All posts by Randy Russon
U16 AA Jr. Hounds are hot
Four straight wins on the weekend have solidified the Soo U16 AA Jr. Greyhounds lead atop the standings of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s eight-team U18 AA program. The U16 AA Greyhounds now have a record of 17-4-3 within NOHA regular season play.
…[read more]A tale of two AP goalies
What were the chances of this? Two goalies from Sault Ste. Marie who play for separate Great North Under 18 Hockey League teams in Sudbury both dressed as affiliate player backups for opposite clubs in the same Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League game.
…[read more]BR goalie signs OHL deal
Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League have signed goalie Charlie Burns of the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to a standard player contract.
…[read more]Highs and lows of Superior
Through addition and subtraction, the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has managed to hold steady with seven teams — six in northwestern Ontario and one in northern Wisconsin.
…[read more]Cougars have good Wood
Sault College Cougars, featuring leading scorer Caleb Wood, are in Oxford, Ohio this weekend for a series of games against American Collegiate Hockey Association opponents.
…[read more]Timmins v. Hearst
Tense. Testy. Torrid. Just three words of description that narrate the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League rivalry between the Timmins Rock and Hearst Lumberjacks.
…[read more]GNU18HL in Peterborough
All eight teams from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League are in Peterborough this week for the prestigious Steve Richey Tournament of Champions.
…[read more]Kowal the Paper King AP
Teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are known for making good use of affiliate players from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in the case of injury and shortened lineups.
…[read more]U18 Majors Indigenous lads
This is something to be extremely proud of. That is, Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League can confirm that they are one of few teams in Canada in their age group that are made up of more than 50 per cent of players who are of Indigenous — First Nation and Metis — descent.
…[read more]Sault College men on a roll
Home at last. Sault College Cougars men’s hockey team played its first home games since the onset of the Covid pandemic this weekend.
…[read more]U18 Jr. Hounds take two
Soo Jr. Greyhounds have added to their lead atop the standings of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League with two more victories.
…[read more]A boy and his goalie hero
Owen Whitehead, who is a goalie with the Under 12 AA Soo Jr. Greyhounds, has long thought of Marc-Andre Fleury as one of his favourite National Hockey League goalies.
…[read more]Mauro propels Paper Kings
It was a nice return to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for Devin Mauro. The 18-year old Sault Ste. Marie product scored once and added an assist as the Espanola Paper Kings edged the French River Rapids by a 7-5 margin tonight.
…[read more]Walker and the Walleye
A showdown between the top two teams in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League is on the marquee as the first place Kam River Fighting Walleye is set to play host to the second seed Dryden Ice Dogs tonight and Saturday evening at NorWest Arena.
…[read more]From the Rock to the Majors
Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have been bolstered by the return of 17-year old forward Thomas Beard from the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Travelling the Great North
Here ‘n there as the Great North Under 18 Hockey League picks up the pace in the second segment of the 2022-2023 season:
…[read more]Sault College teams at home
For the first time since the onset of the Covid pandemic the men’s and women’s hockey teams at Sault College will both have home games on the same weekend.
…[read more]Captain Kaden to the Cubs
The first place team in the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League strengthened itself at the Canadian Jr. Hockey League trade deadline. Sudbury Cubs obtained big centre man Kaden Laverdiere of the last place Elliot Lake Red Wings in a cash exchange.
…[read more]EPK nabs big Brinn Burleigh
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League finalized their blue line brigade at the Canadian Jr. Hockey League trade deadline in a big way.
…[read more]Devin Mauro to Espanola
Sault Ste. Marie product Devin Mauro has joined the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League via the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Travelling by helicopter and train
Road trips along rugged highways to games and tournaments are a fact of life for minor hockey teams in Northern Ontario towns such as Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Kapuskasing, New Liskeard, Thunder Bay, etc. Then there is Moose Factory.
…[read more]Hope for the small goalie
There is little doubt that when it comes to goalies — especially as they get older and the level gets higher — that coaches and scouts prefer and favour those net minders who have size. But according to one reputable scout, there is once again hope for the small goalie.
…[read more]Thunderbirds and Beavers
A mid week home and home set between the Soo Thunderbirds and Blind River Beavers is on tap in the hotly-contested West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Majors stun Jr. Greyhounds
This is the upset of the season thus far in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. Playing at home, the Timmins Majors handed the Soo Jr. Greyhounds just their second loss of the season with a 3-2 victory.
…[read more]Kramps to Kam River
Under-rated forward Noah Kramps has joined the first place Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League via the Stony Plain Flyers of the Capital Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Bell tolls for Espanola
Sault Ste. Marie product Coulson Bell got to make his Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League debut as a 15-year old affiliate player for the Espanola Paper Kings with family members in attendance.
…[read more]Nickel Caps to Paper Kings
A pair of productive 15-year old forwards from the Sudbury U16 Nickel Capitals of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League will make their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League debut tonight as affiliated players for the Espanola Paper Kings.
…[read more]’06-07 Schreiber Diesels
They were only in existence for four years as a small town junior A franchise. But back during the 2006-2007 season, the upstart Schreiber Diesels won the Superior International Jr. Hockey League championship in stunning fashion.
…[read more]Elliot Lake to Sudbury
Devin Shoreman is moving from the last place team in the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to the first place club.
…[read more]AJ is an AP for BR
It is a case in point and illustration of the hockey development process. In this instance it is Sault Ste. Marie product AJ Borrelli, who is a 16-year old goalie with the Sudbury U18 Nickel Capitals of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League and a registered affiliate player with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Back in the north country
A second segment in a given season serves as a stretch run towards spots in the standings ahead of the playoffs. It is also about another stage in player development. And with the 2023 sector of schedules back in play let us take a sled through the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, the Superior International Jr. Hockey League and the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Bell rings for Paper Kings
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have registered a second Sault Ste. Marie product who plays for the Sudbury U16 Nickel Capitals of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League as an affiliate player, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]‘Best ’07 goalie in the North’
It is a league that is monopolized by goalies who were born in 2005 and 2006. But there is a 2007 birth year puck stopper in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League who is considered the best in his age group.
…[read more]D1 deal for CC goalie
Cochrane Crunch goalie Marcus Ouellet has secured a Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association commitment to play for the American International College Yellow Jackets.
…[read more]Top 10 of the Great North
Five forwards and five defensemen make up the Hockey News North Top 10 list of 2007 birth year skaters from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League who are potential picks for the 2023 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Boivin and Boivin in the net
Oh, brother. The older one tends goal for the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And the younger one stops pucks for the Kapuskasing Flyers of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. Hailing from Blind River and playing hockey hundreds of miles from home are the goalie brothers — 19-year old Patrick Boivin and 16-year old Alex Boivin.
…[read more]Sault boys in the OHL
Several skaters who played minor hockey in Sault Ste. Marie are on rosters of teams in the Ontario Hockey League. And with the OHL now returning from the holiday break we check in on some statistical numbers of the local lads.
…[read more]Small town kids of the north
They are the youngsters who come from the faraway, isolated and remote northern Ontario towns that are not nearly big enough to ice AAA level hockey teams. And in order to play in say, the AAA Great North Under 18 Hockey League, they have to travel anywhere from 125 to 350 miles from home to do so.
…[read more]Leaving home to play hockey
In a better minor hockey world a young teenager would not have to leave the comfort of home in Sault Ste. Marie to play for a similar team in Sudbury.
…[read more]NOJHL stars and storylines
Here and there at about the midway point of the 2022-2023 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season.
…[read more]Gushue has the Dog in him
Jake Gushue is living an extraordinary adventure as a first-year assistant coach with the Dryden Ice Dogs of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]All about Zoli’s Kleaners
Good guy Bronson Kovacs made a good name for himself as a hockey player who rose through the ranks of the game in Sault Ste. Marie from pee wee to bantam to midget to junior A before playing four years at the National Collegiate Athletic Association level and six more years as a pro over in Hungary.
…[read more]U16 AA Hounds are top dogs
Soo Jr. Greyhounds will skate into the holiday break in first place in the Under 16 AA division of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League.
…[read more]Ponds of the Great North
There is a pillar of parity in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League even as the first place Soo Jr. Greyhounds are a prolific powerhouse. That is, five of the eight teams in the Great North will sport records above the .500 mark when pucks hit the ice for the 2023 segment of the regular season schedule.
…[read more]Hounds of the Great North
Sporting a snazzy record of 12-1-0, the Soo Jr. Greyhounds will skate into the holiday break in first place in a Great North Under 18 Hockey League where five of the eight teams are over the .500 mark.
…[read more]A.J. backstops Nickel Caps
A clutch goalkeeping performance by Sault Ste. Marie product A.J. Borrelli boosted the Sudbury U18 Nickel Capitals to a 3-1 road decision over the New Liskeard Cubs today.
…[read more]Majors at the midway
On one hand, Timmins Majors head coach Steve Polyblank is satisfied with the 8-6-2 record that his Great North Under 18 Hockey League team has heading into the holiday break. On the other hand, Polyblank wants to see more consistency from the Majors in the 2023 segment of the season.
…[read more]Paper Kings clip Cubs
An old teammate was the masked culprit as a nine game winning streak of the Sudbury Cubs came to a halt by way of Espanola Paper Kings goalie Jake Marois.
…[read more]Fort Frances fires coach
Paul MacLean has been fired as head coach and general manager of the Fort Frances Lakers of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]High tide of the East side
They are the thriving threesome of the East Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Timmins Rock, Hearst Lumberjacks and Powassan Voodoos are in an East side race for first place.
…[read more]Sudbury Cubs stay local
The clear cut mission is to win the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship. And if the Sudbury Cubs are able to do so it will be with a lineup that is laden with local lads and northern folk.
…[read more]Zest of the NOJHL West
What a race it is in the wild West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. It starts among the top three teams and then picks up steam in a frantic dash for the fourth playoff spot.
…[read more]Great North to Team Canada
If this doesn’t speak volumes about the under-rated Great North Under 18 Hockey League then nothing will. Team Canada has unveiled its roster for this month’s World Junior Championships and two of the players are from northern Ontario.
…[read more]Paper Kings add depth
Free agent skater Teegan Dumont has signed with the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Hounds, Nickel Caps do well
Soo U18 Jr. Greyhounds and Sudbury U16 Nickel Capitals of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League both made it to the semi-final round in their respective categories at the esteemed Waterloo Gold Puck Tournament which concluded today.
…[read more]Marson a Paper King AP
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have officially registered Sudbury U16 Nickel Capitals goalie Nick Marson as an affiliate player. Paper Kings general manager Marc Gagnon confirmed the recent signing of Marson as an AP to Hockey News North.
…[read more]U16 Nickel Caps advance
Sudbury U16 Nickel Capitals of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have advanced to the semi-finals at the prestigious Waterloo Gold Puck Tournament.
…[read more]U18 Jr. Hounds in Waterloo
As the first place team in the eight member Great North Under 18 Hockey League, the Soo Jr. Greyhounds are under the spotlight at the prestigious Waterloo Gold Puck Tournament that is being held this week.
…[read more]U16 Nickel Caps on the map
They are one of two under 16 teams that compete against the older clubs of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. And specifically, not only are they youthful but the Sudbury U16 Nickel Capitals have a splendid record of 8-3-1 in the eight team Great North.
…[read more]Great North at Gold Puck
Multiple teams from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League will compete in two separate divisions at this week’s renowned Waterloo Gold Puck Tournament.
…[read more]Winning ways of Walleye
Playing through an unforeseen coaching change has not slowed the flow of the surging Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Tracks of the Great North
Here ‘n there in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League where five of the eight teams have records above the .500 mark, where there is a three way tie for the scoring lead and where there is considerable net worth among goalies.
…[read more]Mid season in the NOJHL
Here ‘n there in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with the 2022-2023 regular season schedule at the midway point.
…[read more]Zeppa returns to the Birds
Soo Thunderbirds have signed 20-year old goalie Noah Zeppa, Hockey News North has confirmed. Zeppa was a key performer for the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League champion Thunderbirds.
…[read more]