Kam River is home to Kenora
This is the team with the best winning percentage in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. And the Kam River Fighting Walleye can solidify its stake on first place in the SIJHL with a trio of home games against the Kenora Islanders this weekend.
…[read more]Spitfires of Sault Ste. Marie
Should the Windsor Spitfires opt to take a player from Sault Ste. Marie at the upcoming April 12-13 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft it would lengthen a long lasting alliance with kids from the Soo.
…[read more]186 points in 89 NOJHL games
Pint size forward Lucas Signoretti has been a prolific points producer ever since signing with the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League early last season.
…[read more]Hounds handle the top teams
It has been stated that if a team aspires to be the best then it has to beat the best. That utterance certainly has basis relevant to the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Flint, Windsor home & home
As they seek to try to preserve the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League the Flint Firebirds will face off against the Windsor Spitfires twice this week.
…[read more]Lighting it up in the NOJHL
Forward Lucas Signoretti of the Espanola Paper Kings has passed the 40 goal mark as the regular season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League heads towards the March 17 finish line. And a number of others have either passed or are closing in on the 30 goal mark.
…[read more]Coach, GM a good fit in Flint
Rookie head coach Paul Flache and first year general manager Dave McParlan have been rewarded by the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League with multi-year contract extensions.
…[read more]Bulldogs and Alexanders
After an absence of close to 20 years, the Ontario Hockey League returned to Brantford ahead of the 2023-2024 season in the form of the relocated Hamilton Bulldogs. Due to impending renovations and long term closure of the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, the Bulldogs officially moved to Brantford and the upgraded Civic Centre on a three year lease commencing with the current ’23-24 campaign.
…[read more]NOJHL boss was an OHL star
These days, Rob Mazzuca is well known as the long serving commissioner of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. With deep northern Ontario roots, Mazzuca has been the league’s commander in chief since 2011. And during his playing days, Mazzuca was no slouch as a standout defenseman who was a first round pick (11th overall) of the Sudbury Wolves at the 1979 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]AA goalie makes Team NOHA
Score a big one for the underdog. AA level goalie Sebastien Brassard from Sault Ste. Marie has clearly defied the odds in making the AAA Team NOHA squad that will compete at the prestigious OHL Cup Tournament that is designed for select prospects from the 2008 birth year group.
…[read more]Two games for Knight fighter
What was initially an indefinite suspension has turned into a mere two game ban for London Knights enforcer Sawyer Boulton.
…[read more]Ex Hounds fired up in Flint
Alex Kostov and Connor Clattenburg are putting up the points for the Flint Firebirds as they pursue a playoff position in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. Kostov and Clattenburg were obtained by Flint from the Soo Greyhounds in a block buster transaction at the January 10 OHL trade deadline.
…[read more]Rock star of the Firebirds
Rookie goalie Jacob Brown, formerly of the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, backstopped the Flint Firebirds to a clutch Ontario Hockey League victory on Saturday.
…[read more]To the OHL via the NOJHL
Those in the game who don’t take the time or make the effort to get to know the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League would thus be unmindful to the number of players that it develops for teams in the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Knight assailant suspended
LONDON — The Ontario Hockey League has issued an indefinite suspension to London Knights forward Sawyer Boulton. Boulton was given an instigator penalty relative to a fight with Soo Greyhounds defenseman Matthew Virgilio during the final five minutes of Friday’s loss by the Knights.
…[read more]Hounds light up the Knights
LONDON — Soo Greyhounds turned out the lights on the unbeaten heights of the London Knights before more than 9,000 fans here tonight at Budweiser Gardens.
…[read more]Hounds on the Knight shift
LONDON — Soo Greyhounds will be out to try to halt a fast moving Knight train this evening when they face off against the London Knights in a 7:00 p.m. start here at Budweiser Gardens.
…[read more]Western wear of the OHL
Let us venture here and there in a Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League that features preferable story lines and much more punch and potency than the weak side Eastern Conference.
…[read more]Tales of an old hockey writer
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following passage is an excerpt from a chapter in my book, Tales Of An Old Hockey Writer, which is slated to be published and available for sale by March 1. Mature audiences only.
…[read more]Mindset mentality of the goalie
They perform to the beat of a different drum. They are stationed between two pillars as solitary sentries who guard a net. In a book, they are a chapter of their own.
…[read more]EL Vikings change coaches
Chris Keleher is out as head coach and general manager of the Elliot Lake Vikings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And Hockey News North has also confirmed that Jon Campbell has been brought in as the Elliot Lake bench boss for the balance of the 2023-2024 NOJHL season.
…[read more]AA goalie gets NOHA invite
Sebastien Brassard of Sault Ste. Marie is the only AA level goalie among five others from the AAA category to get an invite to the February 16-17 Team NOHA selections camp to be held in Powassan.
…[read more]Private goalie sessions
The venerable Bill Vanderleest, who has worked as a goalie coach for teams on both sides of the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie for multiple decades, is now offering private tutoring for and up and coming young net minders.
…[read more]Scouting the Great North
Welcome to our initial scouting report of the 2023-2024 Great North Under 18 Hockey League season ahead of the 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft which is slated for April 12 and 13.
…[read more]Sault boys as top OHL picks
Two players from Sault Ste. Marie who headed to Pittsburgh this season to play in the Jr. Penguins AAA elite program are being projected as possible first or second round picks at the April 12-13 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Sleeper of the Spitfires?
Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League have two defensemen rated on the current rankings ahead of the 2024 National Hockey League draft. But more than one individual who is connected to an NHL team has relayed to Hockey News North that they are of the notion that it is an un-rated Spitfire who is the best pro prospect of any Windsor defenseman.
…[read more]Frantic race for eighth place
Sarnia Sting, Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires are in a three way race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. And with the regular season in the final third of the schedule, the three teams are gearing up for a frantic push at a playoff position.
…[read more]Fellinger a find for Firebirds
Of the 11 players from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League who were picked at the 2023 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, Rylan Fellinger is an anomaly. Not only is the big defenseman the only one of the 11 to become a full time performer in the OHL this season as a 2007 birth year player but he made the Flint Firebirds as a 13th round draft pick.
…[read more]Bell rings for U18 Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League continued their winning ways this weekend with a pair of home ice victories. And of the many players who stood out, Coulson Bell did particularly well.
…[read more]55 saves for Jake Marois
Espanola Paper Kings got a shutout of the sensational variety in stealing a 2-0 road victory from the Soo Thunderbirds in Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League action from Saturday.
…[read more]OHL drafted goalies in Timmins
For the second successive season a 16-year old goalie who was drafted into the Ontario Hockey League is developing with the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Last season it was Jacob Brown, now with the Flint Firebirds of the OHL. This season it is Erie Otters draft pick Dryden Riley.
…[read more]OHL shutout for NOJHL grad
A season of development with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has led to 2006 birth year goalie Charlie Burns taking advantage of a good opportunity to tend twine for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]U18 Wolves v. Greyhounds
First place Sudbury U18 Wolves head on the road this Saturday for a matinee match against the hottest team in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Spits down two forwards
From 13 forwards to 11. Chasing the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League, the Windsor Spitfires will be minus two veteran forwards for the balance of the season.
…[read more]OHL ice chips and dips
Here and there in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League with about one third of the 2023-2024 regular season schedule still on the slate:
…[read more]Lambert and U16 AAA Hounds
Sault Major Hockey Association has confirmed that it intends to have an Under 16 AAA team next season that would — if officially approved by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association — be members of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Two more for the U18 Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have finally climbed to the .500 mark. The U18 Jr. Hounds scored 6-0 and 4-2 home ice victories over the Timmins Majors and Sudbury Under 16 Wolves on the weekend to increase their winning streak to seven games.
…[read more]Spitfires are young on the D
Rebuilding as a team after back to back Western Conference crowns, the Windsor Spitfires have one of the youngest defensive corps in the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]77 saves in one game!
Iroquois Falls Storm goalie Connor Hatfield put on a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League performance for the ages in a recent 6-5 loss to the Timmins Rock.
…[read more]60 goals for Mason Svarich
He is a 20-year old gun slinger from Western Canada, a pure goal scoring machine who is in his second season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Ice Dogs on a good run
Five straight wins have lifted the Dryden Ice Dogs back into contention among the top five teams of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Glory days of Gavin Hayes
Soo Greyhounds head coach John Dean is of the notion that prize Ontario Hockey League trade deadline acquisition Gavin Hayes is even better than what was expected.
…[read more]Young blood of the NOJHL
To be sure, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League continues to be a prime training ground for young players on their way up the ladder. For instance, there are a good number of 2007 birth year players who are standing out this season as the young blood of the NOJHL.
…[read more]Spitfires d-man is a big deal
WINDSOR — It has been said — as it has been written — that any scout of ordinary repute can identify and rate a blue chip hockey player of plain to see, pronounced skill. Then there are the acute, astute scouts and talent judgers who can zero in on a player who is not on the radar or lighthouse. One such far fetched prospect is Tanner Winegard, a hulking defenseman with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Tough test for U18 Hounds
Fresh from a tournament appearance in Peterborough, the surging Soo Jr. Greyhounds are back home this weekend for a pair of games including one against the second seed team in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Cam Boville to Chicago
Sault Ste. Marie product Cam Boville has joined the Chicago Cougars of the junior level United States Premier Hockey League for the balance of this season. The 2006 birth year goalie had been inactive since late October after being waived by the Elliot Lake Vikings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Western ways of the OHL
Okay, so the Sudbury Wolves are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League with 47 points. But if the Wolves were in the Western Conference of the OHL, those 47 points would have them in sixth place. Yes, sixth place. Such is the balance of power difference between the Western world and the Eastern block.
…[read more]Symmetry of the Walleye
Scoring balance among the forward lines has been a key this season for the reigning champion Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Hot to trot in the NOJHL
Blind River Beavers. Sudbury Cubs. Espanola Paper Kings. Hearst Lumberjacks. Timmins Rock. They are what is hot in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]George is the top OHL goalie
Five goalies from the Ontario Hockey League have made the mid season rankings list of the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau ahead of the June 28-29 NHL Entry Draft. And at the top of the chart is Carter George of the Owen Sound Attack, a Thunder Bay product who has Sault Ste. Marie roots from his mother’s side.
…[read more]NHL scouts like three Hounds
Three members of the Soo Greyhounds are among 53 players from the Ontario Hockey League who have made the mid season rankings list of the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau.
…[read more]NHL scouts eyeing Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires are frantically chasing a playoff spot in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League in what is a rebuilding season. But while the Spitfires may be near the bottom of the OHL standings, a number of their players are being eyed by National Hockey League scouts.
…[read more]Latest on the EL Vikings
Out with one, in with another. Having honoured the trade request of goalie Matthew Vahramian and dealing him to the Sudbury Cubs, the Massey-based Elliot Lake Vikings have added veteran net minder Braydon Garnhart to their crease via the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
…[read more]Kenny B to the Blades
Sault Ste. Marie product Kenny Belanger is settling into his new junior hockey home. The towering 2004 birth year forward joined the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League from the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League at the recent Canadian Jr. Hockey League trade deadline.
…[read more]Hear, hear, Oliver Peer!
Flint Firebirds are in control of their playoff destiny in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. And a veteran player who Flint paid big to get at the OHL trade deadline with hopes of advancing to this spring’s playoffs is overage forward Oliver Peer.
…[read more]Sudbury Cubs add firepower
Two forwards with Ontario Hockey League experience have joined the pace setting Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Net gain for Sudbury Cubs
There are now three goalies on the roster of the Sudbury Cubs as they wage war with the Blind River Beavers for first place overall in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. The Cubs have picked up 2006 birth year net minder Matthew Vahramian from the last place Elliot Lake Vikings in a cash exchange.
…[read more]Team NOHA news update
Led by director of scouting Marc Gagnon, the 2024 edition of Team NOHA is well underway in preparation for the upcoming OHL Cup, which will be held the week of March 25.
…[read more]OHL trade deadline recap
It was an Ontario Hockey League frenzied flurry for the books as close to 40 separate transactions were completed in the days leading up to the January 10 trade deadline. And Western Conference teams such as the contending Soo Greyhounds and Saginaw Spirit along with the playoff chasing Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires all made multiple moves that included major exchanges of veteran players and future draft picks.
…[read more]RIP, Paul Theriault
This is a tough one to write. A really sad one. Paul Theriault, the smart, ahead of his time, former Ontario Hockey League coach with the Soo Greyhounds, Oshawa Generals and Erie Otters as well as the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, passed away recently at the age of 73.
…[read more]Spitfires boost net worth
On a day in which they made multiple transactions ahead of this week’s Ontario Hockey League trade deadline the Windsor Spitfires upgraded their goalie position.
…[read more]Firebirds deal with Spitfires
Flint Firebirds have flipped their own script. After dealing away some high-end veteran talent in recent days for future draft picks, the Firebirds have obtained overage defenseman Roberto Mancini from their Ontario Hockey League Western Conference rival Windsor Spitfires for future second and third round draft picks.
…[read more]Four straight for U18 Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League will take a streak of four successive victories into play this week. The Jr. Greyhounds are fresh from a home ice weekend sweep of the league leading Sudbury U18 Wolves.
…[read more]Hounds add Team USA champ
Soo Greyhounds are clearly all in as they chase an Ontario Hockey League championship. The Greyhounds have traded for 19-year old forward Gavin Hayes, acquiring the Team USA World Junior Hockey gold medal champion from the Flint Firebirds for two players and a house full of draft picks.
…[read more]U13 AA Jr. Hounds win it all
CHICAGO — Hey, hey, hey … they went all the way! In what was a truly inspiring total team toil, the Soo U13 AA Jr. Greyhounds won four of five games including the title tilt to head home as champions of a Sports Illustrated Prospects Showdown Hockey Tournament that was held here on the weekend.
…[read more]Flint flips overage forward
Flint Firebirds have parted ways with one of their top players ahead of the looming Ontario Hockey League trade deadline. The Firebirds have dealt overage forward Braeden Kressler and two draft picks to the Ottawa 67’s for five draft picks.
…[read more]The travelling goalie coach
Bill Vanderleest is an anomaly of sorts among goalie coaches. When he is not at home working with the net minders of the Sault College Cougars women’s team, Vanderleest is travelling 280 miles round trip for once a week practices as the goalie coach for the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]T-Birds deal three for cash
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have traded away a trio of players in separate cash exchanges.
…[read more]Spitfires via Paper Kings
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League played a season long role in the development of hulking defenseman Conor Walton of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Spitfires chasing Firebirds
It is the midway point of the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League regular season. And five head to head matches between the Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires could be major factors in deciding the eighth and final playoff spot in the OHL’s Western Conference.
…[read more]Trade deadline is looming
D-Day is approaching in both the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League. As in January 10 being the trade deadline in both the NOJHL and the OHL.
…[read more]Hounds, Spitfires stay hot
Soo Greyhounds and Windsor Spitfires both returned from the Ontario Hockey League’s Christmas holiday recess on Thursday and picked up where they left off with impressive road victories.
…[read more]Net gain for Kam River
Following in the high marks crease class of graduated goalies Austin Madge and Eric Vanska over the past two seasons, the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has again come up with a top tender between the pipes.
…[read more]Vikings of valour and valiance
Forget about their low place in the standings. This is not about wins and losses. Rather, this is a story of courage, strength and commitment in the face of adversity.
…[read more]