All posts by Randy Russon
New CIHL gets UHU approval
The sanctioned United Hockey Union — under the umbrella of the Amateur Athletic Union — has officially approved the new Canadian International Hockey League as a member, effective immediately.
The UHU executive gave its unanimous endorsement to the CIHL and its founder Tim Clayden at a Friday meeting in Detroit. …[read more]
Aidan Wright to LSSU Lakers
Lake Superior State University Lakers have added a Sault Ste. Marie product to their Western Collegiate Hockey Association roster effective the 2014-2015 season. …[read more]
Here ‘n there on a May day
We know that major junior hockey in Canada is a business.
Big business.
There are franchises worth millions of dollars and there are advertisers who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on teams and leagues. …[read more]
Smoke and mirrors
Intention and commitment are not synonyms.
Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League commissioner Rob Mazzuca may want his trusted followers to believe that intention carries the same meaning as commitment but surely even he knows that can’t be true. …[read more]
Hockeytown hotbed
There is no end to the hockey season for Dan Vasquez.
Vasquez, who is the coach-general manager of the Detroit Fighting Irish of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League, is a busy guy on a number of fronts. …[read more]
NOJHL footprint
Its upcoming annual general meeting should tell the tale of how many teams will comprise the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in 2014-2015.
With the departure of the attendance-leading Espanola Rivermen to the new Canadian International Hockey League, the NOJHL is currently made up of seven teams from east to west: Cochrane Crunch (formerly Elliot Lake Bobcats), Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, Abitibi Eskimos, Mattawa Blackhawks (formerly North Bay Trappers), Sudbury Nickel Barons, Blind River Beavers and Soo Thunderbirds. …[read more]
UHU set to embrace new CIHL
As the sanctioned United Hockey Union — under the umbrella of the Amateur Athletic Union — prepares to officially approve the new Canadian International Hockey League as a member, it has already endorsed it.
For starters, Ron White, who serves as president of the UHU, national junior hockey director for the AAU and commissioner of the Western States Hockey League, has congratulated the CIHL as a new member of the group. …[read more]
Nearby options
In the town where I live I know of at least four undrafted, 1997 birth-year skaters who could and should be playing junior hockey in 2014-2015 but do not have a commitment as of yet.
They are (in alphabetical order) defenceman Caleb Boman and forwards Matthew Caruso, Jacob Palmerio and Jason Uhl. …[read more]
Laprade leaves LSSU Lakers
The time has come for what needs to be done.
A long-time Laker has left the hockey program at Lake Superior State University. …[read more]
NOJHLer off to Adrian College
Forward Austin Rust has parlayed a high-scoring season with Kirkland Gold Miners of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League into a commitment to play at the Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association level with Adrian College Bulldogs. …[read more]
Big thrill for local Habs fan
With due respect to local radio legend Lou Turco, Mark White is also one of the biggest Montreal Canadiens fans in Sault Ste. Marie.
Talk to White any time of the day at any time of the year and the conversation will undoubtedly include major mention of his favourite National Hockey League team. …[read more]
New league looms near
The new Canadian International Hockey League hopes to receive its official sanction from the United Hockey Union — which is an affiliate of the Amateur Athletic Union — in the very near future.
As previously reported, the CIHL will begin play effective the 2014-2015 season and feature junior-aged teams in Northern and Southern Ontario. …[read more]
Wright way to Lakehead
Sault Ste. Marie product Jake Wright is headed to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay where he will play hockey for the Thunderwolves effective the 2014-2015 season. …[read more]
Blind River goalie goes D3
A late starter has made a fast climb.
20-year old goalie Dylan Knox, who did not start playing ice hockey until he was 16, is off to play at the National Collegiate Athletic Association level. …[read more]
Soo major midgets moving forward
The new major midget Soo Thunderbirds continue to add and plan for the 2014-2015 season.
Having taken the place of the erstwhile Soo North Stars, who went dormant prior to the start of the 2013-2014 campaign, the Thunderbirds will restore a Sault Ste. Marie presence to the Great North Midget Hockey League effective the 2014-2015 term.
All is new about the Soo major midget entry from executive leadership to general manager to team manager to the coaching staff. …[read more]
Rivermen grad gets NCAA deal
Onto the next level he will go.
Espanola Rivermen defenceman Daniel Robertson has committed to play for the Fitchburg State University Falcons effective the upcoming 2014-2015 season. …[read more]
Elliot Lake at the crossroads
Will there be or won’t there be?
The matter of whether there may be junior hockey in Elliot Lake in 2014-2015 has been on City Council agenda three times in the past six weeks.
All three times — last night included — City Council deferred the matter to its next scheduled meeting. …[read more]
Patterson or Stolarz?
As host entry, London Knights will use their free ticket into the Memorial Cup playdowns, which begin on Friday.
The Knights have been watching from the sidelines for more than a month after losing in the second round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs to the eventual champion Guelph Storm. …[read more]
NAHL champs have a Soo side
For the second time in the last four years, Fairbanks Ice Dogs have won the Robertson Cup as champions of the North American Hockey League. …[read more]
Storm brewing in Guelph
Guelph Storm is headed to the Memorial Cup playdowns as champions of the Ontario Hockey League.
The Storm put the finishing touches on a steamy playoff run on Friday night with a 4-3 win over North Bay Battalion in front of 5,015 frenzied fans at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph. …[read more]
Tryout camp exposure
Players who attend the upcoming Soo Eagles spring tryout camp will not just be showcasing their skills for the North American Hockey League team. …[read more]
Soo Indians are USHL picks
Two members of the major midget Soo Indians were selected by the Muskegon Lumberjacks at this week’s United States Hockey League draft. …[read more]
Open markets
There is arena space available in towns with a prior history that could be the future home to teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Midwest Jr. Hockey League or the new Canadian International Hockey League. …[read more]
New job for Chris Hartsburg
Hartsy’s kid is moving up.
Chris Hartsburg is departing his job as an assistant coach with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League to accept the head-coaching position with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. …[read more]
Warriors had a good run
Their season ended more than 3,000 miles from home up in Fairbanks, Alaska.
It’s over, perhaps, but not forgotten.
Michigan Warriors can reflect on a 2013-2014 North American Hockey League season and tuck it away under good memories. …[read more]
North Bay has served NOJHL well
As of now, North Bay no longer has a team within the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The NOJHL recently approved relocation of the Trappers from North Bay to nearby Mattawa and the team will be called the Blackhawks.
I suspect that not many in North Bay will miss the Trappers, with the Ontario Hockey League having taken control of the town with the North Bay Battalion.
And that’s fine.
But let’s not forget that North Bay has served the NOJHL well since 2003 with first the Skyhawks, then the Trappers. …[read more]
A chat with Coach Whitten
He has the formidable task of trying to restore the hockey program at Lake Superior State University to its glory years.
To be sure, Damon Whitten knew what he was getting into when he recently accepted the position to become the 10th head coach in the 48-year history of Laker hockey. …[read more]
DHC champs have a Soo side
It was an all-Ontario Jr. Hockey League final for the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canada championship.
Coached by Sault Ste. Marie native Jason Fortier, Toronto Lakeshore Patriots edged Wellington Dukes 2-1 in Saturday’s title tilt. …[read more]
Best of Birds camp
Two teams of hopefuls — numbering about 40 — showed their skills the past two days as Soo Thunderbirds played host to their annual spring tryout camp at John Rhodes Community Centre.
When the ice had settled from the two-day tryout, the Thunderbirds committed roster spots for the 2014-2015 season to a pair of young defencemen, Alex Morin and Matthew Murray. …[read more]
Palmerio looking to move up
He is back home after being away for the season and is looking to move up a level from major midget to junior hockey.
Jacob Palmerio, a 5-foot-9, 162-pound, 1997 birth-year forward, is hoping to earn a spot with the Jr. A Soo Thunderbirds for the 2014-2015 campaign. …[read more]
Laker awards night
It was the official end of an era for some.
Lake Superior State University Lakers were the featured attraction on Thursday night as Soo BlueLiners held their 32nd annual banquet in support of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association team. …[read more]
Lakers add recruits
New talent is arriving.
Laker hockey has added some freshman talent for the 2014-2015 season and beyond. …[read more]
Laker mission
Days off figure to be few and far between for the new coach of the Lake Superior State University Lakers.
To be sure, the task at hand is a big one for 37-year old Damon Whitten, the former Michigan State and Michigan Tech assistant who was recently named the 10th head coach in the 48-year history of Laker hockey. …[read more]
NOJHL is full of talk
It depends who is doing the talking.
It depends who is worthy of belief. …[read more]
NOJHL is off base
As of now, three towns that housed Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League teams in 2013-2014 may not have a presence in the loop in 2014-2015. …[read more]
New job for Ron Francis
Sault Ste. Marie native and former Soo Greyhounds centre Ron Francis has been named general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. …[read more]
Laker shaker
Let’s call it fresh-start optimism.
After nine ho-hum seasons under since-departed head coach Jim Roque, the scene is one of new beginnings for the Lake Superior State University Lakers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Former Michigan State and Michigan Tech assistant Damon Whitten is the new headmaster of the hockey Lakers and if nothing else, the 37-year old starts with a clean slate.
It’s good that the slate is clean because the plate is full for Whitten. …[read more]
Dunbar, Whitten are talking
As first reported by HockeyNewsNorth.com, Damon Whitten has been named the tenth head coach in the 48-year hockey history of Lake Superior State University.
Whitten, the former Michigan State and Michigan Tech assistant, was introduced at a Saturday press conference on the LSSU campus.
The 37-year old Whitten replaces Jim Roque, who was fired on March 11 after nine seasons at the helm of the Lakers.
Following is some of what LSSU athletic director Kristin Dunbar had to say about Whitten — and what Whitten had to say about taking the Laker job. …[read more]
Warriors capture NAHL North
For the second time in their four-year existence, Michigan Warriors are headed to the North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup championship tournament. …[read more]
Damon Whitten is new Laker coach
There is a new hockey coach in place at Lake Superior State University.
Damon Whitten was introduced at noon today as the new bench boss of the Lakers. …[read more]
Is Damon Whitten new Laker coach?
Lake Superior State University Lakers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association will hold a press conference tomorrow at noon to announce the hiring of their new head coach. …[read more]
Soo Eagles to Detroit Red Wings
With starter Jimmy Howard battling the flu, Detroit Red Wings have called on 1994 birth-year goalie Jake Paterson to take his spot with the National Hockey League team. …[read more]
April on ice
On and off the ice, the hockey season plays on. …[read more]
Dan is the man in Brookings
Reputable junior coach Dan Daikawa has a new gig.
Brookings Blizzard of the North American Hockey League have hired Daikawa as head coach. …[read more]
Old school Moe and the Warriors
He is demanding but fair.
He is tough but has a soft side.
He is not easy to play for but his players play hard for him.
He is 53-year old Moe Mantha and he is the old-school coach of the Michigan Warriors of the North American Hockey League. …[read more]
Good look ahead to ’14-15 Hounds
I am somewhat torn.
Try as I may, I am not sold on the belief that Soo Greyhounds will be better in 2014-2015 than they were in 2013-2014.
To me, the Hounds will be hard-pressed to replace four players in particular. …[read more]
Clayden kept NB Trappers afloat
David Beauchamp, who recently received approval from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to move his franchise from North Bay to Mattawa for the 2014-2015 season, has confirmed that Espanola Rivermen owner Tim Clayden kept the Trappers afloat for the 2013-2014 campaign.
As the NOJHL has approved the relocation of the Trappers from North Bay to Mattawa, Beauchamp and Clayden are currently involved in legal proceedings over who actually owns the NOJHL team.
At any rate, below is a copy of an-mail sent by Beauchamp to Clayden in February of this year acknowledging that Clayden kept the Trappers afloat for the 2013-2014 season. …[read more]
Tentative MWJHL-CIHL relationship
Should the new Canadian International Hockey League be approved for membership under the umbrella of the Amateur Athletic Union for the 2014-2015 season it figures to have a working relationship with the Midwest Jr. Hockey League.
MWJHL commissioner Scott Gardiner told HockeyNewsNorth.com on Monday that he met with CIHL founder Tim Clayden last week and the two discussed plans for a pair of showcase tournaments for next season. …[read more]