All posts by Randy Russon
Beavers stay in the area
June 1 signals the official start to the 2023-2024 season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. As of today, teams can make trades and sign players as the league opens for business ahead of the ’23-24 campaign. Blind River Beavers are one team that has made commitments to players for the coming season.
…[read more]Soo boy to Espanola
Hulking defenseman Kiinen Saari has committed to the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League ahead of the 2023-2024 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Top U18 goalies in the area
There is a net worth of goalies from northern Ontario born in either 2006 or 2007 who have the tools to be top performers at the Under 18 AAA level come the 2023-2024 season.
…[read more]Great North gatherings
Symmetry could speak to harmony and equality for the Great North Under 18 Hockey League when pucks hit the ice for the 2023-2024 season. Soo Jr. Greyhounds held an extreme balance of power for the 2022-2023 regular season though it was the upstart North Bay U18 Trappers who wound up as playoff tournament champions.
…[read more]U15 Majors get their man
The newly-formed U15 AAA Timmins Majors of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association have hired their first-ever head coach. The U15 AAA Majors — who will be an affiliate team for the Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League — have stayed local in hiring Steve Surcon as their bench boss.
…[read more]Outside interest in U18 Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have kept three roster spots open ahead of the 2023-2024 season. And Darrin Thomsen, who is the new general manager of the U18 Jr. Greyhounds, has confirmed that a number of out of town players have recently inquired about playing for the Soo in ’23-24.
…[read more]Memorial Cup & French River
This looks good — really good — on both the French River Rapids and the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. As in, this is the second successive season that a former French River player is with a major junior team that is competing in the Memorial Cup tournament.
…[read more]T-Birds to Sault College
A pair of fine forwards are moving on from the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to the Sault College Cougars of the Division 2, American Collegiate Hockey Association effective the 2023-2024 season.
…[read more]Major news from Timmins
Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have signed six holdover players from the 2022-2023 season ahead of their August 18-20 main tryout camp.
…[read more]Notes from the Great North
Checking in with the Soo Jr. Greyhounds, Sudbury U18 Nickel Capitals and Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League:
…[read more]Great North coaches corner
Sean Gagnon is in fine fellowship in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League as the new head coach of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds.
…[read more]Rock of the North
They represented the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with respect and class, traits that trickle down from president Ted Gooch to general manager and head coach Brandon Perry and his staff to the players. An NOJHL title team for the ages, the Timmins Rock recently posted a highly respectable 2-2-0 record at the 10-team Centennial Cup, 2023 national championship tournament.
…[read more]Coaching U18 Trappers
Reigning champion North Bay U18 Trappers of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League will have a different look back of the bench come the 2023-2024 season.
…[read more]Advancing from AA to AAA
Who says that once a youngster is labeled as an AA level player that he will advance no further? Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the AAA level, Great North Under 18 Hockey League are about to put that halfwitted, ill-considered, thoughtless notion to rest.
…[read more]Net gain for U18 Hounds
A year ago, the Soo Jr. Greyhounds rarely had to rely on their goaltending en route to finishing in first place in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League with a record of 26-2-0 while outscoring their opponents by a ridiculous margin of 152 to 46. But a glance ahead at the 2023-2024 season suggests that the Jr. Greyhounds will be banking big time on the newly-acquired net duo of A.J. Borrelli and Nick Marson.
…[read more]Hounds of the Great North
Some dreams have been realized. Some prayers have been answered. Some wrongs of the past have been righted. No less than 15 newcomers have been offered spots on the 2023-2024 edition of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in what is a fresh, clean start for the program.
…[read more]One for the Rock
Ethan Pool potted the overtime winner and Patrick Boivin made 46 saves as the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League began began play at the Centennial Cup national tournament in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba with a 4-3 win over the Yarmouth Mariners of the Maritime Hockey League.
…[read more]Back in Iroquois Falls
This has the makings of a classic, vintage, feel good, small town hockey story. After a six year absence that tugged at the heartstrings of so many local denizens, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is returning to the trusted town of Iroquois Falls effective the 2023-2024 season.
…[read more]Marc-Alain Begin carries on
He has had success in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a player, assistant coach and head coach. And Marc-Alain Begin will continue his NOJHL association as the bench boss of the Hearst Lumberjacks.
…[read more]Soo boys catch the Spirit
Defenseman Candon O’Neill and forward Callum McAuley from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League were among the 20 prospects who attended the recent development camp of the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Rock, Walleye, Centennial Cup
They are two well deserving championship teams from the north regions of Ontario that will be up against the best junior A clubs in the nation. Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League are part of the 10-team, Centennial Cup, Canadian Jr. Hockey League national championship tournament that is slated for May 11-21 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
…[read more]Kam River is number one
A franchise in only its second full season of existence is the no. 1 team in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. Kam River Fighting Walleye edged the crosstown Thunder Bay North Stars 5-4 on Wednesday in Game 7 of the SIJHL championship series.
…[read more]No U16 AAA team for Sault
Sault Ste. Marie will not ice an Under 16 AAA hockey team for the 2023-2024 season after all. The executive of the Sault Major Hockey Association released the following statement.
…[read more]Sault boys in key NHL roles
Six Sault Ste. Marie products hold prominent positions on five of the eight National Hockey League teams that are still active in this year’s National Hockey League playoffs.
…[read more]New coaches for U18 Hounds
There will be a fresh, new look to the coaching staff of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League effective the 2023-2024 season, multiple sources have confirmed to Hockey News North.
…[read more]Kam River takes 3-2 lead
Fourth line forward Kennan Reyelts scored twice and added an assist and the Kam River Fighting Walleye withstood a Thunder Bay North Stars rally to score a 4-3 Sunday night win over its crosstown foes. Kam River now leads the Superior International Jr. Hockey League championship series three games to two.
…[read more]Rock stars and refugees
Timmins Rock capped a championship series comeback tonight with an exclamation mark. The Rock rolled to a 4-2 win over the Soo Thunderbirds to take the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship series four games to two.
…[read more]Hounds exit to Soo Indians
The reasons are not exactly clear. And really, why would anyone want to say anything publicly for fear of possible reprisal? But the fact is that no less than four local lads who suited up for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in 2022-2023 have opted to exit the program to sign with the Soo Indians of the Under 18 Tier 1 Hockey Federation League ahead of the 2023-2024 season.
…[read more]Cochrane to Iroquois Falls?
Cochrane Crunch owner Tom Nickolau has applied to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to move his franchise to the nearby town of Iroquois Falls. NOJHL governors will vote on the transfer request “for consideration and determination in due course” according to league commissioner Rob Mazzuca.
…[read more]Walleye wins a wild one
Kam River Fighting Walleye has evened its best-of-seven Superior International Jr. Hockey League championship series with the crosstown Thunder Bay North Stars at two games apiece.
…[read more]Fighting Walleye fights back
Kam River Fighting Walleye stared adversity straight in the kisser on Thursday and did not flinch. Already trailing two games to none in its Superior International Jr. Hockey League championship series with the cross-town Thunder Bay North Stars, Kam River found itself down by two goals just past the midway point of the first period of Game 3.
…[read more]Four Jr. Hounds to Soo Indians
Make that four local lads who suited up for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in 2022-2023 that have opted to sign with the Soo Indians of the Under 18 Tier 1 Hockey Federation League ahead of the 2023-2024 season.
…[read more]Hamilton to Brantford for good?
It is being termed as a temporary three-year relocation for the Hamilton Bulldogs when they move 25 or so miles along Highway 403 to Brantford effective the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League season. But could the Bulldogs remain in Brantford for good?
…[read more]Rock nips the Birds
Timmins Rock has taken a three games to two lead on the Soo Thunderbirds in what has been a hotly contested Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship series.
…[read more]Jr. Hounds picked in U18 draft
A pair of 2006 birth year players from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League were picked at today’s Ontario Hockey League supplemental draft for players who were bypassed a year ago.
…[read more]Maguire and Marson
Only one 2007 birth year goalie from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League was picked at the 2023 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft as Nathan Maguire went from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds to the Flint Firebirds in the seventh round. And while he was not drafted, it says here that goalie Nick Marson of the Sudbury U16 Nickel Capitals also deserved to be selected.
…[read more]Indians sign Jr. Hounds trio
Three local lads who suited up for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in 2022-2023 have opted to sign with the Soo Indians of the Under 18 Tier 1 Hockey Federation League ahead of the 2023-2024 season.
…[read more]T-Birds up 2-1 on Timmins
Soo Thunderbirds scored less than two minutes into the game and never gave up the lead en route to a 4-1 home-ice win over the Timmins Rock on Sunday. The Thunderbirds now lead the best-of-seven Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship series two games to one.
…[read more]Paper Kings are hiring
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are looking to add to their coaching staff in the form of an assistant coach and goalie coach.
…[read more]Great North to the OHL
A pool of players from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League were plucked at the 2023 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Ellis to Kingston
Defenseman Cole Ellis of the Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]Fellinger to Flint
Defenseman Rylan Fellinger of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]O’Neill to Saginaw
Smart, steady defenseman Candon O’Neill of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]Campbell to Erie
Pint sized forward Max Campbell of the Sudbury Under 16 Nickel Capitals of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]Jones McDonald to Oshawa
Forward Deven Jones McDonald of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]Cooke to Flint
High scoring forward Brendan Cooke of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]Gallivan to North Bay
Defenseman Declan Gallivan of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]Dubowsky to Barrie
Hard working winger Cole Dubowsky of the Sudbury Under 16 Nickel Capitals of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League has become an Ontario Hockey League draft pick.
…[read more]