All posts by Randy Russon
Standing tall in Cochrane
He is a big one. And a good one.
Michael Nickolau was a huge presence in the net for the Cochrane Crunch during the abbreviated 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]Bosses on the job in Hearst
Given that both the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons did not end in completion relative to COVID-19, the Hearst Lumberjacks remain as the reigning champions heading into the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Hearst won the 2018-2019 NOJHL title when the visiting Lumberjacks upset the heavily favoured Soo Thunderbirds in the seventh and deciding game of the league championship series.
…[read more]Reopening in Elliot Lake
Junior hockey has had a presence in Elliot Lake since 1965, beginning with the old Jr. B Vikings.
And since 1997 there have been the Elliot Lake Ice, Elliot Lake Bobcats and Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. (The Bobcats were also part of the Greater Metro Jr. Hockey League.)
Now, after the Wildcats took a leave of absence from the NOJHL in 2020-2021, the franchise was recently rebranded as the Elliot Lake Red Wings with new operator, new general manager and new coaching staff in place ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Coaching vacancy in Espanola
Brent Hughes is moving on from the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as its head coach after one season on the job, Hockey News North has learned.
…[read more]Chairman Mazzuca, take a bow
Score one for the north.
The Canadian Jr. Hockey League has confirmed its executive committee for the 2021-2022 season and Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League commissioner Rob Mazzuca will have a commanding role.
Mazzuca has been appointed the CJHL’s chairman of the board for the upcoming campaign.
Raffi Torres to Elliot Lake
A former star winger who was an impact player in the Ontario Hockey League before going on to play in more than 700 National Hockey League games will assist the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a mentor.
…[read more]Big M, Duff, Leafs, Habs, Dad
It may be the most talked about opening round playoff series in many years.
Original Six, National Hockey League fabled foes, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are facing off in a best of seven playoff for the first time since 1979.
…[read more]Branch resigns as Flint GM
A widely respected person who led the Flint Firebirds to their best season in franchise history has stepped down as general manager of the Ontario Hockey League team.
Affable Barclay Branch, who orchestrated a three year rebuild in Flint that resulted in a 40-21-2 record for the Firebirds during a 2019-2020 season that was shortened by COVID-19, confirmed his resignation today to Hockey News North.
…[read more]Soo crew in the Bird house
It is like getting the house in order.
Seven homegrown skaters have confirmed their intention to return to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season.
Meanwhile, sources have told Hockey News North that the Thunderbirds have agreed in principle to acquire two more local lads via the trade route and are prepared to sign a number of players from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Crunch adds to hockey staff
It is Crunch time up in Cochrane.
President and coach Tom Nickolau has hired a general manager and an assistant GM to bolster the staff of the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The 55-year old Nickolau purchased the Cochrane franchise a year ago and steered it through 21 games of a 2020-2021 NOJHL season that was abbreviated relative to COVID-19.
…[read more]1986 Memorial Cup champs
It was 35 years ago this weekend that the Guelph Platers won the coveted Memorial Cup championship as the best team in Canadian major junior hockey.
Suffice to say that the Platers took the Ontario Hockey League by surprise during the 1985-1986 season.
The Platers had missed the playoffs in each of their first three seasons in the OHL. Starting out as an expansion team in 1982, the Platers posted successive records of 7-63-0, 20-46-4 and 21-40-5.
…[read more]Hounds missed on Matier
This one lies squarely on Soo Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis.
That is, the Greyhounds had a chance to choose local product and future world class gold medal winner Jack Matier in the first round of the 2019 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft only to — for whatever reason — opt for another defenseman.
…[read more]Ten of the best of the North
As we venture to take an early glance ahead of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season here is a Hockey News North look at 10 probable returnees who loom as impact players.
…[read more]North winds of change
A late spring breeze has altered the makeup of four of the 12 teams that have membership within the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
From east to west, north winds of change have blown through Timmins, Powassan, Elliot Lake and Sault Ste. Marie within the past few weeks.
Will there be more to come?
…[read more]Local lad lands in Elliot Lake
On the job ahead of the 2021-2022 season are the all new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
And sources with knowledge of the situation have told Hockey News North that the Red Wings are poised to make a home grown Elliot Lake product one of their first acquisitions.
…[read more]Rekindling the BR-EL rivalry
This is an age old tug-of-war that I am so looking forward to writing up again.
That is, the rabid, often rowdy rivalry between the gritty, nearby junior hockey towns of Blind River and Elliot Lake is poised to be rekindled.
…[read more]Cougars knock on Wood
Graduated Soo Thunderbirds forward Caleb Wood is moving on to skate for the Sault College Cougars of the Division 2, American Collegiate Hockey Association for the planned 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Birds returning to nest
A flock of Birds is intent on once again tapping sticks on the frozen pond of Sault Ste. Marie.
That is, seven local products and a fellow northeastern Ontario lad are among the skaters who have affirmed their return to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Staffing the Red Wings
The hockey department of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings is taking shape. Rebranded from the erstwhile Elliot Lake Wildcats, the Red Wings are adding on to their staff in advance of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]Henderson is on the jobs
His zeal and zest for the game are clear and pronounced.
Talk hockey with him and chances are the conversation will be a long-lasting, long-winded one.
And not only has Jamie Henderson signed up for another term as head coach of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League for next season but he was recently hired as the new general manager for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Malek is heading home
Soo Thunderbirds graduated forward Andrew Malek is returning to his home state to play Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey for the Concordia University of Wisconsin Falcons.
…[read more]May days of junior hockey
Junior A level hockey leagues across Canada are closed for registry business until June 1.
Which, as an example, means that teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League can’t officially announce any new player transactions until June 1.
But, as they should be, NOJHL coaches and general managers will no doubt be busy throughout the month of May working on potential player recruitment and trades ahead of June 1.
…[read more]Smyl explains Bird exchange
Local businessman Darren Smyl said he was not looking to sell the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
But Smyl, who had rescued the Thunderbirds from the verge of folding in 2017, said once he was approached by Trevor Daley and Cole Jarrett about buying the local NOJHL team, a deal gradually came into being.
…[read more]New operators for T-Birds
Two friends with prime time backgrounds have teamed up to take over the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Good citizens Cole Jarrett and Trevor Daley have obtained operational control of the Thunderbirds from local businessman Darren Smyl, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Smyl had presided over the Thunderbirds since 2017.
…[read more]Perry is solid as a Rock
Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has stayed local in hiring hard driven, hard working Brandon Perry as its new coach and general manager, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]KL makes a Smart move
Coach-general manager Kyle Smart is returning to the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Tech extends Joe Shawhan
Sault Ste. Marie native Joe Shawhan has signed a three year extension to carry on as head coach of the Michigan Tech Huskies of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
…[read more]Rat puke and Wolves
They had their share of good players and character individuals, including two standouts who became high draft picks to the National Hockey League and 11 others who would go on to play at the minor pro and/or European pro levels.
But for whatever reason, the Sudbury Wolves of 1983-1984 would finish in last place overall with a record of 19-50-1 in what was a 15-team Ontario Hockey League back then.
And it didn’t help that the underachieving Wolves of 1983-1984 were coached by a rude, crude dude who would routinely tell his players “you are all rat puke” when he was dissatisfied with their play.
…[read more]Love the all Canadian division
I have often wished that the National Hockey League would re-align and have an Original Six division of the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.
And while that has not happened — and likely never will — restrictions on travel relative to COVID-19 has created, temporarily at least, the formation of an all Canadian division of Montreal, Toronto, the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators.
I am loving the set up.
…[read more]Loss of an OHL season
Could the Ontario Hockey League have done more to start the 2020-2021 season back in November when COVID-19 cases were relatively low?
Did the OHL do wrong to its players when continuing to insist it was “not interested in playing games without fans in attendance” like other leagues were doing?
…[read more]Fedorov assisting Soo Eagles
Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added a full time skills and development coach to their staff, Hockey News North has confirmed.
He is 39-year old Fedor Fedorov, who starred in the Ontario Hockey League as a high scoring forward with the Sudbury Wolves during the 2000-2001 campaign before playing 18 games in the National Hockey League and multiple seasons in the American Hockey League prior to a nine-year career in the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League.
…[read more]Active, operative in NOJHL
It is aware of COVID-19 as an opponent. And that hasn’t prevented the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League from being in mindful overdrive as it and its member teams make provisions for the 2021-2022 season.
At the top, 11th year commissioner Rob Mazzuca is in his home office bunker on a regular basis, ministering what needs to be governed.
To be sure, from coaches affirming their return to new coaches being hired to due process being conducted on other business, the NOJHL and its teams are being anything but listless.
…[read more]Hockey North Show will return
Currently on hiatus relative to the Ontario government’s stay at home order, the Hockey North Show will return to radio station Eagle 95.1 once its host site, Reggie’s Place Downtown, re-opens for business. The stay at home order is slated to be lifted during the third week of May.
…[read more]Marc Lafleur to Powassan
He is a celebrated coach who has won championships with two different teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
And now, Marc Lafleur is returning to the NOJHL to coach, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]NOJHL prepping for ’21-22
In a sense, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is already ahead of the game as it plans and prepares for next season.
It includes the fact that Elliot Lake has confirmed a return from its 2020-2021 leave of absence for the 2021-2022 campaign — complete with a new name, a new coach and a new general manager.
Then there are examples of verity that elite full-time coaches such as Kyle Brick of the Blind River Beavers and Brent Hughes of the Espanola Express have affirmed their return for the 2021-2022 season to Hockey News North.
…[read more]BR boss welcomes EL return
The rabid, sometimes rowdy rivalry between the nearby junior hockey towns of Blind River and Elliot Lake is poised to be rekindled.
With a new name, new management and a new coach, Elliot Lake is set to return to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season after having taken a leave of absence for what became an abbreviated 2020-2021 campaign.
…[read more]NOJHL rebrand in Elliot Lake
After being on leave of absence for what became an abbreviated 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season, Elliot Lake is poised to return for the 2021-2022 campaign with new leadership and a new name.
Formerly the Elliot Lake Wildcats, the NOJHL team has changed its name to the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
…[read more]Leafs still not on my wish list
In my little town, I grew up believing that God and the Montreal Canadiens were good and non Catholic girls and the Toronto Maple Leafs were bad.
But some of that has changed for me from then to now.
While I still believe that God is good, I no longer depict the Montreal Canadiens in a religious way. And while all girls — not just Catholics — are good, the Toronto Maple Leafs um, you know, still haven’t made it to my list of top favourites.
…[read more]Eight player trade of ’83-84
Free traders Joe Drago of the Sudbury Wolves and Larry Mavety of the Belleville Bulls were never shy when it came to dealing players.
And the rival Ontario Hockey League general managers — Drago and Mavety were also good friends — more than proved that point early in the 1983-1984 season when they combined to make a massive eight player trade that featured three northern boys.
…[read more]Northern boys of the NOJHL
Teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are able to recruit players from all over Canada, not to mention the United States. But homegrown players from northern Ontario remain popular among NOJHL teams.
…[read more]Brick house in Blind River
The most productive coach in franchise history is returning to the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for a sixth season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Kyle Brick, who will turn 35 years of age later this month, has re-upped with the Beavers as coach and general manager for the 2021-2022 season as per team president Robert Morningstar.
…[read more]Splash on the Beaver dam
A normal regular season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is 56 games for each of its teams.
Well, in what was an abnormal, offbeat 2020-2021 season relative to COVID-19, it nonetheless — for example — led to the Blind River Beavers being able to play 21 games against two cohort opponents.
…[read more]Jack Matier a world class kid
He has been chosen to play on the world hockey stage.
Sault Ste. Marie product Jack Matier is slated to skate for Team Canada at this month’s 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation under-18 world championship tournament.
…[read more]Return ticket to Espanola
He has paid dues of advancement along the way, going from the AA levels of minor hockey in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie to AAA status.
And as the time passages of the game tick on, Cole Delarosbil has committed to returning to the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for what will be a third season, the 2021-2022 campaign.
…[read more]Summer tournament hockey
Dependent on factors related to COVID-19 and a return to more controllable numbers, summer tournament hockey may be more prevalent this year given the low total of games that were played at the junior and under 18 levels during the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Seguin heading to school
Graduated Timmins Rock gunslinger Derek Seguin is headed to North Bay to play Ontario university hockey for the Nipissing Lakers next season.
Seguin’s family advisor, Adrian Gedye of Pinnacle Hockey Management, confirmed the commitment of his client to Hockey News North.
…[read more]NOJHL news, views, dues
As a writer who writes up more than one team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, here are a number of notations as we move on from the 2020-2021 abbreviation of a season to what we can have faith in at what could lie ahead at some point.
…[read more]Beavers set in net with Disano
He came through when called upon and earned the no. 1 job.
And along the way, Gavin Disano withstood baptism by fire as a young rookie goalie with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]