Goalie coaches old and young
Terry Barbeau. Bill Vanderleest. Noah Zeppa. They are three reputable Sault Ste. Marie residents who are all performing goalie coach roles with high end hockey programs on both sides of the International Bridge and the St. Mary’s River.
…[read more]Spitfires continue ascent
The recharged Windsor Spitfires are becoming a pretty good story in the making. After starting the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League season with a 4-16-1 record that led to the firing of first year head coach Jerrod Smith, the Spitfires have since gone 4-2-0 under interim bench boss Casey Torres.
…[read more]Local lad in Windsor LaSalle
Sault Ste. Marie product Gage Evans is continuing his development with the Windsor LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Rock adds power forward
Reigning champion Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has added a power forward with the acquisition of Jack Kelly from the Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]New d-man on the Rock
The reigning champions of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added to their blue line brigade with the acquisition of a dependable defenseman from the Maritime Hockey League.
…[read more]Majors of the Great North
Who are these guys? They are the Majors from Timmins that’s who. And they made a Major statement on the weekend with a home-ice sweep of the first place team in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Spitfires are taking flight
A change in head coaches has thus far led to a well timed turnaround for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]The old Junior B days
Northern Ontario has long had a prominent presence in the junior A hockey game. Nowadays it is the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. But from 1965 until 1981 it was the International Jr. B Hockey League that had a town filled existence in Northern Ontario and Northern Michigan.
…[read more]Maciuk family advisors
Like father, like son. Long-time player agent and family advisor David Maciuk has spent more than 60 years in the game of hockey dating back to his childhood days growing up in Sault Ste. Marie. And as the age-less Maciuk — who has lived in Chicago for a number of years — continues to grow his JDM Sports Management company, he works alongside his 36-year old son Justin Maciuk.
…[read more]U18 Hounds home for three
This is a crucial set of games for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds. The Jr. Hounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League are home for three games in as many days this weekend as the New Liskeard Cubs are in town.
…[read more]Wolves of the Great North
They are howling and are leaders of the pack atop the standings of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. Sudbury U18 Wolves have a record of 11-2-1 ahead of three scheduled games this week.
…[read more]Ways of the Wild West
Soo Greyhounds have maintained first place despite a record-setting win streak by the Saginaw Spirit. Flint Firebirds are holding serve in the middle of the court while fourth seed Sarnia Sting is on a skid and the last place Windsor Spitfires have responded well to a coaching change.
…[read more]Vikings will play in Massey
The vagabonds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have officially secured a home away from home arena for the balance of the 2023-2024 season. Hockey News North has confirmed that the Elliot Lake Vikings will play the remainder of their ‘home’ games at the Massey and District Community Centre effective a December 1 match against the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
…[read more]Kovacs is lighting it up
It is sufficient to say that Jake Kovacs is having a career season as a 20-year old forward with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Spitfires alter flight plan
WINDSOR — There has been some topsy turvy turbulence that has grounded the Windsor Spitfires this season following back to back first place regular season finishes atop the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Kam River via Elliot Lake
Elliot Lake Vikings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League have finalized a player for cash transaction.
…[read more]Modest surge for U18 Hounds
They are still not close to where new head coach Denny Lambert has aspirations for them to be. However, after winning just one of five games to begin the 2023-2024 Great North Under 18 Hockey League season, the Soo Jr. Greyhounds have five points from a record of 2-2-1 since Lambert and his new staff of assistant coaches took over.
…[read more]Majors are on the move
Timmins Majors are one of three teams in the seven member Great North Under 18 Hockey League with a winning record as November nudges towards December.
…[read more]Spitfires fire head coach
Long-time assistant coach Jerrod Smith has lasted just 21 games as the head coach of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Disparity in the NOJHL
For the second successive season there is clear disproportion between the East and West divisions of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and a playoff format that is cause for consternation as a result.
…[read more]Fearsome OHL fighters
Like it or not, fighting has a secure place in hockey history. There are fighters who were as popular — maybe more popular — than many of the star players. These days, fighting is virtually non existent in the game. But that does not change the fact that some of the most fearsome fighters in the history of — in this case — the Ontario Hockey League are still held in reverence by many with a nostalgic attachment to the game.
…[read more]Lambert has come full circle
Denny Lambert skated in the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons before eventually making it to the National Hockey League where he toughed it out for more than 500 games as a battling left winger. But the 53-year old Lambert, who recently stepped in to take over as head coach of the AAA Under 18 Soo Jr. Greyhounds, says it was his time with the program as a player in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League that went a long way to shape him for what was ahead.
…[read more]Count on Kam River, Dryden
There is no such thing as a sure thing. But there are constants in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. Such as sustained success and perennial contention from the Kam River Fighting Walleye and the Dryden Ice Dogs.
…[read more]Spitfires are sputtering
Windsor Spitfires are in a nosedive that requires imminent attention. Since scoring a big victory over the Western Conference-leading Kitchener Rangers, the Spitfires have dropped five straight games and are now in last place among the 20 teams of the Ontario Hockey League with a record of 4-13-1.
…[read more]U13 AA Hounds win two of four
LONDON — Soo Under 13 AA Jr. Greyhounds left here with a good takeoff following an above board showing at a high end weekend tournament that featured a whopping 18 teams in their age group alone.
…[read more]Hello from the Great North
Let us skate here and there in the good, old Great North Under 18 Hockey League with the middle of November now upon us:
…[read more]Latest on the U18 Jr. Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have decided on their coaching staff as they move ahead on the 2023-2024 season. Joining recently appointed head coach Denny Lambert on the new look staff of the Jr. Greyhounds are assistant coaches Jeremy Stevenson, Keegan Stevenson and Ty Zachary with added support from goalie coach Ryan Cook, trainer Dr. Kevin Caruso and equipment manager Louie Cuglietta.
…[read more]Svarich an NOJHL Rock star
Want to talk about being an impact player in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League? Well, among those who are making a major impact in the NOJHL this season is 20-year old forward Mason Svarich of the Timmins Rock.
…[read more]Sault College men are 10-2
Nine straight victories have the Sault College Cougars roaring with a record of 10-2-0 through 12 games on the Division 2, American Collegiate Hockey Association schedule.
…[read more]NOJHL & the all star challenge
The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has confirmed the playing rosters and coaching staffs for the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, which is slated to be held November 13 to 15 in Trenton, Ont.
…[read more]Retentions of Windsor Arena
Sault Ste. Marie is home. Windsor is my acquired home, initially through Croatian family on my mother’s side. As a journalist who has been writing about hockey for a living since 1975, my main passion is now with the various minor and junior teams of northern Ontario. But the Windsor Spitfiires of the Ontario Hockey League and its Windsor Arena home of 1975 to 2008 remain high on my chosen and close to one’s heart list of all time fondness and partiality.
…[read more]Winning ways of the Walleye
They finished in first place in their first full season in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League before losing in the playoff championship series. They again placed first in their second season and then capped it off by winning the SIJHL championship. And now, in season no. 3 as members of the SIJHL, the Kam River Fighting Walleye has continued its winning ways.
…[read more]U18 Hounds moving forward
The winds of change have altered the course of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds in what are still the early stages of the 2023-2024 Great North Under 18 Hockey League season.
…[read more]New GM for U18 Hounds
As Denny Lambert is the new head coach of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League, he has brought a familiar sidekick on board to be the general manager of the program.
…[read more]Lambert to coach U18 Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have brought aboard the highly regarded and well respected Denny Lambert as their head coach.
…[read more]Sault Ste. Marie Spitfires
Recently acquired defenseman Connor Toms has become the latest in a long line of players from Sault Ste. Marie who have suited up for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League over the years. Indeed, the number of Sault boys who have become Spitfires is rather notable.
…[read more]Kowal is a Paper King
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have obtained hulking forward Cayden Kowal from the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League in a cash transaction.
…[read more]Spitfires are high on Toms
WINDSOR — Connor Toms has a good opportunity to go from being a fringe defenseman with the Soo Greyhounds to a stabilizing presence with the Windsor Spitfires. The 19-year old Sault Ste. Marie product is now a seasoned member of a rookie laden Spitfires blue line brigade after being obtained from the Greyhounds for a 12th round pick at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Birds in a Wild West fight
Winners of nine of their past 10 games, the Soo Thunderbirds are one of five teams in a frantic race for first place within the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]The return of classic Rock
Whether it was a championship hangover or not, the Timmins Rock staggered and stumbled to begin the 2023-2024 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season.
…[read more]U18 Wolves bank on Shank
Sudbury U18 Wolves ran their record atop the Great North Under 18 Hockey League standings to 7-1-1 today with a decisive 10-2 win over the visiting New Liskeard Cubs.
…[read more]U18 Jr. Hounds cuff Kap
Soo Jr. Greyhounds have their first win of the 2023-2024 Great North Under 18 Hockey League season. In their home opener today, the Jr. Greyhounds upended the travel-weary Kapuskasing Flyers by a 5-1 score. The Soo victory followed three straight road losses to the North Bay Trappers last weekend.
…[read more]A return to Blind River
Jesse Dupuis is back with the Blind River Beavers by way of a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League cash transaction with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
…[read more]Horgan a Paper King howitzer
He is the highest scoring defenseman in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. As a matter of fact, Spencer Horgan of the Espanola Paper Kings is the top scoring defender throughout the entire Canadian Jr. A Hockey League.
…[read more]Vikings steal another one
Elliot Lake Vikings are a distant last in the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. But the upstart Vikings scored their second straight upset win tonight with a 4-3 road victory over the Soo Thunderbirds.
…[read more]Circling the Great North
Sudbury U18 Wolves and the reigning champion North Bay Trappers are the pace setters in the early going of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League regular season.
…[read more]New heights for Soo Eagles
Shrugging off a slow start to the 2023-2024 regular season, the Soo Eagles have taken over top spot with the best winning percentage in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Good for the EL Vikings
It has been a back and forth story of good news and bad news for the new Elliot Lake Vikings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League this season.
…[read more]Red Wings radio legend
Paul Woods was certainly no slouch as a hockey player. He captained the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League and once scored 119 points in a season. And before Steve Yzerman came along, Woods was the youngest captain in the National Hockey League history of the storied Detroit Red Wings. But it is as a Red Wings radio broadcaster that Woods has become an unlikely legend.
…[read more]U18 Jr. Hounds ready to play
They are ready to skate into the regular season. And their coach is looking forward to the challenges ahead. With no less than 13 first year players on their roster, the new look Soo Jr. Greyhounds will finally begin 2023-2024 regular season play in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League this weekend when they are slated to head to North Bay for three games against the reigning champion Trappers.
…[read more]Local lad commits to Lakers
Smart, steady defenseman Candon O’Neill has a verbal, future commitment to play at the Division 1 National Collegiate Athletic Association level for the cross-river Lake Superior State University Lakers.
…[read more]Sudbury Cubs are loading up
A well built team has become additionally reinforced. Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have served further notice of championship intentions for this season.
…[read more]SC Cougars in command
A pair of home ice weekend wins over their cross-river American Collegiate Hockey Association rival Lake Superior State University Lakers has the Sault College Cougars with a record of 5-2-0 through their first seven games of the 2023-2024 season.
…[read more]Wolves of the Great North
Sudbury U18 Wolves have picked up points in each of their four games to begin the 2023-2024 regular season in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Rock star Mason Svarich
It did not take recently acquired forward Mason Svarich very long to make an impact for the reigning Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League champion Timmins Rock.
…[read more]Cubs add veteran d-man
The top team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has bolstered its blue line. Sudbury Cubs have added 2005 birth year defenseman Justin Seguin from the Caledon Admirals of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League in a cash exchange.
…[read more]Cougars home to Lakers
Having played four of their first five games of the 2023-2024 American Collegiate Hockey Association season on the road, the Sault College Cougars have a pair of upcoming home matches on the slate.
…[read more]Ice Dogs and Walleye
They both carry good history as winning organizations with championship banners. Ergo, it should not be surprising that the Dryden Ice Dogs and Kam River Fighting Walleye are both off to good starts to the 2023-2024 Superior International Jr. Hockey League regular season.
…[read more]First star … Luc Dubois!
It has been quite an early season hockey ride for young Lucas Dubois. The 2007 birth year forward has already put up points for both the New Liskeard Cubs of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League and his hometown Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Rock around the block
Scoring standout Mason Svarich is leaving his home province of Alberta to return to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, this time with the reigning champion Timmins Rock.
…[read more]High scoring Sudbury Cubs
Sudbury Cubs not only have the best record in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League at 10-1-0 but they have outscored their opponents by a margin of 67 to 28.
…[read more]Beavers are pretty dam good
A record of 10-2-0 through their first dozen games of the 2023-2024 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season has the Blind River Beavers in contention with the Sudbury Cubs for first place in the West Division.
…[read more]Eagles fly high over Miners
SAULT STE. MARIE, Michigan — Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League continued their high flight on Friday night before a noisy crowd of more than 1,000 fans here at venerable Pullar Stadium.
…[read more]U18 Hounds have potential
These are the young pups. With no less than 13 first year players on their roster, the new look Soo Jr. Greyhounds do not begin 2023-2024 regular season play in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League until the October 20-22 weekend when they are slated to head to North Bay for three games against the reigning champion Trappers.
…[read more]Vikings of the north region
Teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are no longer restricted to recruiting the vast majority of their players from various regions of the province. Rather, there are no limitations on teams that can now go across Canada and into the United States to put together their rosters. But the Elliot Lake Vikings are just one NOJHL team — Sudbury Cubs and Soo Thunderbirds are two others — that purposely focus on scouting and recruiting talent from northern Ontario towns.
…[read more]Prime prospect Chitaroni
He has moved up from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League to the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And he is doing so as a coveted prospect of the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Flight of the Soo Eagles
Soo Eagles have shrugged off an 0-2-0 start to the 2023-2024 season by putting together a 4-0-1 streak over their past five games. Thus, the Eagles take a record of 4-2-1 into this week’s Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League slate of games.
…[read more]Ice Dogs chasing Bombers
Dryden Ice Dogs will go on the road to Sioux Lookout this week to try to hand the first place Bombers their first loss of the young Superior International Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]Pucks drop on Great North
Not all seven teams saw league action. But 2023-2024 regular season play in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League began on the weekend with the Sudbury U18 Wolves and Timmins Majors as the pace-setters.
…[read more]Iroquois Falls fires coach
Kevin Walker has been ousted as head coach of the Iroquois Falls Storm of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. The Storm won its first three games of this season but has since lost five straight, with four of the setbacks with Walker at the helm.
…[read more]Matthew Kallo to Elliot Lake
Elliot Lake Vikings have added a veteran presence to their blue line via trade with their arch-rival Blind River Beavers.
…[read more]Soo boys make their points
First pucks have dropped on the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League regular season. And several skaters with a link to Sault Ste. Marie picked up points in their respective team’s season opening games.
…[read more]EL Vikings explore Massey
Elliot Lake Vikings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will continue to be without use of its shut down, home arena for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, the Vikings are holding practice sessions 40 miles from Elliot Lake at the Massey and District Community Arena. As for where Vikings home games will be played while Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake is closed, Massey is a possibility.
…[read more]