All posts by Randy Russon
Thunder Bay via Sault College
This has the makings of being a feel good hockey story.
That is, goalie Trennis Riley has latched on with the Thunder Bay North Stars of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League thanks to the efforts of scout Charly Murray and manager Mark Hebert of the Sault College Cougars varsity men’s team.
…[read more]Express lane to Sudbury
Cameron Walker is now playing hockey at home in Sudbury after two seasons with the nearby Espanola Express.
Walker had his trade request granted by Espanola when Express general manager and coach Jason Rapcewicz dealt the third-year Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League skater to the Sudbury Cubs in a cash exchange.
…[read more]We see a coach in Elliot Lake
Elliot Lake Red Wings have finally settled on a head coach one game into the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]‘Good bet Doucette’
Soo Thunderbirds forward Tyson Doucette more than lived up to his off season hype in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League 2021-2022 opening weekend match.
Pegged by Hockey News North as a rising NOJHL star in a series of summer stories, Doucette fired three goals and goalie Noah Zeppa pitched a shutout with 17 saves in his Thunderbirds debut as the Soo scored a resounding 7-0 road victory over the Blind River Beavers.
…[read more]SIJHL opening weekend
So far, so good. First pucks dropped on the Superior International Jr. Hockey League’s 20th anniversary regular season on the weekend with five games and all seven member teams taking to the ice.
…[read more]Kraken calls on MacKay
Soo Greyhounds overage right winger Cole MacKay is off to the National Hockey League training camp of the expansion Seattle Kraken, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Hendo has three hockey hats
Suffice to say that Jamie Henderson will be spending a lot of time in the various rinks of the north over the course of the 2021-2022 hockey season.
A Sault Ste. Marie native known for his thoroughness and relentless attachment and devotion to the game, Henderson has three diverse roles with three different teams in three separate hockey leagues.
…[read more]Cubs pitch shutout in debut
Captain Owen Perala started the show with a goal, Joel Rainville completed the shutout and the rebranded Sudbury Cubs blanked the visiting Espanola Express 4-0 as the 2021-2022 regular season got underway on Thursday in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]For puck sakes
Regular season play is getting underway in both the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
And as my heart has been sweetly stolen with the birth of my first grand child, Malala, we nonetheless have story lines to peruse relative to junior A hockey in northeastern and northwestern Ontario.
…[read more]Hockey north watch tower
We have teams, players and coaches to keep collective eyes on as junior hockey in the north puts its sticks on the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]They call him Captain Cam
Sault Ste. Marie product Camaryn Baber has been named captain of the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
The 2021-2022 campaign will be an overage season for Baber, who has a 2001 birth date.
…[read more]Kam River takes Teleco Cup
Junior hockey returned to northwestern Ontario in game form on the weekend for the first time in nine months.
…[read more]Between the pipes
Goalies. They represent the last line of defense at the most scrutinized and evaluated position in hockey.
In the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, there are no shortage of top flight goalies. And following is a look at several who figure to be difference makers this season.
…[read more]Here come the Sudbury Cubs
It is a new chapter for junior hockey in Sudbury under the watch of a philanthropic owner and his right hand man — fellow locals who represent a time honoured history in the game.
Formerly the Rayside Balfour Canadians, now the Greater Sudbury Cubs, this is a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team that is experienced in community leadership, management and coaching — and with sights set on a championship.
…[read more]Sudbury’s new junior team
Rayside Balfour Canadians are no more.
Owner Mark Burgess and his right hand man, managing director Blaine Smith, have opted to rebrand the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team.
…[read more]Fishing the Walleye net
Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has opted to keep its net intact with two returning goalies.
At the same time, the Fighting Walleye has created an opportunity for a rookie net minding prospect.
…[read more]Cougars have a north look
Skaters with recent experience in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Superior International Jr. Hockey League are among those who have signed up to play for the 2021-2022 edition of the Sault College Cougars.
The only Canadian men’s team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division 2 ranks, Sault College has lined up a regular season schedule that is slated to begin on October 23.
…[read more]Coaching change in EL
Brian Noad has stepped down as head coach of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League without having coached a game, Hockey News North has learned.
…[read more]Dual role in Thief River
It will be double duty for the new guy.
That is, incoming head coach Elliot Bates will add the duties of general manager for the Thief River Falls Norskies of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Junior hockey outlook
It was a season like no other relative to junior hockey in the province and coalitions such as the Ontario Hockey League, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
And hopefully there will never be another season like the 2020-2021 campaign that was so adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
…[read more]Kartye gets Kraken in Seattle
Soo Greyhounds overage candidate Tye Kartye is getting a pro opportunity, Hockey News North has confirmed.
A 6-foot, 200 pound left winger with a 2001 birth date, Kartye has been invited to the National Hockey League training camp of the expansion Seattle Kraken.
…[read more]Barnes in Blind River
An Ontario Hockey League prospect of the Owen Sound Attack is slated to develop with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the upcoming season.
He is Jackson Barnes, a 6-foot-2 defenseman with a 2004 birth date.
…[read more]Signed up in Kam River
Having signed 18 players to date, the lineup for the Kam River Fighting Walleye is just about set for the upcoming Superior International Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]SIJHL rivals make a deal
Thunder Bay North Stars and Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League have finalized a trade, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]New boss in Thief River Falls
A new head coach with prior bench experience in the North American 3 Hockey League will be at the helm of the Thief River Falls Norskies of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League once the 2021-2022 season begins.
…[read more]NOJHL expands vaccine policy
Commissioner Rob Mazzuca and the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have confirmed that, with the looming start of the 2021-2022 exhibition and regular season schedule, it will be adding to its current vaccination policy.
…[read more]D-man has Sudbury roots
Cole Quevillon is headed from the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League to the Greater Sudbury-based Rayside Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in a cash deal.
A 6-foot-1, 185 pound defenseman with a 2003 birth date, Quevillon has family in Greater Sudbury, which makes the move somewhat of a homecoming for the Oro-Medonite product.
…[read more]Here are the EL Red Wings
The new kids on the block have signed 23 players ahead of the looming 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Elliot Lake Red Wings have inked 14 forwards, six defensemen and three goalies.
…[read more]Lambert to scout for Wolves
Fresh from a stint as head coach of the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Denny Lambert has joined the scouting staff of the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]RIP, Donny Gagnon
Sault Ste. Marie’s hockey circle has lost an exemplary member. Don Gagnon passed away recently following health complications.
…[read more]Hat trick for Lafleur?
I am not saying that Marc Lafleur is the best coach in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. But I doubt there is anyone who is better than the 46-year old bench boss of the Powassan Voodoos.
…[read more]EL inks northern goalie
A talented tender from Timmins has signed with the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Julien Lefebvre, a 6-foot, 160 pound goalie with a 2003 birth date, heads to Elliot Lake after guarding the net for the Cochrane Crunch of the NOJHL as a rookie backup during the abbreviated 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Now that’s a big Walleye!
Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has reeled in a big fish from rural Saskatchewan.
Hockey News North has confirmed that the Fighting Walleye has signed Jesse Swanson, who is a mammoth 6-foot-7, 230 pound rookie forward.
…[read more]Plugged into the NOJHL
Major change will be in effect when regular season action in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League begins in the middle of September.
…[read more]Hounds’ new goalie coach
Matt Smith is following in some big foot steps as the new goalie coach for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.
As in, the previous four goalie coaches for the Greyhounds are now with pro hockey teams.
…[read more]All the way to Thunder Bay
Raj Sangha will once again make a 20 hour trip from his home in Calgary to play junior hockey in Thunder Bay.
…[read more]Soo Eagles get Holy
Looking to add an experienced defenseman, Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have acquired Sam Holy from the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Canada Hockey League.
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois and with a 2001 birth date, Holy has size at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds.
…[read more]Lined up for Walleye
Better days ahead? COVID-19 limited the expansion Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League to just four regular season games in 2020-2021.
Now, preparatory to the 2021-2022 regular season is a four team tournament that the veteran-laden Fighting Walleye will play host to.
…[read more]Dealing in Elliot Lake
Mark Savery has been a busy operator of late. The vice president of hockey operations for the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has finalized a series of transactions.
…[read more]Net plans in Blind River
Holdover net minder Gavin Disano will now be part of a three goalie system for the Blind River Beavers to at least begin the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
That is the word from Beavers general manager and coach Kyle Brick.
…[read more]Back in Thunder Bay
Several seasoned performers have confirmed their return to the Thunder Bay North Stars of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]