U18 Soo Indians via Ohio
Forward Jack Hovanetz will be venturing from the Ohio based Under 16 AAA level Gilmour Academy to play for the Under 18 Soo Indians of the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association’s Tier 1 Elite League. Hockey News North has confirmed that the late November, 2009 birth year skater has signed with the Indians ahead of the ’26-27 season.
Small in size but with a big motor, Hovanetz impressed the Indians’ hockey staff at a recent tryout camp in Sault Ste. Marie, including new team owner and general manager Dennis Eby.
“He is a great character kid who works hard and is an elite skater,” Eby relayed to Hockey News North relative to Hovanetz. “He is growing and improving … he is a player who does a lot of great things for a team … he is one of those players who is really good and creates opportunities for his team mates.”
Before signing with the Indians, Hovanetz — who is represented by player agent David Maciuk of JDM Sports — skated with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League at an off season camp.
To be sure, the AAA U18 Indians are already at work ahead of the ’26-27 hockey season under the aforementioned Dennis Eby, having also signed — among Hovanetz and others — local defenseman Andrew Aikens.
The Indians are part of the U18 Tier 1 MAHA with other AAA Michigan based programs such as — alphabetically — Belle Tire, Biggby Coffee, Compuware, Fox Motors, HoneyBaked, Little Caesars, Oakland Jr. Grizzlies and Victory Honda.
Eby, who earlier this off season took over operational control of the long standing Soo Indians U18 program, noted that the team’s newly renovated and improved home facilities at Big Bear Arena include two skate sharpeners, an 85 inch television for game review and a huge work out facility.
“We are in one of the best leagues in the United States, the MAHA Tier 1 Elite League and besides league games, we will do two showcases — one in Detroit and one in Chicago. Our locker room is custom, we have North American Hockey League scouts on board and our players can affiliate with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League,” Eby relayed to Hockey News North.
feature photo of newly signed forward Jack Hovanetz with Soo Indians general manager Dennis Eby
