All posts by Randy Russon
Branding the Michigan Warriors
Through their four-year existence in the North American Hockey League, the Michigan Warriors have been an on-ice success.
Under the tried, tested and true leadership of coach-general manager Moe Mantha, the Warriors have won two North Division playoff titles in the four years they have been playing out of Perani Arena in Flint.
…[read more]
Mattawa coach packs it in
In a surprise move — and with the start of the 2014-2015 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season less than five weeks away — Zane Neily has stepped down as head coach of the Mattawa Blackhawks.
Mattawa owner-general manager David Beauchamp confirmed Neily’s abrupt departure to HockeyNewsNorth.com.
…[read more]
Sudbury Royals sign Russian rocket
Score one for Sudbury’s new junior A hockey team.
Speedy Sergey Erileev is taking his goal-scoring machine to the Sudbury Royals of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
…[read more]
Soo Eagles promote from within
Alex Sawruk has been promoted to full-time associate coach with the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
The 34-year old Sawruk, who hails from the Michigan Soo, was a volunteer assistant with the Eagles in 2013-2014. …[read more]
Soo Thunderbirds sign a speedster
Soo Thunderbirds have added a small-but-speedy centre to their roster.
Thunderbirds general manager Kevin Cain has confirmed that the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team has signed 1997 birth-year pivot Matt Caruso.
…[read more]
A first for the new Batchewana Attack
Personnel from the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League made their first public appearance at a press conference held earlier today.
Members of the local media representing HockeyNewsNorth.com, Sault This Week, SooToday.com, CTV Sault Ste. Marie and radio station Oldies 93 were on hand at Rankin Arena to hear from Attack primary owner David Maciuk, general manager Dennis Bolton and head coach Denny Lambert. …[read more]
Good intentions for two teams in one town
Where I live — the Canadian side of the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie — has become home to two junior A hockey teams in two separate leagues.
And like it or not, it has resulted in a cross-fire of sorts between factions loyal to either side.
…[read more]
Sudbury signings include plum prospect
Sudbury Royals of the new Canadian International Hockey League have signed four players from their recent tryout camp, general manager KB Beals has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com.
…[read more]
Andrew Barbeau has what it takes
Suffice to say that Moe Mantha knows a thing or two about defencemen, having patrolled the blueline in the National Hockey League over a career that spanned 12 seasons and 673 games. …[read more]
K is for Kujawinski
As Kingston Frontenacs look to build on a 2013-2014 regular season in which their 84 points were second most in the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League, 1995 birth-year centre Ryan Kujawinski is eagerly awaiting the 2014-2015 campaign. …[read more]
Stops and starts
Recent junior hockey player and personnel moves to peruse: …[read more]
Be-Leaf in Kyle Dubas
So, the boy wonder is leaving Houndtown for the Show and taking his new wife with him.
And it’s not just any seat in the Show.
At age 28 — and just three years after being named general manager of the Soo Greyhounds — Kyle Dubas is departing a small-market Ontario Hockey League team to become the assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs on what is the National Hockey League’s biggest stage. …[read more]
OHL is staying in Mississauga
The Ontario Hockey League will retain its presence in Mississauga for at least another four years.
Mississauga Steelheads have confirmed that they have reached a new four-year lease agreement that will keep the OHL team at the Hershey Centre. …[read more]
Blind River to Northland College
Tim Perks, a 1993 birth-year forward who finished the 2013-2014 season with a flourish for Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, is off to the National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks. …[read more]
Ex-OHLer to assist Batchewana Attack
Sault Ste. Marie’s new junior A hockey team has made another major coaching hire.
Gary Roach is joining the Batchewana Attack of the Canadian International Hockey League as an assistant to head coach Denny Lambert, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed. …[read more]
Sudbury Royals have a doctor in the house
Acupuncture and traditional medicine are a passion for Dr. Martin Beals, who has been practising in the Greater Sudbury Area for about 20 years.
Hockey is another passion of Dr. Beals — so much so that he teamed up with his son, KB, to start a new junior team in the Greater Sudbury Area. …[read more]
Toronto Maple Leafs hire Kyle Dubas
The boy wonder is moving on and up.
Kyle Dubas is leaving the Soo Greyhounds for the Toronto Maple Leafs, HockeyNewsNorth.com confirmed this morning. …[read more]
MWJHL finalizes schedule
Six of its nine teams will take to the ice on Friday, October 3 when the first pucks drop on the 2014-2015 Midwest Jr. Hockey League season.
The trio of opening-night games has Soo Firehawks home to Michigan Ice Dogs, the defending champion Traverse City Hounds playing host to West Michigan Freeze and Berkley Bruins visiting MC Monarchs. …[read more]
Erie Otters sign Frankie Pucci
Multiple sources have confirmed that 1997 birth-year centre Frankie Pucci — who led the Soo Indians major midgets in scoring in 2013-2014 — has signed with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. …[read more]
Good and bad of newest Greyhound
He has a history that is both good and not-so-good.
First the good news.
Gabe Guertler, a 5-foot-9, 185 pound, 1995 birth-year centre, can put the puck in the net. …[read more]
Nickel City Sons to Sudbury Royals
Sudbury Royals of the new Canadian International Hockey League have committed to a hometown skater who played in the Great North Midget Hockey League in 2013-2014.
Royals general manager KB Beals has confirmed the addition of 1997 birth-year forward Dexter Lamarche to the roster of the CIHL team. …[read more]
A mid-summer hockey day
Seems as though there is no such thing as a day or a night away from hockey, even in mid-summer.
Take yesterday, for instance. …[read more]
U of Minnesota to Soo Greyhounds
Gabe Guertler is departing the University of Minnesota to play for the Soo Greyhounds.
Greyhounds general manager Kyle Dubas confirmed today that Guertler, a 1995 birth-year centre, is leaving the Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks to play in the Ontario Hockey League for the Soo. …[read more]
NOJHL to CIHL
After three full seasons as a top-notch, high-scoring defenceman with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Scott Marshall is taking his talents to the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League. …[read more]
St. Charles has net worth
Jonathan Goulet has become the first goalie to sign with the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League. …[read more]
New GM for Espanola Rivermen
Espanola Rivermen of the new Canadian International Hockey League has a new general manager.
Area businessman Chad Clarke — who spent the 2013-2014 season as assistant general manager and game-day co-ordinator for the Rivermen, formerly of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League — also has experience in the sports promotion area. …[read more]
Birds deal seasoned skater
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have finalized a trade that sends 1995 birth-year forward Joey Miller to the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
Brandon Gassi to Blind River
Blind River Beavers coach and director of hockey operations Don Gagnon has confirmed the addition of Brandon Gassi to an assistant coach position with the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team. …[read more]
A new job for Joe Shawhan
Well-known Michigan Soo native Joe Shawhan is switching Division 1 schools.
HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed that Shawhan has been hired as an assistant coach by the Michigan Tech Huskies of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. …[read more]
CIHL team signs OHL draft pick
This is a major signing for the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Spirit general manager Scott Ginson has confirmed that St. Charles has signed Niibin Nashkawa, a speedy, puck-moving, 1997 birth-year defenceman who was a 13th-round pick of the Sudbury Wolves at the 2013 Ontario Hockey League draft. …[read more]
Ex-OHLer joins CIHL Colborne
This guy is no stranger to junior hockey.
Brian Drumm, who first played in the Ontario Hockey League as a 14-year old and went on to skate in 253 regular-season games with the Oshawa Generals and Peterborough Petes, has joined the coaching staff of the Colborne Cramahe Hawks of the new Canadian International Hockey League as director of player development. …[read more]
More for the Monarchs
Another day, another set of players.
Make that six more skaters for the new MC Monarchs of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
NOJHL or CIHL?
This is a tale of two Ontario-based junior A hockey leagues.
One is the established Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, which was formed in 1978.
The other is the new Canadian International Hockey League, which takes to the ice for the first time this 2014-2015 season. …[read more]
Visitor has Spirit
Danny Visitor, a 1994 birth-year forward who hails from the Cree Nation of Chisasibi on the eastern shore of James Bay in northern Quebec, has been named the first-ever captain of the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League. …[read more]
Midwest flow extends north
It is a work in progress that will begin its third season in 2014-2015 — and it will do so in part with brethren north of the International Bridge.
Like any new enterprise, it has had its ups and downs and highs and lows. …[read more]
OHL player, CIHL coach
Sudbury Royals of the new Canadian International Hockey League have tapped local product Trevor Blanchard to be their head coach.
KB Beals, director of hockey operations for the Royals, has confirmed the hiring of Blanchard, who was born and raised in Sudbury. …[read more]
New pups in the Hound pound
Soo Greyhounds have inked three 1998 birth-year players who they selected at the 2014 Ontario Hockey League draft.
Hounds general manager Kyle Dubas has confirmed that goalie Joseph Raaymakers and forwards Boris Katchouk and Tim Gettinger have been signed to standard OHL player contracts. …[read more]
Denny Lambert to coach Batchewana Attack
Good guy Denny Lambert — who played hockey at its highest level as the consummate overachiever — is making a return to the game.
The well-liked Lambert, a Wawa native who has called Sault Ste. Marie home for a number of years, has been named head coach of the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League. …[read more]
Monarchs acquire Fighting Irish trio
MC Monarchs, a first-year entry in the Midwest Jr. Hockey League, have bolstered their roster via a three-player trade with the rival Detroit Fighting Irish. …[read more]
The CIHL advantage
Time may not be on the side of the new Canadian International Hockey League as its teams prepare to take the ice for an inaugural 2014-2015 season.
But teams in the Ontario-based CIHL — which is sanctioned by the United Hockey Union under the umbrella of the Amateur Athletic Union — do have an advantage over other junior leagues when it comes to recruiting players. …[read more]
Rating the 2014 OHL Draft
Top score for Kingston?
That’s what a recent, albeit unscientific poll of a smattering of Ontario Hockey League insiders is suggesting.
To be sure, there are varying opinions — respected ones at that — as to which of the 20 teams came out ahead at the 2014 OHL draft. …[read more]
Collingwood has coach on Ice
Owner-general manager Tim Dickieson of the Collingwood Ice of the new Canadian International Hockey League has named Marko Fiser as the team’s first-ever head coach.
Fiser joins the Ice with significant coaching and playing experience with teams and leagues in Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden. …[read more]
Leaving the Bird house
Two more high-end players who skated for Soo Thunderbirds during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons have asked to be traded from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team.
Thunderbirds general manager Kevin Cain has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com that 1994 birth-year defenceman David Radke and 1995 birth-year forward Joey Miller have requested trades. …[read more]
Thunder rolls out Speers, Dorval
A mere season removed from the Soo Thunder minor midgets, 1997 birth-year centre Blake Speers has shown he can shine at the Ontario Hockey League level as a first-round pick of the Soo Greyhounds in 2013.
Next up as a high pick from the Thunder midgets is 1998 birth-year centre Zack Dorval, who was selected by the Kingston Frontenacs in the second round of the 2014 OHL draft.
Now to the question. …[read more]
Here ‘n there on July 4
Independence Day, otherwise known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States.
But while our neighbours to the south are commemorating the Declaration of Independence that was adopted on July 4, 1776, it’s just another summer hockey day in Canada. …[read more]
Soo side to Kingston Frontenacs
Their prior association to Sault Ste. Marie is not a deep one.
But Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League are now strongly linked to the Soo through a high-end draft pick, not to mention their head scout and new assistant coach. …[read more]
Fit for a King
Despite not being a big points producer, 1996 birth-year centre Michael Amadio of Sault Ste. Marie still managed to become a third-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings at the recent National Hockey League draft. …[read more]
Ex-NHLer joins Batchewana Attack
Sault Ste. Marie native Rico Fata, who was a first-round pick in both the Ontario Hockey League and the National Hockey League, has joined the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League as its skills and skating coach. …[read more]