All posts by Randy Russon
Hounds can go on another run
The 2014-2015 season has been lost when really, it should have been won.
But there is 2015-2016 to look forward to and the Soo Greyhounds do have plenty of potential in place. …[read more]
Town approves Espanola Express
The Town of Espanola has unanimously voted to accept the return of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to its community for the 2015-2016 season, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Here ‘n there
Around the rinks in early May: …[read more]
At the crossroads in Blind River
Over a five-year period, from 2006 until 2011, the Blind River Beavers were a program of consistency with five straight winning records that averaged 26 victories per campaign.
Since then, though, the Beavers have been the worst team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with an awful record of 31-160-15 over the past four seasons. …[read more]
Northeast nook of a growing NOJHL
They are four hockey towns in a northeast nook of the region, separated by less than two hours of rugged roads.
Timmins Rock, Iroquois Falls Eskimos, Cochrane Crunch and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners figure to be fierce foes when the first pucks drop on the 2015-2016 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season in about four months. …[read more]
Here’s to you, Bronson Kovacs
Sault Ste. Marie native Bronson Kovacs has ended his four-year, National Collegiate Athletic Association career with the Hobart College Statesmen in splendid style. …[read more]
An interview with my inner self
The hockey writer in me spends a lot of time talking to myself.
I ask myself a lot of questions and I answer them truthfully. …[read more]
Paul Gagne development camp
Paul Gagne, the former Ontario Hockey League and National Hockey League first-rounder and five-time Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League coach-of-the-year, will once again be overseeing a summer development camp. …[read more]
Hall-of-Famer with NOJHL ties
Long-time, distinguished referee Dan McCourt is headed for the Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame.
The 60-year old McCourt, who is currently the officiating manager for the National Hockey League, also works with the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a senior supervisor of officials. …[read more]
Fighting Irish in prep mode
It may only be May and the start of the 2015-2016 season may still be four months away.
But the Detroit Fighting Irish of the newly-formed Midwest Division of the United States Premier Hockey League is in all-out prep mode for the ’15-16 campaign. …[read more]
Crunch time for Ryan Leonard
The 2014-2015 season ended for the Cochrane Crunch a little over two weeks ago with a loss to the Soo Thunderbirds in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship series. …[read more]
Eagles poised to return to NOJHL
Pending approval from the various governing bodies, Soo Eagles are set to return to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League effective the 2015-2016 season. …[read more]
French River makes 10
French River Rapids have been officially approved by the governing Northern Ontario Hockey Association as the 10th member of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
May the fourth be with them
As the hockey season ends for more and more junior teams, today’s headline is for those who are still playing for a championship in May. …[read more]
221 season tickets in 13 hours
Here’s a sunny Sunday shout out to the great fans of the Iroquois Falls Eskimos. …[read more]
No joy in Houndtown
There is an Erie silence in Houndtown.
For the second successive spring, the Erie Otters have sidelined the Soo Greyhounds from the Ontario Hockey League, Western Conference playoffs. …[read more]
Hustling Hounds hang on
There is joy in Houndtown.
Temporary relief, too. …[read more]
Ex-NHLer to coach new NOJHL team
French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have landed a highly-respected, well-known name to be their first-ever coach and general manager, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Wandering and wondering
Thoughts to peruse on just another hockey day: …[read more]
12 teams for NOJHL?
Pending approval from various factions and governing bodies, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will expand to 12 teams for the 2015-2016 season, HockeyNewsNorth.com has learned. …[read more]
Thunderbirds represent Soo well
It was a nice sendoff for a junior A hockey team that has represented Sault Ste. Marie well over the years. …[read more]
KL is 2016 DHC host
As the Superior International Jr. Hockey League is playing host to the 2015 Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canada Championships — they begin on Tuesday in Fort Frances — the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will be home to the event in 2016. …[read more]
All eyes on Connor McDavid
Wayne Gretzky says Connor McDavid is the best 18-year old hockey player he has seen since Mario Lemieux was that age. …[read more]
Assistance for the Timmins Rock
Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will get assistance from three new assistants for the 2015-2016 season. …[read more]
Hounds 6, McDavid 3
The best junior hockey team in Canada met up with the best junior hockey player on the planet.
And if you happen to be an Ontario Hockey League fan of the Soo Greyhounds and an admirer of Erie Otters superstar Connor McDavid, it was a win-win night. …[read more]
Good and bad, we define these terms
Robert Mazzuca and I have had our differences over the years.
He’s a commissioner. I’m a writer. …[read more]
Iroquois Falls Eskimos approved
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association has given formal approval for the Mattawa Blackhawks to relocate and become the Iroquois Falls Eskimos, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Beavers elect female president
In the words of legendary singer Tom Jones: She’s a lady.
Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have elected a new president. …[read more]
Up in the OHL north country
Of the 20 teams that comprise the Ontario Hockey League, only three — Soo Greyhounds, North Bay Battalion and Sudbury Wolves — are based in the northern part of the province. …[read more]
Troops and Generals
Quite clear, no doubt, the Oshawa Generals are formidable favourites to fend off the North Bay Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League, Eastern Conference finals. …[read more]
Soo Indians to LSSU Lakers
Homegrown forward Ashton Calder, who played the past two seasons with the major midget Soo Indians, has made a future commitment to skate for the Lake Superior State University Lakers of the Division 1, Western Collegiate Hockey Association. …[read more]
Here’s to Headrick and the T-Birds
For the second time in the past four seasons, Soo Thunderbirds are champions of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
Troops join Hounds in final four
Four teams remain in the quest for the 2014-2015 Ontario Hockey League championship — and two are from northern Ontario. …[read more]
Chad Catt commits to U-M
Soo Eagles goalie Chad Catt has committed to play for the University of Michigan Wolverines effective the 2015-2016 season, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Catt carries Eagles to series sweep
The cool Catt flexed his claws once again.
Backed by the scintillating goaltending of Chad Catt, the Soo Eagles upended the visiting Keystone Ice Miners 3-1 on Friday to sweep the first-round, best-of-five, North American Hockey League, North Division playoff series. …[read more]
Eagles can put Keystone on ice
Soo Eagles can move on to the second round of the North American Hockey League playoffs with a win at home tonight. …[read more]
Cochrane can take command
Playing at home, Cochrane Crunch is in position to seize control of its Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship series with the Soo Thunderbirds. …[read more]
Soo-Erie series starts next week
Soo Greyhounds and Erie Otters are both on spring break. …[read more]
NOJHL circle of change
A storied franchise that had a presence within the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League from 1962 until 2005 will be revived for the 2015-2016 season, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Here ‘n there
As the sun melts the snow and the grass starts to show, hockey is still a go. …[read more]
Best laid plans of the NOJHL
There is a lot happening on and away from the rinks of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as we approach mid April.
On ice, Soo Thunderbirds and Cochrane Crunch are playing for the NOJHL championship. Off ice, there’s more action than working the Saturday night desk at a seedy northern Ontario hotel. …[read more]
When the game is not decided on ice
Hockey may be played on ice but much of what makes — or breaks — the game happens away from it. …[read more]
Classic Rock
Timmins will make its return to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in 2015-2016 after an absence of more than 15 years — and the team will be known as the Rock. …[read more]
Crunch v. Thunderbirds
Soo Thunderbirds will play host to the Cochrane Crunch tonight and Sunday evening in Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship series. …[read more]
Hounds pound all around
Might as well state the obvious here — Guelph Storm is no match for the Soo Greyhounds. …[read more]
Battalion of the north
Apropos, given its location, that the North Bay Battalion would feature a pair of high-end skaters from the north. …[read more]
Back in Iroquois Falls
It was so much older then, it is younger than that now.
The franchise, that is. …[read more]
State of the NOJHL
Fans and supporters who live in the north country — good girls and bad boys alike — may have even more junior A hockey to watch in 2015-2016. …[read more]