All posts by Randy Russon
Thunderbirds and Beavers
It is a classic Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League rivalry that dates back to the year 2000. And there never seems to be any lack of a story line when it comes to the big market Soo Thunderbirds and their much smaller market rival Blind River Beavers.
…[read more]Atta boy, Josh Jameus
Talk about an honour for a well deserving lad, this is quite exceptional. That is, Sault Ste. Marie product Josh Jameus has been named an assistant captain for the Under 15 AAA Barrie Colts of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association.
…[read more]Early season impressions
Three or so weeks into the ’25-26 Ontario Hockey League regular season have led to a writer’s collection of noteworthy scribbles.
…[read more]Eagles … Rapids … Losier
Upcoming in the days ahead is the annual Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League showcase event in Sudbury. All 11 NOJHL teams will play two games apiece and be joined by St. Andrew’s College of Aurora as a guest entry. Meanwhile, the NOJHL is more than three weeks into the ’25-26 regular season.
…[read more]U15 Hounds take 2 of 3
Scoring leader Gavyn Nevers capped a winning weekend for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association at the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario’s Under 15 AAA Face Off to the ’25-26 regular season that concluded today.
…[read more]U15 Hounds blank London
Hard working, high performance forward Gavyn Nevers scored his second goal in as many games and added an assist and Carter Rome posted the shutout as the Soo Jr. Greyhounds blanked the London Jr. Knights 3-0 in their second outing today at the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario’s Under 15 AAA Face Off to the ’25-26 regular season.
…[read more]U15 Hounds lose close one
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association dropped their opening game at the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario’s Under 15 AAA Face Off to the ’25-26 regular season today.
…[read more]U15 Hounds in Windsor
Highly touted — and with lofty internal expectations — the Under 15 AAA level Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association are off to the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario’s Face Off to the ’25-26 regular season this weekend.
…[read more]Early season story lines
We are about a month or so into the ’25-26 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season. Championships are not won during the fall months but stakes can be put in position and the anxiety button to qualify for one of the eight playoff spots in the 11 member NOJHL can begin to pulsate, if only slightly.
…[read more]Good coaches of the NOJHL
What defines a good junior hockey coach? There are numerous factors, such as time tested experience, success, development of players, and integrity. To be sure, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has its share of head coaches who click off all of the above attributes.
…[read more]Flint is fired up for a reason
At times, a win can be just a win. But when the win comes against a team’s arch rival — and on the road in their barn, in front of more than 4.900 fans — then the win has extra meaning. Take the Flint Firebirds, for example.
…[read more]Okay, so here we go in the ‘O’
For those who have any sort of play or say or way or pay or hey relative to the 20 teams of the Ontario Hockey League, the OHL is seemingly set up for a ’25-26 season of hope and nope.
…[read more]Opening acts in the NOJHL
Espanola Paper Kings — with a pair of improbable blowout victories — are among the early season story lines in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]NOJHL champs begin with win
Sudbury Cubs started their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League title defense with a firm 4-0 white wash of the Timmins Rock in the ’25-26 regular season opener.
…[read more]Ready, set, go in the N.O.
Several story lines to retain for reference as the ’25-26 regular season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League moves forward:
…[read more]Cole Dubowsky is traded
Seeking some grit and grind at the forward position, the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League have secured Sudbury product Cole Dubowsky from the Barrie Colts for a future 11th round draft pick.
…[read more]Hounds add athletic staffers
Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League have brought aboard both a physiotherapist and player performance specialist ahead of the looming ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Sault boy to St. Catharines
James Elliott is headed to the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League for a season of development with the St. Catharines Falcons. Elliott, a 2008 birth year forward from Sault Ste. Marie and a seventh round, 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft pick of the Soo Greyhounds, spent the ’24-25 season with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Soo Indians sign local lad
Hard working forward Madden Glavota has signed with the AAA Under 18 Soo Indians of the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association ahead of the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Hartsburg has Erie feeling
Chris Hartsburg is back in the Ontario Hockey League after a four year hiatus — and with the Erie Otters, no less. The 45 year old Hartsburg, who manages the local arena and the minor hockey association in Erie, has been hired by the OHL Otters as a part time skills development coach.
…[read more]Soo boys land in Blind River
It will be quite the Sault Ste. Marie presence in Blind River when first pucks drop on the ’25-26 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season next week.
…[read more]On to a few good rivalries
The restless hands of time are ticking towards the start of the ’25-26 hockey season. And while little can be done about certain self absorbed, self serving minor hockey coaches and managers who treat the game as though it is a special sanctuary for them, their kids, their friends and their kids — at the expense of others — here’s to a good season ahead for all of the good folks of the game.
…[read more]Huckson heading to Flint
Free agent defenseman Colton Huckson — who has a late December, 2008 birth date — is slated to attend the upcoming Ontario Hockey League training camp of the Flint Firebirds. Mike Oliverio, who is the head scout for the OHL Firebirds, confirmed to Hockey News North that Huckson, who is a Sault Ste. Marie product, has been invited to Flint for next week’s camp.
…[read more]Here are the U18 Wolves
Head coach Clayton Bertrand has confirmed the roster for the Sudbury U18 Jr. Wolves of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s Great North Under 18 League ahead of the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]OHL award for Tim Lukenda
The Ontario Hockey League has singled out Soo Greyhounds president and governor Tim Lukenda as the inaugural recipient of the David Branch Leader of the Year award.
…[read more]Soo Eagles sign Soo boys
A foursome of skaters from the Ontario side of the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie have signed with the Michigan Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]High regard for the NOJHL
One of my most liked amateur hockey leagues begins a fresh season of play in a month. With 11 teams — the Elliot Lake Vikings remain on leave of absence due to the continued closure of its city owned home arena — the sometimes hidden gem that is the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League features strong leadership and mostly good ownership.
…[read more]Leaving Sault to play hockey
OK, so we are a week into August and another month of the summer season. But regardless of the month, hockey is the year round sport of all sports with summer ice sessions and off season tournaments now being more of the rule than the exception.
…[read more]NOJHL Cubs sign OHL pick
He is smart and skilled with blazing speed and plum potential. And Ty Dubreuil will be one of the youngest players in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League come the looming ’25-26 season. Dubreuil, who was a 14th round pick by the Windsor Spitfires at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, has signed with the reigning NOJHL champion Sudbury Cubs, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Ready to roll in Espanola
The Paper Kings are primed to play. A full selection of returning players and incoming new recruits are part of the roster formation for Espanola with the ’25-26 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season slated to start on September 11.
…[read more]Leaving Soo for Blind River
Camden Cowan has become the latest high end hockey player from Sault Ste. Marie to pack his equipment and head 90 miles east along Highway 17 to Blind River ahead of the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Top scorer back in Espanola
Productive forward Cameron Menard is returning to the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League via the Niagara Falls Canucks of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Paper Kings ink OHL pick
Owen Smith will continue his hockey development by staying up north. A 2009 birth year forward who was taken in the 11th round of the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft by the North Bay Battalion, Smith has signed with the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League ahead of the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Playing for the Paper Kings
A good selection of returning players and incoming new recruits are part of the roster formation for the Espanola Paper Kings with the ’25-26 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season slated to start on September 11.
…[read more]Blind River signs Soo crew
A trio of graduates from the AAA Soo Jr. Greyhounds program have signed with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League ahead of the ’25-26 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Clean sweep for Soo Eagles
All six graduated 2004 birth year players from the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League now have college commitments to schools in either of the American Collegiate Hockey Association or National Collegiate Athletic Association effective the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Mid July in Hound Town
The feedback that I have personally received relative to the Soo Greyhounds retaining John Dean with a new two year contract extension has not been at all flattering to the veteran head coach of the Red and White.
…[read more]Hounds extend John Dean
Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League have opted to retain veteran head coach John Dean via new two year contract. The deal extends through to, and including, the ’26-27 OHL season.
…[read more]U of Guelph via NOJHL Cubs
From junior hockey to the Canadian university ranks. Reigning, two time Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League champion Sudbury Cubs have confirmed that graduated defenceman Michael MacLean has committed to attend the University of Guelph — and play for the Gryphons — effective the upcoming ’25-26 term.
…[read more]Downturn of hockey up north
Once upon a time, teams in the Ontario Hockey League were all in on players from the north. And not just from the bigger northern communities of Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Timmins.
…[read more]’25-26 NOJHL season looms
First puck will drop in about two months. The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has officially confirmed its format ahead of the looming ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Maple Leafs land Fellinger
The improbable story of Wawa born defenseman Rylan Fellinger continued at the 2025 National Hockey League draft. A distant 13th round pick by the Flint Firebirds from the Under 18 Soo Jr. Greyhounds at the 2023 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, Fellinger became the NHL property of the Toronto Maple Leafs when they took the 6 foot 4, 200 pound defenseman in the sixth round.
…[read more]OHL stars in NHL 1st round
Wow! The Ontario Hockey League issued its own statement of strength in the opening round of the 2025 National Hockey League Draft.
…[read more]Martone an NHL 1st rounder
Philadelphia Flyers have made 6 foot 3, 210 pound power forward Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League a first round National Hockey League draft pick. Philadelphia took the October 26, 2006 birth year skater with the sixth overall pick of the 2025 NHL draft.
…[read more]Martin an NHL 1st rounder
Nashville Predators have made hard working Soo Greyhounds forward Brady Martin a first round draft selection. Nashville took the 2007 birth year skater with the fifth overall pick of the 2025 National Hockey League draft.
…[read more]Guthrie back in Espanola
Bracebridge product Graydon Guthrie has opted to finish his junior hockey career with the Espanola Paper Kings, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Building it up in Brantford
There is new Ontario Hockey League ownership in Brantford led by Stuart Hyman and his sons Zach Hyman and Spencer Hyman. All star head coach Jay McKee has a new three year contract. There is lineup strength from standout goalie Ryerson Leenders to defenseman Owen Protz to proven forwards Sam McCue, Marek Vanacker and budding superstar Jake O’Brien, not to mention up and coming spark plug Nik Rossetto.
…[read more]T-Birds sign local goalie
Cam Boville is poised to spend the ’25-26 hockey season at home in Sault Ste. Marie. The journeyman goalie has signed with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]