All posts by Randy Russon
Back in the Beaver dam
Blind River Beavers general manager and coach Kyle Brick has confirmed the signed return of nine players ahead of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
The nine veterans include one goalie, two defensemen and six forwards. They are as follows.
…[read more]Local look of the Birds
Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League are — as they should be — the big game in town. After all, the OHL is probably the best junior hockey development league in the world and the Greyhounds have a long history of producing players for the National Hockey League.
But the Soo is also home to the Thunderbirds of the lower level Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And the Thunderbirds are all about giving local lads a place to play and develop while staying at home.
…[read more]Resch to catch the Express
Caleb Resch has ambitious plans for his final season of junior hockey. And he is willing to move far away from home to pursue his hockey goals.
Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the 2001 birth year defensemen will be heading more than 1,000 miles from home to suit up for the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League come the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Flint promotes Sault scout
Mike Oliverio has been named head scout of the Flint Firebirds.
The 54-year old Sault Ste. Marie resident has served as a long-time regional scout for the Ontario Hockey League franchise dating back to when the Firebirds were known as the Plymouth Whalers.
…[read more]Traffic on the Express route
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has made a flurry of player moves with the small market team making notable additions ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
The transactions involve teams in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League and Ontario Jr. Hockey League as well as the signings of three players from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League and another incoming rookie from Brantford.
…[read more]Hay says hey to Flint
Flint Firebirds have now signed two of their top picks from the 2021 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
The most recent commitment to Flint is forward Ethan Hay, who was the Firebirds third round pick from the AAA Waterloo Wolves.
…[read more]Net gain for Espanola
He is staying in the north.
Rookie goalie Patrick Boivin has signed with the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Walleye on the Express
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has acquired a trio of skaters from the Kam River Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League, president and head coach Jason Rapcewicz has confirmed to Hockey News North.
…[read more]Additions to the Express
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has signed three incoming rookie skaters, president and head coach Jason Rapcewicz has confirmed to Hockey News North.
Among the new additions to the Espanola lineup are a pair of northern Ontario products from nearby Sudbury.
…[read more]Over the Hill in Cochrane
Cochrane Crunch president and head coach Tom Nickolau has confirmed a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League transaction with the Soo Thunderbirds.
…[read more]Caufield was well schooled
He is one of hockey’s newest sensations, a 20 year old mighty mite who has already become a folk hero of sorts for the under dog Montreal Canadiens and their improbable Stanley Cup run of 2021.
…[read more]Local look in Elliot Lake
The operators of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have already scored big without playing a game.
As Elliot Lake is poised to return to the NOJHL for the 2021-2022 season after being on leave of absence in 2020-2021, the rebranded Red Wings — formerly known as the Wildcats — have signed a pair of local lads.
…[read more]T-Birds bring Zeppa home
Veteran goalie Noah Zeppa has been signed by the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a free agent, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Dumont deal is done
Hometown defenseman Teegan Dumont is officially a member of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings.
Formerly the Elliot Lake Wildcats, the rebranded Red Wings have acquired Dumont from the Blind River Beavers in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League transaction that was initially reported by Hockey News North back on May 10.
…[read more]NOJHL expects a full season
Plans are for the 12 team Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to proceed with a full 2021-2022 regular season schedule and a start date of September 16.
…[read more]Whiteduck on the move
Rayside Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added a veteran skater via the trade route, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Hockey North Show X 2
Two special editions of the Hockey North Show on radio station Eagle 95.1 http://eagleradio951.com will air as a way of “catching up” on what has been a busy junior hockey off season. The special edition, half hour shows will air this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. and next Tuesday, June 29 at 3:00 p.m.
…[read more]Majors go for Walker
Homegrown product Kevin Walker will serve as the head coach of the Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season.
Majors general manager Ron Holmes confirmed the appointment of Walker.
…[read more]Flint’s new coaching troika
A trio of incoming coaches has been hired by the Flint Firebirds since owner Rolf Nilsen brought in 66-year old Terry Christensen on May 7 to be the president of hockey operations for the Ontario Hockey League team.
…[read more]Soo boys have twice the Spirit
They both carry intangibles relative to character, relentless work ethic and perseverance.
Three years apart in age, Sault Ste. Marie products Camaryn Baber and Calem Mangone are poised to become first-time teammates in 2021-2022 as part of the latest contending edition of the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Flint inks first rounder
Any concerns that the new look Flint Firebirds would have difficulty signing their first round pick from the 2021 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft have been addressed.
…[read more]Delarosbil is for the Birds
It is a deal that is finally official after being in the works for more than a month.
That is, Hockey News North has confirmed that the Soo Thunderbirds have obtained homegrown product Cole Delarosbil from the Espanola Express in a cash exchange.
…[read more]Big d-man to the Crunch
Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has added a young defenseman from the reputable Brantford 99ers program.
…[read more]Saginaw signs Soo skater
Wow. That didn’t take long.
A mere week after taking Calem Mangone with the second overall pick of the first round of the 2021 Ontario Hockey League under 18 draft, the Saginaw Spirit has signed the Sault Ste. Marie product to a standard player contract.
…[read more]EL Red Wings go local
Alexandre Antoine is staying home to play junior hockey for the 2021-2022 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]New to the Flint Firebirds
Another week, another coaching addition.
Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have tapped Kris Sparre as their associate coach for the 2021-2022 season.
Sparre is the third new coach to be hired in Flint since owner Rolf Nilsen brought Terry Christensen on board as president of hockey operations on May 7.
…[read more]Crunch time for Ingram
Junior C to Junior A.
Moving up from the Dundas Blues of the Provincial Jr. Hockey League to the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season is Ethan Ingram.
…[read more]Kam River to Elliot Lake
The process of putting together a new team ahead of the 2021-2022 season has landed the Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League a player from the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Feel good Habs have Soo link
Regardless of what happens through the rest of the Stanley Cup playoffs the Montreal Canadiens will have had a successful National Hockey League season.
And as a bonus to Canadiens fans in Sault Ste. Marie, there is a link to the Soo from this Montreal team.
…[read more]Thunderbirds to Voodoos
Proven puck-stopper Alex Bugeja is on the move.
The 2001 birth year goalie has been traded from the Soo Thunderbirds to the Powassan Voodoos in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League transaction, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]High on Mangone, Barone
What a difference a year can make.
After being looked over and bypassed through the entire 15 round, 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, two blossoming players from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds evolved to become top six picks at the three round, 2021 OHL under-18 draft.
And not only does their coach from the Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have glowing words for Soo boys Calem Mangone and Adam Barone but so too do the general managers who made them OHL draft picks in 2021 after they were disregarded in 2020.
…[read more]Jr. Hounds are U18 picks
Better late than never. After being bypassed at the 15 round, 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, two players from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds were high picks at today’s 2021 OHL under-18 draft.
…[read more]Saginaw to Flint
This should add even more fuel to the Interstate 75 highway rivalry between the Flint Firebirds and Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
That is, after one season as associate coach with Saginaw in 2019-2020, Jared Nightingale is taking a short trip a few exits down I-75 to become an assistant coach in Flint.
…[read more]Ex-OHL star in Espanola
Joey Talbot, a former high scoring right winger with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League and part of their 1999 Memorial Cup championship team, has joined the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as an assistant coach/skills development coach.
The 41-year old Talbot later had a productive pro career, including four standout seasons with the legendary Sheffield Steelers of the British Elite Ice Hockey League.
…[read more]Riley is back on the Rock
Hustle bustle crowd favourite Riley Brousseau has signed up to return to the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
A local Timmins lad, the 2001 birth year forward opted to sit out the 2019-2020 NOJHL season.
…[read more]New coach in Espanola
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is keeping it in house. That is, the Express has filled its vacant head coach position with a familiar name.
…[read more]Fellinger falls to Hounds
Wawa, Ontario native Austin Fellinger has become the Ontario Hockey League property of the Soo Greyhounds.
…[read more]OHL still high on Soo boys
For the third year in succession a player from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. has been picked within the first three rounds of the Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Toms signs with Hounds
It is the next step in development.
Local lad Connor Toms is moving up from the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]New coach for Flint
A new bench boss is in place for the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League.
Ted Dent has been named head coach of the Firebirds.
The 51-year old Dent replaces Eric Wellwood, who recently resigned his position with the Michigan-based OHL team.
…[read more]Victoria to Elliot Lake
Dayton Clarke will head from west to east to continue his junior hockey journey.
The Victoria, British Columbia product has signed with the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Espanola to Vermilion County
Vermilion County Bobcats of the Southern Professional Hockey League have officially confirmed the former bench boss of the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as the first head coach in franchise history.
Brent Hughes leaves Espanola and the NOJHL after coaching the Express to a 5-4-3 record in 12 games during the abbreviated 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Ritchie opts for Sault College
Sault Ste. Marie product Jordan Ritchie is planning to forgo his final season of Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League eligibility. The 2001 birth year defenseman will stay in the game but also go to school.
…[read more]Rock adds homegrown lad
Brandon Perry has made a good first move as the new coach and general manager of the Timmins Rock. Perry has confirmed to Hockey News North that the Rock has obtained homegrown defenseman Cameron Dutkiewicz in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League trade with the Soo Thunderbirds.
…[read more]Smyl is Alberta bound
“It’s a pleasure just to be Alberta bound … I long to see my next of kin … Alberta bound … it’s good to be Alberta bound …” — from the song Alberta Bound by legendary Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot.
High performance forward Cooper Smyl is moving on from the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Birds commit to rookie flock
Soo Thunderbirds general manager Jamie Henderson has confirmed the commitments of several rookie players ahead of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Included in the flock are top performers from both the Soo Jr. Greyhounds and Kapuskasing Flyers of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]RBC banks three locals
Rayside Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have stayed local by committing to three forwards from the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]New recruit to Sault College
He played two full seasons as a steady defender with the Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget Hockey League. And he suited up for 16 games as a rookie for the Cochrane Crunch during the abbreviated 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
With that behind him, 2002 birth year defenseman Keaston (Sticks) Blais now has his sights set on attending Sault College in the fall and playing for the hockey Cougars.
…[read more]