All posts by Randy Russon
Mauro boys on the move
From one junior hockey league to another.
Justin Mauro and his younger brother Devin Mauro are on the move from the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Coaching the Thunderbirds
A new look hockey staff has been finalized and put into place for Sault Ste. Marie’s junior A hockey team.
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have confirmed the all-local coaching staff that will assist new head coach and part owner Cole Jarrett for the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Birds ink Hounds pick
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed a prospect of the Soo Greyhounds from the 2021 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
He is 6-foot-2, 195 pound, 2005 birth year defenseman Andrew Gibson. Hailing from the Windsor area town of LaSalle, Gibson was a fourth round pick of the Greyhounds at this year’s draft.
…[read more]Fighting Walleye gets a Tiger
Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has added a veteran forward with a 2001 birth date from the Campbellton Tigers of the Maritime Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Voodoos cast spell on O’Dell
Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed a 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft pick of the Oshawa Generals. He is 6-foot-4, 200 pound defenseman Ryan O’Dell.
…[read more]Junior hockey up north
They are the two primary junior A hockey leagues of the expansive, sweeping northern Ontario region.
As of now, in total, there are 19 teams from northeast and northwest Ontario, northern Michigan, northern Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin that span the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Good news for hockey diversity
This can and should be seen as a step forward relative to diversity and inclusion in junior A hockey throughout Ontario and across Canada.
That is, the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has confirmed the appointment of Trevor Iserhoff as its first ever director of diversity and inclusion.
…[read more]Kam River goes with the flow
There are committed returning players and incoming skaters who have signed up — with room to still add to the roster.
Indeed, the part owner and general manager of the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League likes the promising look of the second year franchise ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Days of Sault sportscasters
I have been writing sports — mostly hockey — day in and week out since February of 1982.
Before that, starting in October of 1975, I was a sportscaster, first in radio, then in both radio and television.
There were a lot of us sportscasters in Sault Ste. Marie and throughout northern Ontario back then.
…[read more]Kam River lands a goalie
This looms as a net gain.
That is, Eric Vanska has opted to return to the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Five Eagles off to school
Homegrown product Bobby Price tops a list of five graduates of the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League who are moving up to the college ranks this fall.
A 6-foot, 190 pound forward who played three seasons with the Michigan-based Eagles, Price is heading to Trine University, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 3 school.
…[read more]Captain on the Express
Josh Boucher will be returning to the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for a third season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]In and out of Kam River
Kevin McCallum has been wheeling and dealing ahead of the 2021-2022 junior hockey season. The general manager of the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has been involved in four separate transactions thus far this summer.
…[read more]Back in the Beaver dam
Blind River Beavers general manager and coach Kyle Brick has confirmed the signed return of nine players ahead of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
The nine veterans include one goalie, two defensemen and six forwards. They are as follows.
…[read more]Local look of the Birds
Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League are — as they should be — the big game in town. After all, the OHL is probably the best junior hockey development league in the world and the Greyhounds have a long history of producing players for the National Hockey League.
But the Soo is also home to the Thunderbirds of the lower level Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And the Thunderbirds are all about giving local lads a place to play and develop while staying at home.
…[read more]Resch to catch the Express
Caleb Resch has ambitious plans for his final season of junior hockey. And he is willing to move far away from home to pursue his hockey goals.
Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the 2001 birth year defensemen will be heading more than 1,000 miles from home to suit up for the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League come the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Flint promotes Sault scout
Mike Oliverio has been named head scout of the Flint Firebirds.
The 54-year old Sault Ste. Marie resident has served as a long-time regional scout for the Ontario Hockey League franchise dating back to when the Firebirds were known as the Plymouth Whalers.
…[read more]Traffic on the Express route
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has made a flurry of player moves with the small market team making notable additions ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
The transactions involve teams in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League and Ontario Jr. Hockey League as well as the signings of three players from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League and another incoming rookie from Brantford.
…[read more]Hay says hey to Flint
Flint Firebirds have now signed two of their top picks from the 2021 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
The most recent commitment to Flint is forward Ethan Hay, who was the Firebirds third round pick from the AAA Waterloo Wolves.
…[read more]Net gain for Espanola
He is staying in the north.
Rookie goalie Patrick Boivin has signed with the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Walleye on the Express
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has acquired a trio of skaters from the Kam River Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League, president and head coach Jason Rapcewicz has confirmed to Hockey News North.
…[read more]Additions to the Express
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has signed three incoming rookie skaters, president and head coach Jason Rapcewicz has confirmed to Hockey News North.
Among the new additions to the Espanola lineup are a pair of northern Ontario products from nearby Sudbury.
…[read more]Over the Hill in Cochrane
Cochrane Crunch president and head coach Tom Nickolau has confirmed a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League transaction with the Soo Thunderbirds.
…[read more]Caufield was well schooled
He is one of hockey’s newest sensations, a 20 year old mighty mite who has already become a folk hero of sorts for the under dog Montreal Canadiens and their improbable Stanley Cup run of 2021.
…[read more]Local look in Elliot Lake
The operators of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have already scored big without playing a game.
As Elliot Lake is poised to return to the NOJHL for the 2021-2022 season after being on leave of absence in 2020-2021, the rebranded Red Wings — formerly known as the Wildcats — have signed a pair of local lads.
…[read more]T-Birds bring Zeppa home
Veteran goalie Noah Zeppa has been signed by the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a free agent, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Dumont deal is done
Hometown defenseman Teegan Dumont is officially a member of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings.
Formerly the Elliot Lake Wildcats, the rebranded Red Wings have acquired Dumont from the Blind River Beavers in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League transaction that was initially reported by Hockey News North back on May 10.
…[read more]NOJHL expects a full season
Plans are for the 12 team Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to proceed with a full 2021-2022 regular season schedule and a start date of September 16.
…[read more]Whiteduck on the move
Rayside Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added a veteran skater via the trade route, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Hockey North Show X 2
Two special editions of the Hockey North Show on radio station Eagle 95.1 http://eagleradio951.com will air as a way of “catching up” on what has been a busy junior hockey off season. The special edition, half hour shows will air this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. and next Tuesday, June 29 at 3:00 p.m.
…[read more]Majors go for Walker
Homegrown product Kevin Walker will serve as the head coach of the Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season.
Majors general manager Ron Holmes confirmed the appointment of Walker.
…[read more]Flint’s new coaching troika
A trio of incoming coaches has been hired by the Flint Firebirds since owner Rolf Nilsen brought in 66-year old Terry Christensen on May 7 to be the president of hockey operations for the Ontario Hockey League team.
…[read more]Soo boys have twice the Spirit
They both carry intangibles relative to character, relentless work ethic and perseverance.
Three years apart in age, Sault Ste. Marie products Camaryn Baber and Calem Mangone are poised to become first-time teammates in 2021-2022 as part of the latest contending edition of the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Flint inks first rounder
Any concerns that the new look Flint Firebirds would have difficulty signing their first round pick from the 2021 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft have been addressed.
…[read more]Delarosbil is for the Birds
It is a deal that is finally official after being in the works for more than a month.
That is, Hockey News North has confirmed that the Soo Thunderbirds have obtained homegrown product Cole Delarosbil from the Espanola Express in a cash exchange.
…[read more]Big d-man to the Crunch
Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has added a young defenseman from the reputable Brantford 99ers program.
…[read more]Saginaw signs Soo skater
Wow. That didn’t take long.
A mere week after taking Calem Mangone with the second overall pick of the first round of the 2021 Ontario Hockey League under 18 draft, the Saginaw Spirit has signed the Sault Ste. Marie product to a standard player contract.
…[read more]