All posts by Randy Russon
Pat Gazzillo returns to the Soo Eagles
Soo Eagles coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo says a good team can never have enough good defencemen.
Ergo, Bragagnolo did not hesitate in bringing hard-boiled hombre Pat Gazzillo back to the Eagles when the opportunity presented itself. …[read more]
Rehash and replays
First pucks drop on the new Canadian International Hockey League…Four wins in a row for the Soo Thunderbirds…Soo Eagles have a Berry good goalie…Two perfect teams in the Ontario Hockey League…Opening act in the Midwest Jr. Hockey League… …[read more]
Batchewana Attack home opener
Batchewana Attack will play its first-ever regular-season game tonight as members of the new, Ontario-based, junior-level, Canadian International Hockey League.
The visiting Espanola Rivermen will provide the opposition for the Attack in what is scheduled as a 7:30 p.m. start at Rankin Arena. …[read more]
Mattawa on the agenda
Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League governors are slated to meet in Sudbury on the weekend and one of the items on the agenda concerns the Mattawa Blackhawks, formerly the North Bay Trappers.
This is the first full season for the NOJHL in Mattawa following a trial run of games late in the 2013-2014 season. …[read more]
How the CIHL came to be
From dream to reality, thus begins the story of the new, Ontario-based, junior-level, Canadian International Hockey League.
The first puck will drop on the first-ever CIHL season this weekend, a mere seven months after its founder announced his plans and vision for the new league. And while there is no doubt that there will be bumps ahead — on and off the ice — the CIHL has arrived. …[read more]
Taking to the Ice in Collingwood
Junior hockey makes an official return to Collingwood on Sunday at 2 p.m. when the Ice takes to the ice of Central Park Arena.
The Collingwood Ice will play host to the Milton Battle Arts Cobras as part of opening weekend in the new, Ontario-based, Canadian International Hockey League. …[read more]
Thunderbirds need help on defence
Having halted a two-game losing streak with back-to-back wins that have pushed their record to 4-2, Soo Thunderbirds nonetheless remain in search of blueline assistance.
Kevin Cain, general manager of the Soo’s Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team, acknowledged that he is on a coast-to-coast hunt for an experienced defenceman or two. …[read more]
CIHL Spirit adds 3 from NOJHL Eskimos
St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League has signed four new players, including three former members of the Abitibi Eskimos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
Lakers begin WCHA season at home
Led by new head coach Damon Whitten, the Lake Superior State University Lakers begin the 2014-2015 Western Collegiate Hockey Association season at home against the Michigan Tech University Huskies this weekend.
The Lakers and Huskies are set to face off at 7:07 p.m. on Saturday and 5:07 p.m. on Sunday at Taffy Abel Arena. …[read more]
T-Bird midgets are 3-1
Head coach Jim Capy uses the word “satisfied” to describe the play of his Soo Thunderbirds through the first four games of the 2014-2015 Great North Midget Hockey League campaign.
After beginning the ’14-15 GNMHL regular season with a loss, the Thunderbirds have since reeled off three wins in succession. …[read more]
Time to Attack is near
The conquest of the exhibition season is complete. The time to Attack is approaching.
Having finished the pre-season with a perfect record of 7-0, the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League is ready for the real thing. The eight-team CIHL — which is sanctioned by the United Hockey Union — begins its inaugural season this weekend and the Attack will play host to the Espanola Rivermen on Saturday night at 7:30 at Rankin Arena in Sault Ste. Marie. …[read more]
Owen Headrick to have shoulder surgery
Bluechip blueliner Owen Headrick is slated to have shoulder surgery on Wednesday of this week, the youngster’s mother has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com. …[read more]
Hounds, Halverson are 2-0
Brandon Halverson is passing the first tests as the new starting goalie for the Soo Greyhounds.
The Greyhounds are off to a 2-0 start this 2014-2015 Ontario Hockey League season and Halverson — who was a rookie backup to the since-graduated Matt Murray in 2013-2014 — has stood tall. …[read more]
Stops and starts
The 2014-2015 junior hockey season is in prime time.
From where we operate, the Ontario Hockey League, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and North American Hockey League regular seasons are well underway.
Meanwhile, first pucks will drop on the new Canadian International Hockey League and the third-year Midwest Jr. Hockey League regular seasons next weekend. …[read more]
Batchewana Attack hires Drew Fata
Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League has hired former Ontario Hockey League and National Hockey League defenceman Drew Fata as its general manager.
Attack president and primary owner David Maciuk confirmed the hiring of Fata as the team’s GM and praised him as a “character individual with a strong hockey and business background.” …[read more]
Weekend Warriors
Michigan Warriors are home for three games this weekend and the North American Hockey League team has several promotions planned for Perani Arena in Flint.
On the ice, the defending NAHL North Division playoff champions will be out to shrug off an 0-4 start to the 2014-2015 campaign. …[read more]
Sawruk assists surging Soo Eagles
Bruno Bragagnolo, the seasoned coach-general manager of the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League, is known as someone who gives credit when and where it is due.
And Bragagnolo has praise aplenty for his associate coach with the Eagles, Alex Sawruk. …[read more]
Midweek Notes
Here ’n there on Wednesday, September 24: …[read more]
Scouting Speers
Blake Speers arrived in the Ontario Hockey League as a fresh-faced 16-year old rookie in 2013-2014 after being a first-round pick by the hometown Soo Greyhounds direct from the Soo Thunder minor midgets.
There were some concerns about his slight build but he started to fill out and he was able to handle the grind of the OHL and the big jump in levels from minor midget to major junior. …[read more]
NOJHL highs and lows
To be sure, there has been much to cheer about through the early going of the 2014-2015 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season.
For example, in Sudbury, the new-look Nickel Barons have the best record in the nine-team NOJHL at 6-1-0 while in Elliot Lake, the expansion Wildcats are off to a 3-1-0 start and have averaged 578 fans at their three home games.
But on the flip side, the Mattawa Blackhawks and Blind River Beavers are both off to disastrous starts. …[read more]
Let it Snow
Steady, dependable defenceman Shane Snow will line up for his fourth team in his third league in his fourth season of junior hockey in 2014-2015 as a member of the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League. …[read more]
It’s not Miller time
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League figure to be without high-scoring forward Anthony Miller for about two more weeks, according to general manager Kevin Cain. …[read more]
CIHL rivalries
Geographic rivalries are what the new Canadian International Hockey League is based on, according to its founder and president. …[read more]
Kingston, Soo are OHL teams to beat
Kingston Frontenacs and Soo Greyhounds are being tabbed as the teams to beat in the Ontario Hockey League this 2014-2015 season.
Pre-season rankings tabled by National Hockey League scouts on behalf of the Canadian Hockey League rate the Frontenacs and Greyhounds as the OHL’s top two teams. …[read more]
Rivermen GM applauds Attack
It may only be the exhibition season but Espanola Rivermen general manager Chad Clarke is of the notion that the Batchewana Attack has already assembled a Canadian International Hockey League powerhouse. …[read more]
Rivermen sign Swiss centre
From the land of the Swiss Alps to the North Shore of Espanola.
Espanola Rivermen general manager Chad Clarke has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com that the Canadian International Hockey League team has signed high-scoring centre Jason Borer, who hails from Sissach, Switzerland. …[read more]
Spirit catches the Hester brothers
St. Charles Spirit coach-general manager Scott Ginson is just happy to have been able to sign brothers Alexander and Trevor Hester, who hail from Cree First Nation in northern Quebec.
“Both brothers were heavily recruited to play by teams in three other junior leagues,” Ginson told HockeyNewsNorth.com. “We are thrilled that they chose to come to St. Charles and be a part of the new Canadian International Hockey League.” …[read more]
Thunderbirds hit the Rhodes tonight
Soo Thunderbirds begin defence of their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular-season title tonight when they play host to the Blind River Beavers.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. at John Rhodes Community Centre. …[read more]
Opening acts
There’s a bit of a chill in the air which to some, means hockey season is here.
Let the games begin. …[read more]
Owen Headrick commits to LSSU Lakers
Lake Superior State University Lakers of the Division 1, Western Collegiate Hockey Association have secured a commitment from a plum prospect in their own backyard.
HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed that Owen Headrick, a 1997 birth-year defenceman who hails from Garden River First Nation, has committed to LSSU and will begin his collegiate career with the Lakers effective the 2015-2016 season. …[read more]
Midweek Notes
Here ’n there on September 10: …[read more]
Formidable Frontenacs
The youngest head coach in the Ontario Hockey League has a simple message for his players.
28-year old Paul McFarland, who is about to begin his rookie season as a head coach in the OHL, wants his Kingston Frontenacs to “play the right way.” …[read more]
Snow in St. Charles
Veteran junior defenceman Shane Snow will suit up for the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League this season.
St. Charles coach-general manager Scott Ginson told HockeyNewsNorth.com that Snow, a 5-foot-11, 190 pound, 1995 birth-year defenceman who has played in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with the Blind River Beavers and Soo Thunderbirds, has signed with the CIHL Spirit. …[read more]
Ready…set…CIHL
The new Ontario-based, junior hockey league that detractors said would never get off the ground is less than a month away from dropping its first puck.
With four teams in northern Ontario and four more from the southern area of the province, the Canadian International Hockey League is ready and set to go with a regular-season schedule to begin during the first week of October. …[read more]
Brody Brunet to LSSU
Sudbury area product Brody Brunet has committed to the Lake Superior State University Lakers of the Division 1, Western Collegiate Hockey Association effective the 2016-2017 season.
…[read more]
Getting ready to Attack
The coach has his players in Attack mode.
Batchewana Attack is prepping for the inaugural season of the new Canadian International Hockey League under the watchful eyes of a coach who knows his way around the game.
…[read more]
OHL grad to assist Attack
Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League has brought aboard former Ontario Hockey League defenceman Trevor Solomon as an assistant coach. …[read more]
Sandpaper Silk
He doesn’t turn 20-years old until the end of November but Brody Silk has already played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League for the Sudbury Wolves. …[read more]
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]