Northern, Superior six pack
There are four teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and two in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League that remain in pursuit of playoff championships in their respective loops.
…[read more]Eagles v. Thunderbirds
No. 1 seed Soo Thunderbirds and no. 2 seed Soo Eagles will meet in a cross-river border battle to decide the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League’s West Division playoff title.
…[read more]Hearst v. Timmins
No. 1 seed Timmins Rock will face off against no. 2 seed Hearst Lumberjacks in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League’s East Division finals. The best of seven series will begin on Tuesday at McIntyre Arena in Timmins.
…[read more]Sudbury Cubs stay alive
The series will play on. Sudbury Cubs have extended their semi-final playoff showdown with the Soo Eagles by way of a clutch road victory.
…[read more]Eagles fly to 3-1 series lead
Soo Eagles are within one victory of advancing to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League’s West Division finals against the powerhouse Soo Thunderbirds. The Eagles have a 3-1 semi-final series lead on the Sudbury Cubs following a 5-0 road whitewash on Tuesday.
…[read more]How sweep it is!
Soo Thunderbirds and Timmins Rock have both advanced to their respective Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League divisional finals.
…[read more]Monday night playoffs
Multiple series are on the line tonight when best-of-seven playoff action continues in both the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Along the playoff path
Three games were played in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and another in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League as playoffs in both loops progressed on Friday.
…[read more]Semi-final beginnings
Six of the eight teams that are still in the playoff picture saw action on Thursday as home teams took all three semi-final openers in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Beavers oust Wings
Patrick Boivin made 31 saves and a second period goal by Jake Kovacs stood up as the winner and the Blind River Beavers are off to the next round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs.
…[read more]Best of the NOJHL
They have been deemed the best of the best of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And, to be sure, this is a best list of players, coaches, general managers and executives from the 12 member NOJHL. Notably, more than one individual was recognized in two separate categories.
…[read more]Elliot Lake battles back
A goal by Ethan Mercer just past the 5:00 minute mark of a second overtime session capped a frantic comeback for the Elliot Lake Red Wings who scored a 4-3 win over the Blind River Beavers to force a third and deciding game in their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League preliminary round series.
…[read more]Roar of the Rapids
It has been a season of firsts for the small market French River Rapids. First, they qualified for the playoffs for the first time since entering the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as an expansion team in 2015.
…[read more]Beavers over Wings
Gavin Disano made 20 saves and three players acquired in mid season trades had multiple point outings as the Blind River Beavers struck first in their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League preliminary round series with the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
…[read more]Beavers and Red Wings
Arch-rivals representing nearby towns along rugged highways, Blind River Beavers and Elliot Lake Red Wings will begin their best-of-three Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League preliminary round playoff series tonight. Start time is slated for 7:00 in Blind River.
…[read more]NOJHL playoff procession
It is playoff season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. The playoff parade begins with best-of-three preliminary round sets between the no. 4 and no. 5 seeds in both divisions of the NOJHL.
…[read more]‘We have D1 players in the NOJHL’
It doesn’t take an educated or practical imagination to deduce that Doug Laprade knows a Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey player when he sees one. Not only was Laprade — who now coaches the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League — a Division 1 skater with the 1988 national champion Lake Superior State Lakers but he was later a volunteer assistant coach and repeat NCAA champ at his alma mater.
…[read more]Local lads lift Thunderbirds
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or so it seems. During the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League’s last complete season, the 2018-2019 campaign, the Soo Thunderbirds finished first overall in the 12 team loop with 15 local players in their lineup.
…[read more]Winging it into the playoffs
It took them until the second last game of the regular season to clinch a playoff position in their first go around as members of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Showing gradual improvement as the 2021-2022 regular season progressed, the Elliot Lake Red Wings managed to secure the fifth and final playoff spot in the West Division of the NOJHL, just ahead of the Espanola Express.
…[read more]NOJHL playoff timeline
Playoff season is just around the corner in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And the NOJHL has finalized its format and timeline for the upcoming 2022 playoffs and the competition for the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy.
…[read more]Black Bears of the North
They were only in existence for three seasons. But the Northern Michigan Black Bears had winning records in all three of their seasons as members of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League from 2003 to 2006.
…[read more]Thoughts of NOJHL playoffs
The last time I watched a playoff game in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League was two years ago — March 4, 2020 at Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Soo Eagles routed the visiting Espanola Express by a 7-1 score and would go on to sweep the best of three preliminary round series in two straight games.
…[read more]NOJHL and the Centennial Cup
Further to the announcement made by Hockey Canada, the 2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff champion will advance directly to compete at the Centennial Cup national tournament, to be held May 20-29, in Estevan, Saskatchewan.
…[read more]Ottawa via French River
Three years ago at this time Phillipe Daoust was finishing up his rookie season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a member of the French River Rapids.
…[read more]Stick handling through traffic
This marks the third season in succession that the Covid nemesis has affected junior A hockey, in this case two leagues that are based in the rugged regions of northeastern and northwestern Ontario. But both the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Superior International Jr. Hockey League have faced off against the opponent and managed to stick handle through traffic.
…[read more]Baker’s dozen for the Birds
Make that 13 straight wins for the Soo Thunderbirds. The top ranked team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League extended its victory streak to lucky 13 with weekend road victories over the Hearst Lumberjacks and Timmins Rock.
…[read more]Bowen boys of the broadcast booth
As the legendary play by play voice of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, 70-year old Joe Bowen has stood the test of time as one of the absolute best in the business. And now there is another Bowen who has taken to calling games behind the mic.
…[read more]10 in a row for T-Birds
They have a league best winning percentage of .813. And the Soo Thunderbirds will take a record of 30-5-5 into Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League play this week.
…[read more]RIP, Bobby Orazietti
He was a small centre who was fast and could score and set up his line mates with quick passes. Bobby Orazietti, who wore no. 9 and played for the Jr. A Soo Greyhounds from 1962 to 1964 when they were members of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, passed away recently at the age of 78.
…[read more]Nine straight for T-Birds
Hardworking forward Cole Delarosbil netted three goals and goalie Noah Zeppa made 20 saves as the Soo Thunderbirds continued their winning ways on Wednesday with a 6-2 verdict over the visiting Blind River Beavers.
…[read more]Sobush on a steady stride
He has lurked in the shadows of high scoring veteran Kyler Campbell and 16-year old rookie sensation sniper Billy Biedermann. But 17-year old neophyte Pierson Sobush has emerged as a top scorer for the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Birds take over the Gardens
A showdown between the top two teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is on the slate as the Soo Thunderbirds will play host to the Hearst Lumberjacks on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at GFL Memorial Gardens.
…[read more]12 straight has Hearst in first
There is a thirst to finish first up in Hearst. Winners of 12 games in a row, the Hearst Lumberjacks have hustled into first place in the East Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Express puts brakes on skid
Espanola Express took to the road to get back on track. The Express halted a nine game losing streak today by scoring a 6-0 decision over the Cochrane Crunch.
…[read more]Birds, Eagles, Cubs, Beavers
They are the front runners of the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Soo Thunderbirds, Michigan Soo Eagles, Sudbury Cubs and Blind River Beavers are all well above the .500 mark as the NOJHL heads into the stretch run of the 2021-2022 regular season.
…[read more]Local lad lifts EL Wings
Alex Antoine has the potential to be an impact player for his hometown Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team. A 2003 birth year forward, Antoine is among the scoring leaders for the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
…[read more]A first for French River
At last, there is cause for celebration on the French River. For the first time in their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League history, the French River Rapids will be a part of the playoff picture.
…[read more]Delarosbil dings the Express
Score another one for Soo Thunderbirds forward Cole Delarosbil against his former Espanola Express crew. The 20-year old forward once again found the back of the net for his current Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team against his former one.
…[read more]Rock climbing to the top
Points wise, Timmins Rock trails both the Hearst Lumberjacks and Powassan Voodoos atop the East Division standings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. But with games in hand on Hearst and Powassan, Timmins has 53 points from a record of 25-5-3 for what is a league best winning percentage of .803.
…[read more]Power play proficiency
Four of the 12 teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have power plays that are clicking at a better than 20 per cent success rate.
…[read more]Up North and along Superior
Here and there in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League:
…[read more]Tough break for the Beavers
A broken ankle and subsequent surgery has sidelined Garden River First Nation product Nate Headrick for the balance of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season. The big defenseman had signed with the Blind River Beavers as a free agent earlier this month and had an assist in six games while playing regular minutes.
…[read more]Rebek has seen the hockey world
When Jeremy Rebek left his Sault Ste. Marie home as a 17-year old it was the beginning of what would be three seasons as an overachieving defenseman with the Owen Sound Platers of the Ontario Hockey League.
Then came a long and winding professional hockey career that would eventually lead him to Austria, Northern Ireland and Italy before finally retiring as a player at the age of 37.
…[read more]Wild West of the North
It is setting up to be a wild ride in the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. While the East Division of the NOJHL features a torrid race for first place between three teams, the Wild West has close battles going on for the first and second, third and fourth, and fifth and sixth slots with mere points separating the pairings.
…[read more]Espanola via Thief River Falls
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has signed 2003 birth year goalie Matthew Loney. A free agent, Loney had been playing with the Thief River Falls Norskies of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Clarke clicks for Kam River
Forward Dayton Clarke gave a three goal glimpse of why he was a prize catch by Kam River Fighting Walleye general manager Kevin McCallum at the Canadian Jr. Hockey League trade deadline.
…[read more]150 and counting for Kyle Brick
Every time the Blind River Beavers win a game it just adds to the success totals of Kyle Brick as the coach with the most victories in the history of the small market Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team.
…[read more]Recommence and rehash
Return to play from a six week hiatus that spanned the holiday season and subsequent pause via Ontario government shutdown has managed to produce some good cheer throughout the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Earning his Wings in EL debut
Defenseman Calum McGill achieved a goal in his debut with the Elliot Lake Red Wings as the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League returned to regular season action following an Ontario government mandated pause relative to the Omicron variant.
…[read more]