Boville in the Bird cage
Big goalie Cam Boville is playing big for his hometown Soo Thunderbirds. The late blooming puck stopper has won four of his last five decisions — in his only loss he allowed just two goals — and now sports an overall record of 7-4-1 with a 2.50 goals against average and .918 save percentage.
His 2.50 GAA is fourth among qualified goalies in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The 6 foot 2, 195 pound Boville has been tending the twine as part of a three goalie system with the Thunderbirds, who are in a four team battle for second place with the Hearst Lumberjacks, Powassan Voodoos and Espanola Paper Kings in what is a highly competitive NOJHL.
To be sure, Boville took a round about way back home to Sault Ste. Marie to sign with the Thunderbirds ahead of the ’25-26 season. Boville, who has an October 27, 2006 birth date, spent the previous four years playing away from home, including stops with two junior teams — the Elliot Lake Vikings of the NOJHL and the Chicago Cougars of the United States Premiere Hockey League. It was in Chicago — far from home — that Boville showed clear signs of being a top junior goalie.
Clearly, Boville has determination as part of his character, having moved from town to town to town to town to town before making it back home. A goalie with lesser ambition might not have left home at age 15 to play hockey.
Always known as someone who stares adversity straight in the eyes and doesn’t blink, Boville also has the experience of twice being invited to the Ontario Hockey League training camp of the Soo Greyhounds.
With another season of junior eligibility remaining after this one, Boville is getting his name out there as a goalie on the rise.