Girls Summer Hockey Academy
Sault Ste. Marie’s Brianne Veale, a former assistant captain with the Brock University women’s hockey team, is hosting a summer academy from Monday, July 28 to Friday, August 1 at John Rhodes Community Centre in the Soo.
Called the Girls Summer Hockey Academy, Veale has separate sessions for beginner, intermediate and elite players. …[read more]
Soo Indians major midget tryouts
General manager Mike Kaunisto advises that the Soo Indians major midget hockey team will be holding its main tryout camp on June 28-29 at Taffy Abel Arena on the campus of Lake Superior State University. …[read more]
Brett Findlay is a Kelly Cup champ
Alaska Aces have a connection to Echo Bay, Ont. on their East Coast Hockey League championship team of 2013-2014. …[read more]
Soo Eagles to Washington Capitals
Chris Waterstreet, a swooping left winger who played for Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League in 2012-2013, will attend a National Hockey League tryout camp next month. …[read more]
Bird nest is full
The recent addition of a pair of 1995 birth-year forwards via trade has just about shut the door on any rookie skater who has aspirations of securing a roster spot with the Soo Thunderbirds for the 2014-2015 campaign.
By acquiring out-of-towners Ryan Erickson and Jake Staples from Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Canada Hockey League in exchange for goalie Joel Horodziejzcyk, the number of veteran forwards who can play for the Soo’s Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team in 2014-2015 now stands at 12. …[read more]
Still puckin’ around
It may be June but there are hockey stories to be written.
Take yesterday — June 3 — for instance when HockeyNewsNorth.com posted five separate stories all relevant to the moment.
Take a summer vacation from hockey?
Nah.
There are too many potential stories out there. …[read more]
Junior hockey landscape
There are multiple junior hockey leagues of three degrees throughout Canada and the United States.
Basically, the levels are classified as Major Junior, Tier 2 Junior (aka Jr. A and Jr. B) and Tier 3 Junior. …[read more]
Wise on these guys
Teammates on the Soo Thunder minor midgets two seasons ago, they all moved up to the major midget ranks in 2013-2014, albeit on different teams in different leagues.
Undrafted by any major junior team, all three 1997 birth-year forwards are still eligible to play at the midget level in 2014-2015.
But wise men say they are all capable of playing at the tier two junior level in 2014-2015, if not in the North American Hockey League, then most-definitely in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League or the new Canadian International Hockey League. …[read more]
Pucks ‘n mucks
I am not a fan of the one-game-winner-take-all format to decide the Memorial Cup championship.
The way I see it, it takes a seven-game series to win any playoff round in the Canadian Hockey League. So why should the CHL championship — and the Memorial Cup that goes with it — be decided by one game? …[read more]
Steve Howard to Nashville
The North American 3 Hockey League coach-of-the-year for the 2013-2014 season has a new gig.
Steve Howard, who piloted the erstwhile Flint Jr. Generals to a 42-4-2 record and the NA3HL East Division regular-season and playoff crowns, is off to Nashville. …[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]
Beavers Golf Tournament
Talk some hockey. Play some golf.
Want to support the Blind River Beavers and play a round of golf at the same time?
Huron Pines Golf Club will be the site for the annual tournament in support of the Beavers Jr. A hockey team.
Called the ‘Beavers Open Scramble Golf Tournament’ the event is slated for Saturday, July 5 with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. …[read more]
Thibodeau, Robichaud to OUA
Nipissing Lakers of Ontario University Athletics have added some veteran junior hockey experience to their 2014-2015 roster with the signing of a pair of Northern Ontario products.
Headed to Nipissing are Sault Ste. Marie native Chad Thibodeau and Timmins product Erik Robichaud. …[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]
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]
Open tryouts, summer loop
Hockey season just keeps playing on.
Detroit Fighting Irish of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League will be staging open tryouts later this month followed by a junior-college summer league. …[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]
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]
Michigan Ice Dogs summer skates
How does 10 bucks a skate sound?
Michigan Ice Dogs of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League have set up a series of summer skates that begin on Tuesday, June 3 and will continue once a week through until Tuesday, July 29 at Farmington Hills Ice Arena. …[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]
Cruz control
Detroit Fighting Irish of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League has new ownership.
Lisa Cruz, a resident of the Downriver Detroit area, has purchased the Fighting Irish franchise and will operate it with her husband, Mark Cruz. …[read more]
Cooper communicator
The Canadian International Hockey League has named Huntsville, Ont. resident Brent Cooper as its director of internal communications and executive branch secretary.
Cooper, who is a native of Little Current, Ont., has been involved with junior hockey for more than 20 years. …[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]
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]
Season ends for NOJHL champs
The champions of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have come up empty up at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canada playdowns that are going on in Wellington, Ont.
Kirkland Lake Gold Miners were doubled up 6-3 by the Superior International Jr. Hockey League champion Fort Frances Lakers today and were thus eliminated from further play. …[read more]
KL at the DHC
Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League champion Kirkland Lake Gold Miners lost their opening game at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canada playdowns that are being held in Wellington.
The host Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League upended Kirkland Lake 4-1 on Tuesday. …[read more]
Tryout, pre-draft camps
For many hockey teams, the 2013-2014 season has ended.
However, in the majority of cases, preparation for the 2014-2015 campaign is already underway.
Spring and summer tryout camps — and in some instances, pre-draft camps — have been scheduled.
Following is a list of upcoming camps for various teams in various leagues. …[read more]
New post for Randy Blake
The new Canadian International Hockey League has named Randy Blake as its Director of Operations.
Blake has deep Northern Ontario roots. …[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]
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]
Here, there, where
We try not to put all of our eggs into one basket.
So, hoppity-hop we go on this Easter Monday, from here to there and possibly where. …[read more]
Silver medal for Silver Creek girls
Silver Creek Novice Wildcats of the Sault Female Hockey Association returned home from the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association provincial tournament recently with silver-medal honours.
The Wildcats won five straight games before falling 3-0 in the gold-medal game to the Sarnia Lady Sting. …[read more]
Soo Atom Wildcats strike gold
Hail to the champs.
Soo Great Lakes Bus Atom BB Wildcats captured the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association provincial championship over the weekend. …[read more]
Hounds, Hawks in Las Vegas
Six teams representing three junior hockey leagues sanctioned by the American Athletic Union will compete for a national championship in Las Vegas this week.
From this area, Traverse City Hounds will represent the Midwest Jr. Hockey League as champions from the 2013-2014 season. And Soo Firehawks, who lost to Traverse City in the league finals, are representing the MWJHL as its second seed. …[read more]
Hockey season just keeps going
Fewer teams are playing today that were when the month started.
Some never made the playoffs to begin with.
Others have since been eliminated.
But activity has not subsided. …[read more]
Ashton Calder a hidden gem?
North American Central Scouting chief Mark Seidel calls Soo Indians winger Ashton Calder a “hidden gem” going into Saturday’s Ontario Hockey League draft. …[read more]
Soo boys up for OHL draft
The annual Ontario Hockey League draft will be staged on Saturday and several Sault Ste. Marie skaters stand to have their name called.
Topping the list of rated players is Soo Thunder forward Zack Dorval, who actually hails from the northeastern Ontario town of Hearst.
Following Dorval among rated players are forwards Zachary Senecal and Nic Sicoly. …[read more]
Clock ticking on Espanola Rivermen
There is no turning back for the Espanola Rivermen.
In more ways than one. …[read more]
Top OHL prospects commit to NTDP
Two high-end forwards who were viewed as potential first-round selections at Saturday’s Ontario Hockey League draft have committed to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program for the 2014-2015 season. …[read more]
Let it ride
So, Espanola Rivermen owner Tim Clayden plans to leave the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League after this season for the proposed Canadian International Hockey League of which he would be a founding member.
So what? …[read more]