All posts by Randy Russon
Midweek Notes
Here ’n there on September 3: …[read more]
Dorval making good first impression
To be sure, the step up from minor midget hockey to the major junior level is a big one.
But thus far, 1998 birth-year centre Zack Dorval has been making a good impression as he climbs the ladder from the Soo Thunder midgets to the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
Soo Thunderbirds v. Soo Eagles
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League will resume the Rollie King Cup series after a two-year hiatus with games slated for this Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Soo. …[read more]
Hound house in good shape
We’re a day away from the end of summer and two days away from the start of the school year.
But that is cause for little concern in the hockey hotbed that is Sault Ste. Marie.
What is cause for concern is this: …[read more]
Is it Miller time?
He has put up back-to-back seasons of point productivity for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Still, the best may be yet to come for Anthony Miller, a 6-foot, 175 pound, 1994 birth-year forward for who the 2014-2015 season will be his final one at the junior level. …[read more]
I took the ice bucket challenge
It was for a good cause so I did my best to be a good sport.
Local insurance agent John Palmerio recently nominated me for the ALS ice bucket challenge. And on Thursday, in the outdoor patio of Service Grill on Korah Road, I accepted the challenge. …[read more]
New Kingston Frontenacs fan
Kingston Frontenacs have a number of new fans from the small northeastern Ontario town of Hearst.
That’s because the Frontenacs used their second-round pick from the 2014 Ontario Hockey League draft to take high-scoring, hard-nosed centre Zack Dorval from the Soo Thunder minor midgets. …[read more]
Solomon joins Syrette on the Attack
First it was Grant Syrette. Now it is Jeremy Solomon.
In the space of two days this week, Syrette and Solomon have both confirmed that they are leaving the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to sign with the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Both players are 1994 birth-year skaters who hail from Garden River First Nation. …[read more]
Thanks to our advertisers (updated)
HockeyNewsNorth.com came into official existence on February 1 of this year and I am both happy and humbled by the response to the site.
The number of visitors — especially during the summer months — seems to back up what I have often said, and that is the hockey season never really ends.
At any rate, here is the latest update of the list of the many advertisers and sponsors who continue to support HockeyNewsNorth.com. They are: …[read more]
Meet the Sudbury Royals poster boy
Jake Mactaggart is back home and the Sudbury Royals are the beneficiary.
After tending goal for other junior teams the past three seasons, Mactaggart will play his final season of eligibility in 2014-2015 with the Sudbury Royals of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
…[read more]
New crew in Kingston
Much is new in Kingston and that is good because what is getting old is that the Frontenacs have not won an Ontario Hockey League playoff series in 16 years. …[read more]
Soo Thunderbirds to Batchewana Attack
Grant Syrette is heading across town from one junior A hockey team to another.
To be sure, the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League has landed a feared left winger with Ontario Hockey League and Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League experience. …[read more]
My first OHL love
It was 1974 — 40 years ago now — and I was a season away from making my debut as a paid, part-time member of the Sault Ste. Marie sports media with radio station CKCY.
Just before that, it was as a journalism student at Sault College in 1974-1975 that I managed to get a few articles published in the local weekly then known as Shopper News, which became Sault This Week. …[read more]
Overage trio leads Hounds
A trio of overage skaters are among the more than 35 would-be, could-be Soo Greyhounds who will hit the ice in a couple of days as training camp begins for the Ontario Hockey League team.
Forwards Jean Dupuy and Bryan Moore and defenceman Alex Gudbranson are the three 1994 birth-year skaters who are expected to at least begin the 2014-2015 OHL season in Houndtown. …[read more]
Sudbury Royals getting their KICX
They are Sudbury’s newest junior hockey team and they are getting their message out to area fans and supporters via marketing and promotion.
Sudbury Royals are part of the new, eight-team, Ontario-based, junior-level, Canadian International Hockey League that will begin play this 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
Maruk’s Milton Cobras go local
Milton Battle Arts Cobras of the new Canadian International Hockey League have signed a pair of homegrown forwards.
Montana Kingsbury and Paul Knight are both 1997 birth-year skaters who were born and raised in Milton.
…[read more]
Greyhounds hire new GM
Soo Greyhounds have hired 28-year old Kyle Raftis as their new general manager, multiple sources have confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com. …[read more]
Brett Cooke joins Espanola Rivermen
In keeping with an organizational mandate of providing opportunities for quality players from the North Shore, Espanola Rivermen of the new Canadian International Hockey League have signed 1996 birth-year defenceman Brett Cooke.
Cooke, who hails from the small northern town of Thessalon, heads down the highway to Espanola after spending the 2013-2014 season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with first the Elliot Lake Bobcats, then the Blind River Beavers. …[read more]
Two more Eagles advance to NCAA
Soo Eagles coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com that two more of his players have recently secured National Collegiate Athletic Association commitments for the 2014-2015 season.
Scott Cuthrell, a 1993 birth-year forward, and Matthew Montemurro, a 1994 birth-year defencemen, will both be advancing to the Division 3, NCAA ranks. …[read more]
USPHL to CIHL
Defenceman Adam Johns is taking his game from the Syracuse Stars of the United States Premiere Hockey League to the Espanola Rivermen of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Johns, a 5-foot-11, 195 pound, 1994 birth-year skater who hails from the southeastern Michigan town of Clarkston, heads to Espanola for his final season of junior following an impressive showing at a recent tryout camp of the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League. …[read more]
Rights to Ryan Vendramin
Soo Thunderbirds have secured the Junior A rights to right winger Ryan Vendramin from the Sarnia Legionnaires, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
Vendramin, a 6-foot-3, 180 pound, 1995 birth year forward from Sault Ste. Marie, split the 2013-2014 season between the Legionnaires of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]
Net gains for Espanola Rivermen
Trevor Kalinowski and Keegan Paulette will form a 1-2 goaltending tandem to begin the 2014-2015 season for the Espanola Rivermen of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Espanola general manager Chad Clarke told HockeyNewsNorth.com that the Rivermen — formerly of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and now of the CIHL — have committed roster spots to the 5-foot-10, 160 pound Kalinowski and the 6-foot-1, 195 pound Paulette. …[read more]
Birds play Rhodes hockey
It’s Bird season.
Soo Thunderbirds hit the ice of John Rhodes Community Centre in full force over the weekend preparatory to the 2014-2015 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season that begins during the second week of September.
…[read more]
Irish family
They are the new leaders of the Irish hockey family.
Detroit Fighting Irish of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League has named its captains for the 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
Jimmy Roy shows his Spirit
Jimmy Roy is joining the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League from the Sudbury Nickel Barons of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]
Knights to Attack
Jesse Delavalle, a 6-foot-3, 195 pound, 1996 birth-year forward, has committed to play for the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League for the 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
T-Bird camp begins today
The defending regular-season champs from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will hold a weekend camp beginning today at 5 p.m. at John Rhodes Community Centre.
…[read more]
St. Charles signs five more forwards
Make that five more player signings for the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Just after confirming that he had committed to 1994 birth-year centre Ben Miller — formerly of the Abitibi Eskimos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League — St. Charles general manager Scott Ginson has told HockeyNewsNorth.com that five more forwards have signed with the CIHL team.
…[read more]
Berkley Bruins to Detroit Fighting Irish
Four players for cash.
Detroit Fighting Irish and Berkley Bruins of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League have finalized a major transaction.
…[read more]
Halverson holds Hounds hopes
Hopes are high for the Soo Greyhounds to carry on from a 2013-2014 term that yielded 95 regular-season points and two rounds of playoffs that ended with an exit.
Afterall, potential overages not included, the Greyhounds will return considerable veteran talent for the 2014-2015 Ontario Hockey League season led by scoring leaders Sergey Tolchinsky, Jared McCann, Michael Bunting, Blake Speers and David Miller — and the 109 goals that they combined for in 2013-2014.
…[read more]
Pilon twins join the Attack
Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League has committed roster spots to twin brothers Darian and Drake Pilon for the 2014-2015 season.
The brothers are 1998 birth-year forwards who played for the Soo Source For Sports AA midgets in 2013-2014 and were 1-2 in team scoring.
…[read more]
Getting ready to Attack
They represent the new Jr. A hockey team in Sault Ste. Marie.
Members of the new, eight-team, Ontario-based, Canadian International Hockey League, the Batchewana Attack will play out of Rankin Arena effective the upcoming 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
Michigan Warriors to Ferris State Bulldogs
The leading scorer from the Michigan Warriors of the North American Hockey League is headed to the Division 1, Western Collegiate Hockey Association ranks.
…[read more]
13 players commit to Attack
They are lining up for the Attack.
Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League has received 10 player commitments in the past week, general manager Dennis Bolton has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com.
…[read more]
Six skaters with a sweet Soo side
The warmth of the August sun is pointing to the ice of September.
As the clock ticks toward the 2014-2015 junior hockey season, let us take time to begin our watch on six notable players with a Sault Ste. Marie side to them.
…[read more]
Brett Findlay to Toronto Marlies
Echo Bay product Brett Findlay is poised to move up the hockey ladder.
Findlay, a 1992 birth-year forward who was part of an East Coast Hockey League championship team with the Alaska Aces in 2013-2014, has signed an American Hockey League contract with the Toronto Marlies.
…[read more]
Seven up for Batchewana Attack
Nate Harris, a 5-foot-10, 160 pound, 1996 birth-year forward from Glenbrook North High School in Chicago, has become the seventh player to sign with the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
…[read more]
Lucky 13 for Sudbury Royals
Sudbury Royals of the new Canadian International Hockey League now have 13 players signed, general manager KB Beals has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com. …[read more]
USHL to OHL
From one major junior league to another.
Defenceman Chad Duchesne is poised to leave the United States Hockey League for the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]
Fresh start in Mattawa
David Beauchamp is young — very young — as far as being an owner of a junior A hockey team goes.
Not yet 30-years old, Beauchamp is about to begin his second season as an owner in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
To be sure, Beauchamp is hoping for better days in 2014-2015 as owner and general manager of the Mattawa Blackhawks, formerly the North Bay Trappers.
…[read more]
Soo Firehawks name captains
Three 1994 birth-year skaters have been selected to serve as captains for the Soo Firehawks of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League.
The three — defencemen Matthew Majic and Matthew Maclaren and forward Anthony Laaskonen — are all Sault Ste. Marie area products who will be playing in their third season with the Firehawks in 2014-2015.
…[read more]
Two OHL draft picks to Batchewana
A duo of dandy defencemen from Sault Ste. Marie with ties to the Ontario Hockey League have signed with Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Attack president-director of hockey operations David Maciuk told HockeyNewsNorth.com that Nick Trecroce and Adam Baggs have committed to Batchewana for the 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
Soo Thunderbirds add hometown forward
Matt Pinder is returning home to Sault Ste. Marie to continue his junior hockey career, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
…[read more]
NY Apple Core to Batchewana Attack
Robert Delury, a 5-foot-11, 190 pound, 1995 birth-year forward from New York, has signed with the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
…[read more]
Where is the Mattawa schedule?
Perhaps this is much ado about nothing.
But is it just me or has the Mattawa Blackhawks schedule been removed from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League website?
…[read more]
Another day in hockey paradise
Officially, Sault Ste. Marie is unofficially Hockeytown, at least to us Twin Soo residents who have ice in our veins.
Our status as Hockeytown comes from the fact that the Twin Soo market is home to no less than five teams in five different junior leagues and a Division 1 collegiate program.
At any rate, the dog has been fed, the morning walk has been completed and the grass has been cut and watered.
Ergo, let’s check in on the six high-level teams within the Twin Soo border.
…[read more]
CIHL switch
As it stands, the new Canadian International Hockey League will begin the 2014-2015 season with eight teams — four in northern Ontario and four in southern Ontario.
CIHL founder and president Tim Clayden said that the Central Ontario HTI Stars will be replaced by a Toronto entry and that the new league will proceed with eight teams as planned.
…[read more]
Early August brunch
Here ’n there on a Canadian holiday Monday:
…[read more]