All posts by Randy Russon
Back in the Eagles nest
A returning player who the Soo Eagles will be counting on in a big way for the 2016-2017 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season is 1997 birth-year forward Jake Palmerio. …[read more]
Timpano has the tools
He was the starting goalie as a 17-year old on the worst team in the Ontario Hockey League and as an 18-year old he endured another losing season with the Sudbury Wolves. …[read more]
New pact for Hounds GM
Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League have signed general manager Kyle Raftis to a three-year contract extension. …[read more]
Crowded crease in Sudbury
Sudbury Wolves have a pleasant problem preparatory to the 2016-2017 Ontario Hockey League season with a crowded crease that includes two seasoned stoppers and a highly-touted rookie. …[read more]
Contract renewal for Kowalsky
Rick Kowalsky, who captained the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League to the 1993 Memorial Cup championship, has signed a two-year contract extension to continue as head coach of the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League. …[read more]
New assistant coach in Oshawa
Former Ontario Hockey League defenseman Nathan McIver has been hired by the Oshawa Generals as a second assistant coach. …[read more]
Distant howl in Wolves country
After two long winters with barely a whimper, a distant howl can be heard as the Sudbury Wolves seek a return from the Ontario Hockey League wilderness. …[read more]
NHL camps full of Firebirds
While they just completed their first season in the Ontario Hockey League, the Flint Firebirds nonetheless boast five players who attended National Hockey League prospect development camps over the past few weeks. …[read more]
Legendary OHL rivalries
I have been commenting on and writing about the Ontario Hockey League since 1974 when I was a journalism student at Sault College — and thus have been around my fair share of personal and team rivalries. …[read more]
Return ticket on the Express
Two key players will be returning to the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for a second season, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Lortie is new Blind River scout
Charly Murray, senior advisor and scouting director for the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, has added another scout to his staff. …[read more]
More Blind River additions
Make that two more players who have formally committed to the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
New gig for Francis Anzalone
Shreveport Mudbugs, an expansion team set to begin play in the North American Hockey League this fall, have hired Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. native Francis Anzalone as associate coach. …[read more]
Soo Eagles to St. Mary’s U
Alex DiBacco, a 1996 birth-year defenseman who played the 2015-2016 season with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, has a college commitment, HockeyNewsNorth.com has learned. …[read more]
High hopes for Hounds but…
It can be stated, without hesitation, that the Soo Greyhounds have a lot to build on from the 2015-2016 season preparatory to the 2016-2017 Ontario Hockey League campaign. …[read more]
Little Caesars gives back
Mike Flammia, owner-operator of two Little Caesars franchise outlets in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has been involved in a number of community projects in the three years that he has been in business. …[read more]
Blind River via Waterloo
Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added seasoned depth to the forward lines with the signing of 1996 birth-year left winger Anthony Pullicino. …[read more]
Soo Eagles captain off to school
Evan Ketner will pass on his final season of junior hockey to play at the Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association level this fall, HockeyNewsNorth.com has learned. …[read more]
Knight moves
The best team in the Ontario Hockey League — you know, the one that fans from the other 19 centers love to hate — is in upper management transition. …[read more]
Fired up in Flint
Fueled by a flurry of off-season hiring, signing and trade moves, the Flint Firebirds have become better-positioned for their second session in the Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
Blind River signs local lad
Blind River Beavers have stayed in their own back yard to sign a local product to a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League card. …[read more]
Young blood hops the Express
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has gone for size and youth in signing two plum prospects who hail from the Greater Sudbury Area. …[read more]
Wolves get first-round ink
Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League have confirmed that 2000 birth-year defenseman Owen Lalonde has inked a standard players agreement contract. …[read more]
Moving up the OHL ladder
Five up-and-coming teams that will be worth watching once the 2016-2017 Ontario Hockey League season gets underway: …[read more]
Experience beyond his years
Jordan Smith doesn’t turn 31 for a few months yet but he already has three full years of experience as a head coach. …[read more]
Columbus day for Ottawa center
Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League have signed undrafted center Dante Salituro to a three-year, two-way, entry-level contract. …[read more]
Oshawa to Flint and a re-union
Jalen Smereck just got closer to home after being acquired by the Flint Firebirds from the Oshawa Generals in an Ontario Hockey League trade finalized today. …[read more]
OHL trade market
There is some quality, mid-grade talent that either already is or could be made available in an Ontario Hockey League trade market where buyers and sellers are virtually always open for business. …[read more]
Czech out the Wolves big import
Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League went for youth and size in today’s Canadian Hockey League import draft with the selection of Jachym Kondelik from the Czech Republic. …[read more]
French River gets a new guy
Hulking forward Kaden Hintz has been dealt by the Cochrane Crunch to the French River Rapids in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League trade just completed. …[read more]
OHL nods and nots
It takes all kinds to make the world spin within the high-profile, high-end, high-stakes, 20-team Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
Elliot Lake to Wisconsin-Superior
Liam Blais, who clicked for 21 goals for the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in 2015-2016, is off to the collegiate ranks. …[read more]
Firebirds are three for three
The new-direction Flint Firebirds now have their top three picks from the 2016 Ontario Hockey League draft under wraps. …[read more]
Coming together in Flint
It was a first season to forget in many ways but the signs are pointing in the right direction as the Flint Firebirds prepare for their second go-round in the Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
Firebirds deal Finnish defender
Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League have confirmed a major transaction with the Mississauga Steelheads. …[read more]
Spirit shows in Damien Giroux
Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League is in the news again, this time relative to a rookie player from northern Ontario. …[read more]
New additions to French River
Jessy Landry has been a busy fellow in his new undertaking as president and general manager of the French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
Soo Eagles sign pair of forwards
Two forwards with a “nice scoring touch” have signed with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, co-coach/general manager Bruno Bragagnolo has told HockeyNewsNorth.com. …[read more]
Beavers make move with Elmira
Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have made a player exchange with the Elmira Sugar Kings of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Spirit lives on for 15 years
Boasting continuity in ownership and the upper chamber dating back to 2002 when it first became members of the Ontario Hockey League, Saginaw Spirit will celebrate its 15th anniversary this 2016-2017 season. …[read more]
New coach for Saginaw Spirit
After a lengthy process, relative unknown Spencer Carbery has been hired as the new head coach of the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
67’s sign five fresh faces
Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League ushered in the summer solstice today by signing five draft picks from the 2015 and 2016 priority selections process. …[read more]
It’s how you play-by-play
Listening to Dan Dickerson so expertly and casually broadcast another Detroit Tigers baseball game on Sunday reminded me of how many well-called Ontario Hockey League matches that I have tuned in to on the radio over the years. …[read more]
Old goalie is back in the O
Forty years after graduating from the Ontario Hockey League as a workhorse goaltender, Jim Bedard is returning as a coach. …[read more]
Beavers sign veteran newcomers
Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed a pair of 1996 birth-year skaters from southern Ontario. …[read more]
Finalizing with the Firebirds
Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League earlier this week finalized two more positions on their staff. …[read more]
Goodwin leaving OHL Frontenacs
Well-respected assistant coach John Goodwin will not be returning to the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League for a third season, multiple sources have told HockeyNewsNorth.com. …[read more]
Owen Headrick makes NACS list
Garden River First Nation product Owen Headrick, fresh from an eye-opening season as a freshman defenseman with the Lake Superior State University Lakers, has been ranked as a potential late-round pick for the upcoming National Hockey League draft. …[read more]