very good league.”
Via veteran coach Stan Butler, North Bay Battalion of the OHL has no less than five players who honed their skills in the NOJHL.
And Steve Barban, the owner and general manager of the Cumberland Grads of the reputable Central Canada Hockey League, has noted that the NOJHL “has really come around.”
With 11 teams located in northern Ontario plus the northern Michigan-based Soo Eagles, the NOJHL has become a 12-member loop in a two-season span.
And while bigger may not always mean better, the NOJHL carries the appearance of being in good shape.
As it has attracted better full-time coaches, so too has it become a landing spot for more high-end players.
This level of junior hockey will seemingly always have its economic issues.
And while ever-increasing league fees can be cause for consternation, especially in a small-market loop, player development and league stature seem to be as good as it has been in the NOJHL.
Yes sir it has.
Just to add to a previous list of former NOJHLers in Major Jr, there is Skeoch out west (Giants and is currently at the NHL Ducks Rookie camp), former Trapper, ( with Shankar and Cormier). If he hasn’t been accounted for.
Well done again, RR, Cheers!!
Well stated as always R.R.
HERE HERE !!!!! Lets here it for this great little League dammit !!!!!
Not only moving players to higher leagues, but the kids who have left to play in the Ojhl are shining there and proving our best are as good as the ojhl’s best.
Last year for Eskimos Brendan Roy left and ended the being ojhl’s leading goal scoring defenceman and 2nd overall in D points while being named to the league 2nd all star team. So far he’s second again in defencemen points and over a point per game.
Another former Eskis Brendan Locke was a leader on his team, produced at a point a game while picking up an Ivy League D 1 scholarship along the way.
So far this year, even though it’s still very early, Brayden stortz who played for KL last year is leading the OJHL in points with 14 pints in 4 games and former Cochrane crunch Hunter Atchison is producing at better than a point a game for the 2017 RBC hosts Cobourg Cougars with teammates Locke and Roy
We need an RBC Cup to put the stamp on the league.