OHL to Austria pro league
A durable, honest, hard nosed, two way right winger has turned three full seasons in the Ontario Hockey League into a professional contract in Austria.
Daylon Groulx, who would be going into his overage season in the OHL, has instead opted to turn pro as a 20-year old.
The 6 foot, 185 pound Groulx finished up his OHL career with the Ottawa 67’s in 2019-2020 after being acquired from the Owen Sound Attack for three draft picks.
…[read more]First T.J. Aceti award winner
Cash Rowswell has been selected as the first ever winner of the T.J. Aceti Goalie Award.
Young Rowswell was presented with the award today at an emotional, albeit informal backyard gathering.
A goalie who competed at the pee wee major AA level within the Sault Major Hockey Association during the 2019-2020 season, the 13-year old Rowswell was the unanimous choice by a four person committee as the winner of the T.J. Aceti Goalie Award from a group of eight other local puck stoppers.
…[read more]New gig for John Parco
A successful three season run at the helm of the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has turned into a new challenge for high end coach John Parco.
The soon to be 49 year old Sault Ste. Marie product has signed a two-year contract with the Italian Ice Hockey Federation.
In his new role, Parco will be the director of hockey development for the Italian Federation.
…[read more]Family advisors of choice
They are known as family advisors and/or player agents. And when I am asked by parents of hockey players — which is rather often — as to who I would recommend as a family advisor, I give them the names of three management groups that I have had good and lengthy dealings with.
…[read more]What’s with the handshakes?
I fully expected the Toronto Maple Leafs to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fifth-and-deciding game of their preliminary round, National Hockey League playoff series.
After all, the Leafs had stunned Columbus in Game 4 with an improbable 4-3 overtime win after rallying from a 3-0 deficit with less than four minutes to play in the third period.
But what I didn’t expect — aside from the Leafs coming up flat in a 3-0 loss in Game 5 — was that players from both teams would remove their gloves and shake hands following the decisive match.
…[read more]A good coach is a good coach
Junior hockey and the way it operates and carries on can be cyclical, trendy and copycat.
And while some may say or feel that junior hockey is a young man’s game when it comes to the art of coaching, that is simply not the case.
For example, as the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League both boast exceptional coaches who are in their 30s and 40s, so too do they feature high end bench bosses who are in their 50s and 60s.
In other words, when it comes to the NOJHL and OHL as two junior hockey leagues of illustration, a good coach is a good coach, regardless of age.
…[read more]Lafleur to Carleton Place
The best team in the Central Canada Hockey League from the 2019-2020 season has added a crackerjack coach to its staff.
Hockey News North has confirmed that Marc Lafleur has joined the staff of the Carleton Place Canadians as an assistant coach under owner, general manager and head coach Jason Clarke.
The 45-year old Lafleur and the Hearst Lumberjacks recently parted ways, just over a year after he led what was a second-year franchise to the 2018-2019 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship.
…[read more]Return to play proposals
Junior hockey leagues throughout Ontario have been working on various proposals relative to a return to play at some point in the 2020-2021 season.
Under the Canadian Jr. Hockey League umbrella there are four junior A leagues that are based in Ontario. They are the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, the Central Canada Hockey League, the Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
The province is also home to the Ontario Hockey League, which is part of the major junior level, Canadian Hockey League.
…[read more]Rhodes Centre arenas open
The City of Sault Ste. Marie has implemented a number of modifications for the two arenas that are housed within John Rhodes Community Centre. The Rhodes Centre is located in the Sault’s east end on the grounds of Queen Elizabeth Park.
…[read more]Rhodes to re-open next week
The City of Sault Ste. Marie continues to re-open facilities by employing a phased approach as it tries to ensure appropriate safety measures for the community and limiting public health risks.
…[read more]Business as unusual
These are unusual times. And in the hockey world, the so-called ‘new normal’ means the phrase ‘business as usual’ may no longer be applicable.
…[read more]Chris Thorburn: What a story
Chris Thorburn had what might be called an improbable National Hockey League career.
Thorburn was nearing the end of his four-year Ontario Hockey League run in 2003 and had yet to be signed by the Buffalo Sabres, who had taken him two years earlier, in the second round of the 2001 NHL draft.
But the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario product would finish his OHL career with a flourish after being dealt by the Saginaw Spirit to the Plymouth Whalers at the 2003 trade deadline.
…[read more]Bulls call on Bronson
Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák Steel Bulls have put in a call from Central Hungary to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to ask veteran defenseman Bronson Kovacs to play another season of professional hockey in Erste Liga.
And the 29-year old Kovacs — he will turn 30 in July — told Hockey News North that he has made a verbal agreement to return to the Steel Bulls for the 2020-2021 hockey season. The 2020-2021 campaign will mark the sixth season of pro hockey in Hungary for Kovacs.
…[read more]Toots Kovacs to Sault College
It is another level of the game for Zoltan (Toots) Kovacs. A fixture within the local hockey community for decades, the 60-year old Kovacs has enrolled with the Sault College Cougars men’s team as an assistant to head coach Mike Hall.
…[read more]Self isolating, hockey writing
Many around the globe have left their office work stations to set up shop at home as a health precaution against the COVID-19 pandemic. But I was already ahead of the game as someone who has been working and writing from home for a number of years now.
…[read more]New gig for Michael Kantor
Hard-driven Michael Kantor, who played in more than 200 Ontario Hockey League games for Saginaw Spirit, Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves despite never being drafted, is turning to the business side of the game.
…[read more]Sault Major coaches
Head coaches have been selected for seven rep teams that will compete on behalf of the Sault Major Hockey Association for the 2020-2021 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Very good, Ryan Vendramin
Simply stated, Ryan Vendramin of the Sault College Cougars had an American Collegiate Hockey Association season like no other in 2019-2020.
…[read more]Flashback: Glavota v. Parco
What are the chances that two hockey players from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario would face off on a world stage representing two countries other than Canada?
…[read more]As hockey is cancelled …
The games will not be played for a while. In fact, while some leagues are simply in a hold pattern, others have downright cancelled the balance of the current season due to the global pandemic.
…[read more]Vendramin is ACHA’s best
Local product Ryan Vendramin of the Sault College Cougars is the national player of the year for the Division 2 level of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
…[read more]SPWHL shuts down
Soo Pee Wee Hockey League has cancelled the remainder of the 2019-2020 season for all teams at all levels due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
…[read more]T.J. Aceti goalie award
Six years after his sudden passing at age 31, Sault Ste. Marie native T.J. Aceti is being honoured and recognized by the Sault Major Hockey Association with an award that will bear his name.
…[read more]High school hockey nobelman
Remi Gentes, a true gentleman known for his soft heart and dedication, is ending a 35-year association with high school hockey in Sault Ste. Marie.
…[read more]Soo Reps in Timmins
Pee wee major AA Soo Reps split a pair of opening day matches at the Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s tournament of champions that is taking place in Timmins.
…[read more]PW Major Hounds edged out
Soo Pee Wee Major AAA Soo Jr. Greyhounds won two games and lost three as the Northern Ontario Hockey Association representative at the Ontario Winter Games that were held on the weekend in Orillia.
…[read more]High school award winners
Sault Ste. Marie’s high school hockey league, via retiring convenor Remi Gentes, has revealed its list of award winners for the recently completed 2019-2020 season.
…[read more]CCHL sale has NOJHL touch
Commissioner Kevin Abrams of the Central Canada Hockey League has confirmed the sale and transfer of the Kanata Lasers. And Ryan Leonard of the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is part of the transaction which will see Kanata relocate to Renfrew effective the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]61 goals for Ryan Vendramin
Sault College’s scoring machine was firing on all cylinders again on the weekend. Local product Ryan Vendramin netted seven goals — giving him 61 on the season — as the Cougars roared to a pair of American Collegiate Hockey Association victories over the West Virginia University Mountaineers.
…[read more]Eagles eyes on third goalie
Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are giving practice time to goalie Gabe Rosek of the major midget Soo Indians of the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association.
…[read more]McMillan Carpet sweeps up
Soo McMillan Carpet rolled to the novice major tier 1 division championship at this past weekend’s Soo Pee Wee Hockey League extravaganza tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.
…[read more]Game star and big smile
Soo Pee Wee Hockey League is playing host to its annual extravaganza tournament through the weekend at local rinks.
…[read more]Game star goalies
The annual Soo Pee Wee Hockey League extravaganza tournament began on Thursday and will continue throughout the weekend at local rinks.
…[read more]Silver for DK Designs
DK Designs, a novice major tier 1 team from the Soo Pee Wee Hockey League, returned home as silver medal winners from a recent tournament in Powassan.
…[read more]Woo, hoo, McMillan Carpet
McMillan Carpet, a novice major tier 1 team from the Soo Pee Wee Hockey League, has returned home as champs of this past weekend’s Bradford Blue and Gold Classic Tournament.
…[read more]Sault Major elite coaches
Four coaches have thus far been chosen to head up teams within the Sault Major Hockey Association’s elite program for the 2020-2021 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Win, win at Sault College
Through 24 games thus far this 2019-2020 season, the Sault College Cougars have compiled a rousing record of 19-3-2. Glancing ahead, after an away weekend at Michigan State University on February 7 and 8, the Sault College men will be on the home ice of Rankin Arena for matches against West Virginia University on February 15 and 16.
…[read more]Kelly’s heroes
Kelly’s Parkway, an under-12 team representing the Soo Pee Wee Hockey League, emerged as champions of the recent Saginaw Friendship Tournament that was held in the mid Michigan city.
…[read more]Locken did the blockin’
A recent excursion to London allowed me the opportunity to meet up with my old friend Mark Locken, who was a standout Ontario Hockey League goalie from 1975 to 1978. Locken won a Memorial Cup as a rookie with the Hamilton Fincups before playing for the Soo Greyhounds and the Niagara Falls Flyers in the OHL.
…[read more]Soo kids shine in London
Martineau Masonry, a novice major team representing the Soo Pee Wee Hockey League, opened a lot of eyes at a weekend tournament in London.
…[read more]Kanata Lasers for sale
Three separate factions are in talks to take over ownership of the Kanata Lasers of the Central Canada Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]How to pick a rep team
It can be a toxic topic. And it seems as though it is a constant cause for consternation. As in, coaches of certain AAA rep hockey clubs who not only pick their own son for the team, but kids of their friends as well.
…[read more]Hounds on Hockey North Show
Following a two-week holiday break, the Hockey North Show with Randy Russon returns to the airwaves tonight from 5-6 p.m. on Sault Ste. Marie radio station ESPN 1400.
…[read more]Miller time for Sault Reps
Preston Miller potted a pair of goals to help support the nifty net-minding of Cash Rowswell as the Sault Reps began the Glenn Bellerby Pee Wee Major AA Hockey Tournament in Barrie this morning with a win.
…[read more]Soo Reps take two more
A pair of road triumphs this weekend has raised the Soo Reps record to a rousing 11-0-1 within the pee wee major AA division of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League.
…[read more]Puck stops with Leila
Leila Barsanti-May shows her text-book goalie form for the visiting pee wee minor AAA Sudbury Wolves in recent action against the Soo Greyhounds.
…[read more]Soo Reps in command
Four straight games on home ice have resulted in four wins in succession for the first-place, pee wee major AA Soo Reps of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League.
…[read more]Hockey North Show …
The latest edition of the Hockey North Show with Randy Russon airs tonight from 5-5:30 p.m. (shortened version) on Sault Ste. Marie radio station ESPN 1400.
…[read more]Soo Reps maintain top spot
Chalk up two more victories for the first-place pee wee major AA Sault Reps of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League.
…[read more]