All posts by Randy Russon
SIJHL final four forecast
Fanatical. Feisty. Fierce. Fiery. Frantic. Frenzied. The two semi-final sets in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League have the makings of being about any or all of the aforementioned synonyms.
…[read more]Elliot Lake battles back
A goal by Ethan Mercer just past the 5:00 minute mark of a second overtime session capped a frantic comeback for the Elliot Lake Red Wings who scored a 4-3 win over the Blind River Beavers to force a third and deciding game in their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League preliminary round series.
…[read more]Roar of the Rapids
It has been a season of firsts for the small market French River Rapids. First, they qualified for the playoffs for the first time since entering the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as an expansion team in 2015.
…[read more]Beavers over Wings
Gavin Disano made 20 saves and three players acquired in mid season trades had multiple point outings as the Blind River Beavers struck first in their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League preliminary round series with the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
…[read more]NOJHL playoff procession
It is playoff season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. The playoff parade begins with best-of-three preliminary round sets between the no. 4 and no. 5 seeds in both divisions of the NOJHL.
…[read more]Three Dog Night for Dryden
Placing third in the regular season standings of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League with a .622 winning percentage from a record of 26-15-4, the Dryden Ice Dogs subsequently swept the opening round of the best of five playoffs against the sixth slotted Fort Frances Lakers.
…[read more]Cole in goal in a winning role
Up next for the Dryden Ice Dogs is the daunting task of facing the high octane Red Lake Miners in the second round of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League playoffs. Backed by the nifty net-minding of Cole Johnston and a run and gun offensive display, Dryden swept the Fort Frances Lakers in three straight games in the opening round of the playoffs.
…[read more]Ice Dogs take Lakers to the limit
Two down, one to go on the first round victory lap. Dryden Ice Dogs have drawn up a two games to none edge on the Fort Frances Lakers in their best-of-five Superior International Jr. Hockey League playoff procession.
…[read more]‘We have D1 players in the NOJHL’
It doesn’t take an educated or practical imagination to deduce that Doug Laprade knows a Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey player when he sees one. Not only was Laprade — who now coaches the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League — a Division 1 skater with the 1988 national champion Lake Superior State Lakers but he was later a volunteer assistant coach and repeat NCAA champ at his alma mater.
…[read more]Strength of the Ice Dogs
Dryden Ice Dogs were good — but not overwhelming — during the 2021-2022 regular season. The Ice Dogs finished in third place in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League within range of the first place Kam River Fighting Walleye and second place Red Lake Miners. And having added multiple players prior to the January 10 trade deadline, the Ice Dogs could be set up for a playoff run.
…[read more]Salvatore is one smart kid
Wisconsin Lumberjacks forward Salvatore Poggiali has been named the Superior International Jr. Hockey League’s scholastic player of the year, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]SIJHL playoffs are underway
It had been almost three years since there was playoff activity in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League before four teams took to the ice in opening around action on Tuesday.
…[read more]Kudos to Kam River; SI playoffs begin
The newest active team in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League will go into the playoffs as the no. 1 seed. In its first full season of existence, the Kam River Fighting Walleye splashed a record of 35-7-2 and a winning percentage of .818 to finish atop the SIJHL’s regular season standings.
…[read more]Putting a Kap on an NOHA crown
Soo Jr. Greyhounds have returned from Kapuskasing as Under 15 AA Northern Ontario Hockey Association champions.
…[read more]Local lads lift Thunderbirds
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or so it seems. During the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League’s last complete season, the 2018-2019 campaign, the Soo Thunderbirds finished first overall in the 12 team loop with 15 local players in their lineup.
…[read more]Winging it into the playoffs
It took them until the second last game of the regular season to clinch a playoff position in their first go around as members of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Showing gradual improvement as the 2021-2022 regular season progressed, the Elliot Lake Red Wings managed to secure the fifth and final playoff spot in the West Division of the NOJHL, just ahead of the Espanola Express.
…[read more]Lein is keen on his Lumberjacks
Through a number of losing streaks, one-sided losses and inconsistent play, Wisconsin Lumberjacks owner, general manager and coach Doug Lein sent out positive vibes when it came to discussing his Superior International Jr. Hockey League team.
…[read more]Central Region awaits U18 Hounds
Up next for the Great North Under 18 Hockey League champion Soo Jr. Greyhounds is Ontario’s Central Region championship tournament. It is slated for April 4 to 10 in Toronto.
…[read more]Black Bears of the North
They were only in existence for three seasons. But the Northern Michigan Black Bears had winning records in all three of their seasons as members of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League from 2003 to 2006.
…[read more]Kam River to Oregon … again
A third soon to be graduating member of the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League is heading to the University of Oregon and its Division 1, American Collegiate Hockey Association program effective the 2022-2023 season.
…[read more]Thoughts of NOJHL playoffs
The last time I watched a playoff game in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League was two years ago — March 4, 2020 at Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Soo Eagles routed the visiting Espanola Express by a 7-1 score and would go on to sweep the best of three preliminary round series in two straight games.
…[read more]Champs of the Great North
They were the no. 1 team during the regular season. And that is where they stood when the buzzer sounded to end the 2022 playoff championship tournament.
…[read more]Major development
As the no. 6 seed of the eight teams that took to the ice for the Great North Under 18 Hockey League championship tournament, the Timmins Majors became the cinderella story of the 2022 event.
…[read more]Lowden of the Lumberjacks
He has an even record on a team that is seven games below the .500 mark. To that end, 19-year old goalie Kyler Lowden has been a net gain for the Wisconsin Lumberjacks of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]SIJHL gearing towards playoffs
Finish the regular season on high with the playoffs looming. That would be a logical and obvious focus for the six teams of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Ottawa via French River
Three years ago at this time Phillipe Daoust was finishing up his rookie season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a member of the French River Rapids.
…[read more]True north, vintage era Wolves
Through half a decade as members of the Ontario Hockey League, the Sudbury Wolves have stayed true to northern Ontario. From the pioneer era, 1972 ownership of Bud Burke, Joe Drago et al to the staying, time tested leadership of the Burgess family that spanned 30 years from 1986 to 2016, the Wolves den was home to close to 200 players from throughout the northeastern and northwestern regions of the province.
…[read more]U18 Hounds top the Great North
First place finishers during the recently completed regular season, Soo Jr. Greyhounds are being joined by their fellow seven member teams at the championship tournament of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Stick handling through traffic
This marks the third season in succession that the Covid nemesis has affected junior A hockey, in this case two leagues that are based in the rugged regions of northeastern and northwestern Ontario. But both the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Superior International Jr. Hockey League have faced off against the opponent and managed to stick handle through traffic.
…[read more]First place for U15 AA Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League’s under 15 AA division are preparing to head to Kapuskasing for regional playoffs on the March 25-27 weekend. At stake for coach Jerry Lortie’s U15 Hound pups is a spot at the Ontario Hockey Federation championship tournament that is slated for April 22-24 in North York.
…[read more]Baker’s dozen for the Birds
Make that 13 straight wins for the Soo Thunderbirds. The top ranked team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League extended its victory streak to lucky 13 with weekend road victories over the Hearst Lumberjacks and Timmins Rock.
…[read more]Bowen boys of the broadcast booth
As the legendary play by play voice of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, 70-year old Joe Bowen has stood the test of time as one of the absolute best in the business. And now there is another Bowen who has taken to calling games behind the mic.
…[read more]Hounds of mid to late ’80s
Through the 1980-81, ’81-82, ’82-83, ’83-84 and ’84-85 regular seasons, the Soo Greyhounds reeled off respective records of 47-19-2, 40-25-3, 48-21-1, 38-24-4 and 54-11-1 that culminated in the franchise’s first-ever Ontario Hockey League playoff championship and Memorial Cup berth. But the remainder of the 1980s were not as kind to the Greyhounds, though there were some memorable players and moments.
…[read more]Flint hockey boss ousted
Flint Firebirds president of hockey operations Terry Christensen has been banned from the Ontario Hockey League by commissioner David Branch.
…[read more]Ice Dogs, Lakers visit Kam River
Fans of the Kam River Fighting Walleye — of which there is a surging flow of frantic followers — will have the fortuity of watching their favourite Superior International Jr. Hockey League team take to the home ice of NorWest Arena three times in as many days this weekend.
…[read more]Charly talks up Sault College
Known for his frankness, honesty and calling it as he sees it, Sault College Cougars chief scout and recruiter Charly Murray discussed the state of the men’s hockey program in a recent interview.
…[read more]Three Dog Net
As they hit the road for three games against the top two teams in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League the third place Dryden Ice Dogs take a record of 22-11-3 into a weekend that looms as a tough test for the pack.
…[read more]Major winning streak
Playing four games in five days could not stop the Timmins Majors from going on a winning streak for the ages. The Majors won all four of the games to move into sole possession of sixth place among the eight teams of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]10 in a row for T-Birds
They have a league best winning percentage of .813. And the Soo Thunderbirds will take a record of 30-5-5 into Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League play this week.
…[read more]RIP, Bobby Orazietti
He was a small centre who was fast and could score and set up his line mates with quick passes. Bobby Orazietti, who wore no. 9 and played for the Jr. A Soo Greyhounds from 1962 to 1964 when they were members of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, passed away recently at the age of 78.
…[read more]Superior showcase sidebars
All six active teams of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League gathered in the northern Wisconsin town of Spooner for a recent showcase tournament. Each team played two games that counted in the regular season standings.
…[read more]Nine straight for T-Birds
Hardworking forward Cole Delarosbil netted three goals and goalie Noah Zeppa made 20 saves as the Soo Thunderbirds continued their winning ways on Wednesday with a 6-2 verdict over the visiting Blind River Beavers.
…[read more]Sobush on a steady stride
He has lurked in the shadows of high scoring veteran Kyler Campbell and 16-year old rookie sensation sniper Billy Biedermann. But 17-year old neophyte Pierson Sobush has emerged as a top scorer for the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Showcase shocker
What goes around really does come around. Less than two weeks ago — February 19 and 20 — the visiting Wisconsin Lumberjacks were soundly pounded by the Red Lake Miners by distressing scores of 13-1 and 17-4. But on the opening day of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League’s showcase tournament, the hosts from Wisconsin absolutely stunned Red Lake with a 5-1 victory.
…[read more]Birds take over the Gardens
A showdown between the top two teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is on the slate as the Soo Thunderbirds will play host to the Hearst Lumberjacks on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at GFL Memorial Gardens.
…[read more]12 straight has Hearst in first
There is a thirst to finish first up in Hearst. Winners of 12 games in a row, the Hearst Lumberjacks have hustled into first place in the East Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Express puts brakes on skid
Espanola Express took to the road to get back on track. The Express halted a nine game losing streak today by scoring a 6-0 decision over the Cochrane Crunch.
…[read more]Birds, Eagles, Cubs, Beavers
They are the front runners of the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Soo Thunderbirds, Michigan Soo Eagles, Sudbury Cubs and Blind River Beavers are all well above the .500 mark as the NOJHL heads into the stretch run of the 2021-2022 regular season.
…[read more]