How about the Soo Rapids?
When Sault Ste. Marie returns to the Great North Midget Hockey League for the 2014-2015 season after a one-year absence, the team will no longer be known as Soo North Stars.
As Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have been awarded operation of the local major midget team by the Sault Major Hockey Association, the North Stars name will fade into history.
In granting operation of the major midget team to the Thunderbird organization, Sault Major indicated a preference to move forward with a new moniker. …[read more]
New coaching gig for Jim Capy
He has often said that hockey — and coaching — is in his blood.
Of that, there is little doubt.
Jim Capy, who has coached with success at the high school level with Korah Colts and Sir James Dunn Eagles, at the major midget level in the Michigan Soo and in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with Soo Thunderbirds, Soo Indians and Blind River Beavers, will return to the bench in 2014-2015. …[read more]
Role players
Most good teams have one or two good role players.
While star players are the ones who make the obvious impact, role players fill a necessary and often-overlooked part in the scheme of success.
Following is a look at five good role-playing forwards from five good teams within the Ontario Hockey League, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and North American Hockey League. …[read more]
Jr. Generals, Jets and a Mountain Cat
Flint Jr. Generals and the Waterford-based Metro Jets are only 30 miles apart on Interstate 75 but 38 points separate the two teams in the East Division standings of the North American 3 Hockey League.
With a record of 36-3-2 and 74 points, coach Steve Howard’s Jr. Generals have already clinched a playoff spot.
The younger Jets, meanwhile, are in fifth place with 36 points from a record of 17-21-2 and in a desperate chase for the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the NA3HL East. …[read more]
Scouting the Soo Indians
They are being closely watched by scouts from teams in credible junior leagues on both sides of the Canada-United States hockey border.
On any given night, be it at home or on the road, representatives from teams in the Ontario Hockey League, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, North American Hockey League or North American 3 Hockey League are there, taking notes and collecting data.
Soo Indians have played 46 games thus far this season as an independent hockey team playing against top major midget competition from Ontario, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. …[read more]
Here ‘n there on January 31
From both sides of the Soo to Coulee Region to Flint we go…
…Soo Thunderbirds have the best record in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and have all but clinched first place in the eight-team loop. Barring a late-season collapse, the Thunderbirds will finish first under 28-year old head coach Jordan Smith, who does not look or act like a rookie bench boss. Wise and mature beyond his years, Smith’s stay in the NOJHL doesn’t figure to be an extended one. This is an up-and-coming coach who is destined to be behind an Ontario Hockey League bench sooner than later.
…As the NOJHL Thunderbirds have assumed control of the Soo entry that will return to the Great North Midget Hockey League in 2014-2015 after sitting out this season, one of the first orders of business will be finding a suitable coach. One man that bears strong consideration is veteran bench boss Jim Capy. Capy, who stepped away from the game in 2012 after coaching for years in the NOJHL with the Thunderbirds, Soo Indians and Blind River Beavers, is known as an attention-to-detail coach. Whether Capy has any interest in returning to coaching and whether the Soo midgets might provide a good fit is a scenario worth following.
…The numbers don’t lie. With veteran goaltenders Colin Brennan and Paige Skoog handling the goaltending through the first 28 games of this 2013-2014 North American Hockey League season, Soo Eagles were in last place in the six-team North Division with a record of 9-14-5. …[read more]
Eyes on Blake Speers, Owen Headrick
Blake Speers just turned 17-years old but the eyes of the pro scouts are already on him.
The hometown centre, who the Soo Greyhounds snagged with the 11th pick of the 2013 Ontario Hockey League draft, seems to have it all, except maybe size. …[read more]
Sault High to Team USA
Abby Roque, a 16-year old forward with the Sault High Blue Devils, has been named to the Team USA squad that will compete at the Under-18 Women’s World Hockey Championships in March.
The 5-foot-6, 150 pound Roque is a daughter of Jim Roque, who is the head coach of the Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Lake Superior State Lakers.