Friday’s finest
A rookie skater has left the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the Canadian International Hockey League…Here and there and around the junior hockey rinks…
BLIND RIVER TO BATCHEWANA
Rookie Chris Zajac has joined the unbeaten Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League from the winless Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Attack president-director of hockey operations David Maciuk confirmed the addition of Zajac to HockeyNewsNorth.com.
Zajac, a 1996 birth-year forward who hails from the Chicago area, was tied for fourth on the Blind River scoring chart with 7 points.
Last season, while skating for Naperville Central High, Zajac scored 39 goals in 36 games.
HOPE IN NIAGARA
Niagara IceDogs have acquired overage goalie Brandon Hope from the Owen Sound Attack.
Hope, who is in his fifth Ontario Hockey League season, had a record of 2-0-1 with a .927 save percentage and 2.40 goals against average for Owen Sound at the time of this week’s trade.
Niagara gave up future fourth-and-seventh-round picks to get Hope from Owen Sound.
EAGLES HAVE THE BLUES
Soo Eagles will try to halt the three-game winning streak of the Springfield Jr. Blues when the two teams meet tonight at 7:30 in North American Hockey League action at Pullar Stadium.
Springfield upended the Soo 4-1 on Thursday night to improve its record to 7-9 in the NAHL North Division.
The Eagles, who have a record of 10-9, are expected to start Sean Keating in goal tonight.
Keating has won his last three decisions to improve his record to 5-5 with a .905 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average.
YOUNG MONARCHS
Three young players with the expansion MC Monarchs of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League have scouts from higher-level junior leagues taking notes.
Rookie Trevor Pode, a 1996 birth-year forward, is second in the MWJHL in scoring with 15 goals, 22 assists, 37 points in 13 games for the 10-3 Monarchs.
Jarrad Vroman, a 1997 birth-year defenceman, leads all MWJHL blueliners in scoring with 2 goals, 19 assists, 21 points in 12 games.
And 1999 birth-year goalie Joe Burks — that’s right, he’s a 15-year old playing junior — has a 3-0 record with a .947 save percentage and 1.54 goals against average.
Sad for Blind River but happy for the Player and for “Batchawana”.
Another great Article Randy. It is so easy to see why you are considered the # 1 Hockey Writer up there.
Just wate til T.C. go to Fraser and beet Randy’s favorite Team 3 X this Weekend.