All posts by Randy Russon
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]Old and new in Espanola
A foursome of northern lads are among the five holdovers who have thus far signed up to play for the small market Espanola Paper Kings ahead of the ’25-26 season. And there are also newcomers who have committed to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League program in Espanola.
…[read more]EPK retains depth forward
Forward Cain Savage is slated to return to the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League come the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Paper Kings get new d-man
He is well traveled but still young with a 2007 birth date. Defenseman Nolan Garrard has signed with the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Temple has a hockey Pool
Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has confirmed that graduated defenceman Elijah Pool has committed to Pennsylvania-based Temple University of the Division 1, American Collegiate Hockey Association ahead of the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]Real deal for the Soo T-Birds
Defenseman Brady Real is slated to stay home and skate for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League come the ’25-26 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Jack is back in Espanola net
Goalie Jack Helkie is set to return to the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for a second season, as Hockey News North was first to report. And Paper Kings goalie coach Bill Vanderleest is happy to have his 2006 birth year pupil back in the Espanola net.
…[read more]Signed up again in Espanola
A pair of northern lads are among three returnees who have thus far signed up to play for the Espanola Paper Kings ahead of the ’25-26 season. Forwards Ashton Pitawanakwat and Lucas Dubois are poised to play a second season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for Espanola.
…[read more]U16 Hounds bring two to Soo
Soo Under 16 Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have gone out of town to sign a pair of versatile skaters. Hockey News North has confirmed that Ethan Farquharson and Alexander Priem are slated to suit up for the U16 Jr. Hounds come the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]SMHA loss = win for Windsor
Like it or not — and any self serving excuses aside — the Sault Major Hockey Association is losing plum players as young as 14 and 15 years old to other programs across Ontario. Some have signed with teams in Barrie, Hamilton and Sudbury ahead of the ’25-26 season. And Windsor has also proven to be a preferred course of action.
…[read more]Another Greyhound signing
Soo Greyhounds have inked their second first round pick from the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft in American-born forward Ryan Kaczynski.
…[read more]ACHA for Espanola grad
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have conformed that graduating forward Jack Anderson will attend Oakland University in the Metro Detroit suburb of Rochester effective the ’25-26 season.
…[read more]EL Vikings still in limbo
The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has extended the leave of absence for the Elliot Lake Vikings for the upcoming ’25-26 season — and thus operate with 11 teams.
…[read more]College a fit for Soo Eagles
No less than five members of 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]Windsor via Sault Major
Mateo Muto, a highly regarded 2010 birth year defenceman, has opted to move away from home and depart the Sault Major Hockey Association to play at the prep level for BioSteel Sports Academy of Windsor.
…[read more]School is where Eagles go
From junior to school is where they invariably land. Graduate from the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and chances are good that the next step will be playing at either of the National Collegiate Athletic Association or American Collegiate Hockey Association levels.
…[read more]Goalies and goalie coaches
They are the goalies. They are the quirky kids. Unlike any other position, they can win or lose a hockey game on their own. Meanwhile, a good goalie coach can make a real difference for a good goalie. There are good goalie coaches out there, just as there are those who, unfortunately, are imposters.
…[read more]Rob Mazzuca re-elected
The Canadian Jr. Hockey League recently concluded its annual general meeting in Calgary. Among major items of business, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League commissioner Rob Mazzuca was re-elected as the chair of the board of the Canada wide CJHL.
…[read more]Soo boys off to Windsor
A trio of lads from Sault Ste. Marie will be heading to southwestern Ontario to play at the rep hockey level in Windsor come the ’25-26 season. They are 2010 birth year forward Eli Chapman, 2010 birth year defenseman Mateo Muto and 2011 birth year goalie Owen Whitehead.
…[read more]Eagles move on to school
Graduate from the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and chances are good that the next step will be playing at either of the National Collegiate Athletic Association or American Collegiate Hockey Association levels.
…[read more]Carter Kucher is a champ
Sault Ste. Marie product Carter Kucher now has the elite experience of being a championship defenseman. The 16 year old youngster recently hoisted the title trophy as a member of the Chatham Maroons of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Brett Rossetto is a Steel
Hamilton Steel of the Under 15 AAA level of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association has signed 2011 birth year standout Brett Rossetto away from the U15 AAA Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association.
…[read more]Flint inks first round pick
Flint Firebirds have signed 2009 birth forward Charlie Murata to an Ontario Hockey League standard player agreement. Murata was taken by Flint with the eighth pick in the first round of the 2025 OHL priority selections draft from the Don Mills Flyers of the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
…[read more]Hound sparks U18 Canada
Hail to the Canadians! For the first time in program history, Team Canada is back to back champions at the Under 18 World Hockey Championships — with considerable help from a member of the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Overcoming the odds
There is a premise among those who have a feel for the game that it does not matter what round a player is picked in a particular Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Cubs turn double play
Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League have yet to win a championship in 50 plus years of existence. But across town, the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have now won back to back championships.
…[read more]Cubs in clear control
Back to back road victories in Hearst have given the reigning champion Sudbury Cubs a three games to one lead on the Lumberjacks in their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League title series.
…[read more]Cubs on comeback trail
The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship series is now tied at a game apiece. Sudbury Cubs evened the best of seven set with a frantic 5-4 overtime decision over the visiting Hearst Lumberjacks.
…[read more]Coaching the U18 Wolves
Head coach Clayton Bertrand is moving up from the Sudbury Jr. Wolves under 16 program to its under 18 level team of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s Great North AAA league.
…[read more]Hounds take Gavin Killoran
He is a developing forward who turned a productive season with the Soo Under 18 Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League into becoming an Ontario Hockey League supplemental draft pick of his hometown Soo Greyhounds.
…[read more]Tryout camp in Espanola
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will be holding an open tryout camp on Saturday, April 26. The one day camp is open to players born in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
…[read more]Soo Eagles and college
Since the current regime of the Soo Eagles led by general manager Bruno Bragagnolo took ownership back in 2010, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League program has sent more than 100 players to the college ranks. And that impressive list continues to grow.
…[read more]NOHA falls far behind
It was the worst showing ever by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association as only five players from the NOHA’s Great North Under 18 Hockey League were picked at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Soo boy to Owen Sound
Center Adam Pszeniczny of the Soo Under 16 Jr. Greyhounds has become the first player from the Northern Ontario Hockey Association to be picked at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Chitaroni a top OHL pick
Northern boy Brock Chitaroni has become the property of the Ottawa 67’s who took the skilled centre in the first round, third overall, of the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]T-Birds looking to ’25-26
They were the only lower seed team to move on from the first round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs. But the no. 6 seed Soo Thunderbirds were no match for the powerhouse Sudbury Cubs in the second round of the NOJHL playoffs.
…[read more]Prospects of the Great North
On average, there are 12 to 15 players from the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s Great North league who become picks every year at the annual Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]