What’s up with Sault Major?
Imagine how strong the Under 16 AAA level of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds program would be if four plum 2010 birth year skaters had not departed the Sault Major Hockey Association to pursue their dreams and aspirations elsewhere. Whatever their reason or reasons for leaving the comfort of their families in Sault Ste. Marie are, standout forwards Colin Kennedy, Cole Guizzetti and Eli Chapman and stalwart defenseman Mateo Muto are all excelling in reputable AAA programs a good distance from home.
Kennedy is with Detroit Little Caesars and is their second leading scorer. Guizzetti is with the Upper Canada College Blues in Toronto and leads his team in scoring. Chapman is with BioSteel Sports Academy of Windsor and is second on the team in goals and fourth in points. Muto is also with BioSteel of Windsor and not only leads all defensemen in scoring but is sixth on the team in points.
Kennedy. Guizzetti. Chapman. Muto. All exceptional players who chose to leave their families and friends in Sault Ste.Marie as young teenagers to play — and excel at — high level hockey elsewhere.
Kennedy. Guizzetti. Chapman. Muto. By all reports all are good kids. By all reports all come from good, supportive families. No issues with any of them. None.
But instead of living in the comforts of home in Sault Ste. Marie, Kennedy is in Detroit, Guizzetti is in Toronto and Chapman and Muto are both in Windsor. You think that in a better Sault Ste. Marie hockey world that their parents wouldn’t rather have their 15 year old boys living at home? You think?
At any rate, all four could well be taken at this year’s 2026 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. Kennedy is a sure fire first or second round pick. Guizzetti has his 5 foot 6 size against him but OHL scouts are high on his skill, speed and smarts. And I am told that both Chapman and Muto have good chances to be drafted this year as well.
Not to say that the U16 AAA team in the Sault is without players who have OHL potential. Either way, it wouldn’t take much to improve on last year’s showing when just one player from Sault Major’s under 16 AAA level Jr. Greyhounds program was drafted to the OHL. That’s right — one, he being Adam Pszeniczny, by the Owen Sound Attack, in the eighth round.
Used to be, not that long ago, that the OHL scouts paid considerable attention to Sault Ste. Marie. For instance, in 2024, five players were drafted by OHL teams directly from the Sault Major ranks. The year before, at the 2023 OHL draft, seven players were taken from Sault Major’s U16 AAA program.
At any rate, back to Kennedy, Guizzetti, Chapman, Muto and the 2010 birth year class from the Sault. This fab foursome of 2010 birth year players are not the only ones from the Sault who opted to leave home this season.
That is, two of Kennedy’s, Guizzetti’s, Chapman’s and Muto’s former Sault teammates, both goalies, also opted to leave home and play elsewhere this season. One is in Sarnia. The other is in Sudbury. Um, Sarnia, okay. But leaving the Sault for Sudbury? Huh? Must be something wrong here, no?
Wait, there is more. At least five youngsters from Sault Ste. Marie with 2011 birth dates — Grade 9 kids, for goodness sakes — all chose to leave home and move elsewhere to chase their hockey dreams this season. Why? Sault Major politics? Coaches with their own agendas who simply could not be trusted to be fair? Major team sponsors who pay to have a say in who plays and who doesn’t? All of the above?
My oh my. My oh my. We have more. A pair of 2012 birth year kids — Grade 8 students! — also left the Sault ahead of this season to play in the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
Sault Major may tout itself as all this and all that when it comes to how it sees and values itself but the fact of the matter is that the exodus of players from the once vaunted hockey town speaks volumes. One would have to be wearing blinders or sound proof ear muffs to not see or hear of what Sault Major either does not properly act upon or totally chooses to ignore when it comes to the antics of certain coaches that it entrusted with the hockey development welfare of young kids.
Do not get me wrong, there are good, reputable coaches involved within the various levels of Sault Major who are beyond reproach. Those who are honest with themselves and with others know who the good coaches of honour and trust are. Just as we know who the corrupt coaches and individuals are.
Not to names, at least not now. That will came later, in book form, to be authored by yours truly. If you have been honest and upfront, you know who you are. If you haven’t been — and refuse to admit it — well you just may be reading all about it.
If it is the coaching aspect to all these young boys moving away because of better opportunities, then Soo Major had better make this as promising a destination as Windsor, Toronto and Detroit. Where are most of the NHL players coming from, Canada. May be follow the Western Canada, Maritimes, Quebec route that doesn’t seem to have the same problems as here in Ontario.
I really believe the “Good Old Guys” days are over. We all need to see young inventive minds in positions to elevate our teams here in the Soo and bring back the pride associated with wearing a Soo connection on the Jersey’s.
One word : development
Unfortunately, it is likely the distance between the Soo and other great programs to challenge them. The Soo has long dominated Sudbury and other Northern Ontario towns, so the move to other programs is simply to push themselves to improve.
Being isolated makes it difficult to compete with players who are playing meaningful games on a week to week basis.
wishing the best for all the boys in this years OHL draft.
Cheers
I have another take on kids moving away, yes there is 100percent politics involved and it wrecks careers for both the kids being cut over rich kids, but also hurts the rich kids in the long run when adversity finally hits in life.
My son plays AA in Sudbury and is a 2014, with freedom of movment now a thing in Ontario with the exception of Ottawa, kids who have the talent, drive, and resources will ultimatley leave for the GTHL, its well known as the best AAA league in all of North America as of today.
With AAA teams in North Bay and Sudbury playing in the OMHA, and the Soo playing in the Alliance AAA loop the cost per season is mathematcly more money per season playing at home then if you move you’re son to the GTA rent an apartment and play in the area if one had the resources or remote career to do that, what I think needs to happen is the NOHA, needs to bring back a AAA loop from U12 to U15 in Markets that currently dont have teams, yes people say the watered down markets will hurt development but I disagree.
NO MATTER WHAT the best kids are 80% going to leave regardless, they will go to prep schoolds or the GTHL if they have the talent, so if you have AAA hockey back in timmins kirkland lake a second team in Sudbury with 150 thousand people and the right people running it, kids will get better in the North, you cant tell me Timmins having no AAA until U15 is a smart idea, or New liskeard until U18.
AAA loop in the North will have kids playing at home and developing, going to AAA tournaments and getting better, too many people belive the score board is development for U12-U15 its about facing adversity and playing against the best to get better. The NOHA should invoke a AAA loop as soon as possible and make sure the right coaches are running it. Just my thoughts this will fix a major issue in thew North and you will see more kids continuing to play and a better feeder system for the OHL and NOJHL specifically.
I’m happy someone is finally noticing what is happening in the Sault . All you need to do is a simple facebook search of the top executives at the Pee Wee and Sault Major. It’s friends helping friends secure spots on teams and coaching positions . Some if not all AA coaches have a kid playing on their team . 5 other staff members with kids playing on their team . What if all six kids played defense? that would leave zero spots left for any other kid trying out .
Bang on, Hank.
Its the parents trying to live out their own dreams.
Jerry, some parents, maybe. But in most cases, it’s the kids who are tired of being overlooked and in some cases, fucked.
Thank you for taking notice Randy . Most people have been afraid to speak out or to even voice an opinion for fear of being ” black balled” . yes this happens