Sault crew in the NOJHL
It is a town that has long carried a reputation as a hockey hotbed.
And when it comes to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, no less than 22 players with a connection to minor hockey in Sault Ste. Marie are all over the map this season — and not just via the hometown Soo Thunderbirds.
As in, not only do the Thunderbirds boast 13 local lads in their lineup but there are five Sault boys playing for the Blind River Beavers, two more who are with the Espanola Express, one who skates for the Rayside Balfour Canadians, and another who is on the roster of the Powassan Voodoos.
Comprising the Sault crew on the Thunderbirds are seasoned forwards Parker Morgan, Avery Rebek, Caleb Wood, Kurtis Rogers, Brock Santa Maria, Cooper Smyl, veteran defenseman Jacob Doucette and six rookies in forwards Michael Chaffay, Ty Zachary, Ethan Novello and Tyson Doucette and defenders Kaden Dundas and Connor Toms.
Morgan, Rebek and Wood all have 2000 birth dates, Rogers and Jacob Doucette were born in 2001, Santa Maria, Smyl, Chaffay and Zachary were all born in 2002, Dundas and Novello have 2003 birth dates, while Tyson Doucette and Toms were both born in 2004.
Notably, Toms was a third round choice of the Soo Greyhounds at the 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
Down the highway in Blind River, the five Beavers with Sault ties are 2002 birth year forwards Nick Jameus and Justin Mauro, 2003 birth year goalie Gavin Disano, 2004 birth year defenseman Mason Chitaroni and Devin Mauro, a forward who also has a 2004 birth date.
Jameus and Justin Mauro are NOJHL veterans while Disano, Chitaroni and Devin Mauro are all rookies.
Of note, Chitaroni — who is originally from the small northwestern Ontario town of Marathon — was a fifth round pick of the London Knights at the 2020 OHL priority selections draft while Devin Mauro was taken in the 11th round by the Sudbury Wolves.
Over to Espanola, the Express has a pair of 2001 birth year skaters with NOJHL experience who hail from the Sault — forward Cole Delarosbil and defenseman Jordan Ritchie.
As for Rayside Balfour, veteran 2001 birth year forward Cole Ambeault is a Sault boy who was acquired by the Canadians from Blind River in an off season trade.
And at Powassan, veteran 2000 birth year forward Raf Praysner is a graduate of the Sault Major Hockey Association ranks.
So, there you go, the Sault is represented by 22 players on five different NOJHL teams.
Which, it seems, says a good deal about hockey development in the Sault.
Hockey advancement is not all about making it to the major junior ranks or beyond. Hockey advancement can — and is — about moving up to a good junior league such as the NOJHL.
And the Sault crew is proof of that.