All posts by Randy Russon
There is joy in Iroquois Falls
David beat Goliath on Wednesday in the initial showdown of a steamy northeastern Ontario rivalry. …[read more]
Petes acquire Adam McPhail
Sault Ste. Marie product Adam McPhail has been traded by the Saginaw Spirit to the Peterborough Petes in an Ontario Hockey League trade finalized earlier today, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
T-Birds deploy forward depth
They are the reigning Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League champs and while they have lost a few star players — defencemen Owen Headrick and David Radke to Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association schools and goalie Mario Culina to the Ontario Hockey League — Soo Thunderbirds define depth on the front lines. …[read more]
Bright NOJHL lights
Here ‘n there in the first few days of the 2015-2016 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season: …[read more]
Fans click the NOJHL turnstiles
On the ice, the reigning champion Soo Thunderbirds, Cochrane Crunch and Rayside-Balfour Canadians are all off to quick 2-0 starts. At the gate, there have been good-sized crowds on hand as the 2015-2016, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season is underway. …[read more]
Border battle resumes tonight
Round one went to the reigning champs on Friday as the Soo Thunderbirds upended the visiting Soo Eagles 5-2 in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular-season opener for the cross-border rivals. …[read more]
Opening night in the NOJHL
It’s a night of opening acts in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as all 12 teams take to the ice to begin the 2015-2016 regular season. …[read more]
Wolves send Silveri to Voodoos
Already a favourite to contend for the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League title this season, Powassan Voodoos have added 1997 birth-year forward Michael Silveri from the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
Twin brothers to T-Birds
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed twin brothers Darian Pilon and Drake Pilon. …[read more]
Laker notes, quotes
Lake Superior State University Lakers of the Division 1, Western Collegiate Hockey Association have finalized their coaching staff…And a freshman defenceman from Garden River First Nation has a roster spot as the youngest player on the team… …[read more]
First pucks to drop on NOJHL
The league now features an unprecedented 12 teams — and they all begin regular-season play on Friday of this week. …[read more]
Weekend on the Rhodes
Soo Thunderbirds, Elliot Lake Wildcats and Soo Eagles played off in a three-team, round-robin, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Labour Day weekend exhibition series at John Rhodes Community Centre. …[read more]
Cochrane Crunch on a fishing trip
With the start of a lengthy 2015-2016 regular season less than a week away, members of the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will experience outdoor life this Labour Day holiday weekend. …[read more]
Trio of NOJHL games in Soo
Three exhibition games involving three teams from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are slated for this weekend at John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie. …[read more]
Soo T-Birds to Windsor Spitfires
Goalie Mario Culina — a good, old Croatian boy from Sault Ste. Marie — has signed with the Ontario Hockey League Windsor Spitfires as an undrafted free agent. …[read more]
Elliot Lake shuffles the deck
Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have confirmed the status of three high-scoring forwards. …[read more]
Wolves seek path to winning ways
There is no place to go but up in the standings for the Sudbury Wolves. …[read more]
Todd Stencill gets the job done
Suffice to say that the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are in capable, experienced hands with Todd Stencill at the helm as general manager. …[read more]
NOJHL upends OJHL once again
Score another decision for the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League over the Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
Another shot for Ryan Vendramin
Sault Ste. Marie native Ryan Vendramin is getting what could be a last chance to stick in the Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
Cade Nolan joins Soo Eagles
Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed 1996 birth-year defenceman Cade Nolan, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Hockey North Show to return
The weekly Hockey North Show that I host on Sault Ste. Marie radio station ESPN 1400 will return for a fifth season beginning on Tuesday, September 15. …[read more]
Ryan Erickson is right for Rayside
Big right winger Ryan Erickson is poised to play out his junior career at home with the Rayside-Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
Cam Hackett has elite potential
Sault Ste. Marie native Cameron Hackett has the potential to be an elite goaltender at the Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association level. …[read more]
Hill of a road trip
George Hill just wants to play — even if it means packing up and driving more than 700 miles from his southeastern Michigan home for an opportunity to be the starting goaltender for the Smooth Rock Falls Thunder of the Thunder Bay Jr. B Hockey League. …[read more]
Voodoos-Eskis make NOJHL trade
Powassan Voodoos and Iroquois Falls Eskis have completed a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League trade, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Want to play in Smooth Rock Falls?
Under the direction of coach Richard Solomon, general manager Cory Hofferd et al, the Smooth Rock Falls Thunder of the Thunder Bay Jr. B. Hockey League has set the dates for its first-ever tryout camp. …[read more]
Prelude to an NOJHL season
Exhibition season is underway and less than three weeks remain until the start of what is a highly-anticipated, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League campaign. …[read more]
Main man in Elliot Lake net
1997 birth-year goalie Allan Menary will return to the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for a second season, general manager Todd Stencill has informed HockeyNewsNorth.com. …[read more]
Coach Capy joins Soo Eagles staff
Esteemed bench boss Jim Capy is returning to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as co-coach of the Soo Eagles, HockeyNewsNorth.com has learned. …[read more]
Soo Firehawks are folding the tent
Soo Firehawks of the U.S. Premier Hockey League have ceased operations, owner and general manager Doug Goudreau has confirmed. …[read more]
All-star defender back in Elliot Lake
Standout defenceman Nathan Campbell will be returning to the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for his final season of eligibility, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
New GM builds on to Bird house
Having been elevated from assistant general manager to general manager over the course of the off-season, Jamie Henderson has sights set on keeping the reigning champion Soo Thunderbirds at the top of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League perch. …[read more]
Powassan plucks three from NA3EHL
Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed three players who skated in the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League last season. …[read more]
Mark Tassone is a Soo T-Bird
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed 1999 birth-year forward Mark Tassone, general manager Jamie Henderson has confirmed. …[read more]
Sons hop on the Express
The expansion Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has signed two top players who skated for the Nickel City Sons of the Great North Midget Hockey League last season. …[read more]
NOJHL coach also an OHL scout
Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League has hired veteran junior coach Moe Mantha as its northern Ontario scout. …[read more]
Elliot Lake Wildcats return top guns
There is a full load of offensive production headed back to Elliot Lake for the 2015-2016 season. …[read more]
Wolves manage to Branch out
He is the son of the long-serving commissioner and he has moved into a position to try to reverse the fortunes of one of the Ontario Hockey League’s cornerstone franchises. …[read more]
Big Jake joins the Soo Eagles
Hulking right winger Jake Hernandez has committed to the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2015-2016 season, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Veteran defender joins Wolves
Sudbury Wolves have bolstered their blueline with the acquisition of overage defenceman Patrick Murphy from the Erie Otters. …[read more]
Mazzuca has changed with the game
During his Ontario Hockey League playing days as a high-scoring, menacing defenceman, Rob Mazzuca was known as a tough customer who put up points and carried his stick high. …[read more]
London to Flint via Thunder Bay
Flint Firebirds — formerly the Plymouth Whalers — have finalized an Ontario Hockey League trade with the London Knights. …[read more]
Flyers in familiar formation
Alpena Flyers of the U.S. Premier Hockey League have commitments from nine players ahead of their main tryout camp that is slated for August 17-20. …[read more]
T-Bird midgets add to schedule
The reigning Great North Midget Hockey League champion Soo Thunderbirds have super-sized their 28-game, regular-season schedule with a busy non-conference slate for the 2015-2016 campaign. …[read more]
Blind River has to wait on Pollard
It will be 15 games into the 2015-2016 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season before recently-acquired defenceman Matt Pollard can make his debut for the Blind River Beavers. …[read more]
Birds sign Michigan Soo goalie
Brandon Gordon, a 1997 birth-year goalie from the Michigan Soo, is crossing the St. Mary’s River to play for the reigning Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League champion Soo Thunderbirds. …[read more]
Through the looking glass
Some of what I see in the north country as I look ahead to the 2015-2016 season in the U.S. Premier Hockey League and the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League: …[read more]