Spotlight on 10 north teams


By
November 19, 2021

There is a tidy total of teams from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League that have stood tall through the first few months of the 2021-2022 season.

…[read more]

DHC host officially confirmed


By
November 18, 2021

We have known about this for several months. And now it has finally been made official as to who will be the host entry for next spring’s Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canada junior A hockey championship tournament.

…[read more]

East side contention


By
November 16, 2021

Powassan Voodoos, Timmins Rock and Hearst Lumberjacks are the forces to be reckoned with in the East Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League while the fourth seed French River Rapids have remained within range of the big three.

…[read more]

T-Birds acquire Chitaroni


By
November 14, 2021

Mason Chitaroni

Defenseman Mason Chitaroni is back in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League via the Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

…[read more]

No rest in the NOJHL West


By
November 13, 2021

Four of the six teams that comprise the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are above the .500 mark and a fifth is not far behind with the schedule at about the one third point of the 2021-2022 regular season.

…[read more]

Beavers, Express make a deal


By
November 12, 2021

Nearby Highway 17 rivals Blind River Beavers and Espanola Express have exchanged forwards in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League trade, Hockey News North has confirmed.

…[read more]

CJHL rankings are a nice boost


By
November 10, 2021

There are those who do not think that being mentioned in the weekly rankings of the coast to coast Canadian Jr. Hockey League is worth all that much. But I beg to differ.

…[read more]

T-Birds add third goalie


By
November 9, 2021

Nolan Chartrand

Free agent goalie Nolan Chartrand has signed with the Soo Thunderbirds after being surprisingly released by the Elliot Lake Red Wings. Chartrand, who was one of four goalies in Elliot Lake, joins veteran Noah Zeppa and rookie Noah Metivier on the Soo net roster.

…[read more]

Disano regaining net form


By
November 8, 2021

It has been a recent return to the fine form that he showed as a rookie for Blind River Beavers goalie Gavin Disano.

…[read more]

French River on a playoff flow


By
November 7, 2021

They have never made the playoffs since entering the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in 2015. Their best full season was the 2018-2019 campaign when they won a mere 14 of 56 games. But the French River Rapids appear to be on a playoff mission for this 2021-2022 season.

…[read more]

Elliot Lake adds big Banks


By
November 5, 2021

A cash exchange with the Renfrew Wolves of the Central Canada Hockey League has yielded a big defenseman for the Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

…[read more]

On the Express via the Rock


By
November 4, 2021

Yan Bessette is on his way to Espanola from Timmins in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League trade that has been confirmed by Hockey News North.

…[read more]

T-Birds love the local lads


By
November 3, 2021

It has carried on as a commitment to a local players tradition that was initially established when the Soo Thunderbirds joined the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a new team in 1999 under franchise founder Sam Biasucci.

…[read more]

Hoover a mover to the Cubs


By
November 1, 2021

Joshua Hoover

Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have made a blue chip addition to their blue line by virtue of the development assignment of 2004 birth year defenseman Joshua Hoover via the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.

…[read more]

Bright lights of the North


By
October 31, 2021

Teams of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are able to recruit players from across Canada and into the United States. Still, there are in the neighbourhood of 85 homegrown players from northern Ontario and northern Michigan who are a part of the 12 teams of the NOJHL.

…[read more]

Elliot Lake to Thunder Bay


By
October 31, 2021

Hayden Cattani is back home in Thunder Bay. The 2002 birth year forward has returned to his home town by virtue of a league to league trade.

…[read more]

Cubs are bearing down


By
October 30, 2021

Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have climbed back on even ground following a cold snap.

…[read more]

Coaches corner of the NOJHL


By
October 28, 2021

Leagues that are well run at the top tend to attract good coaches and managers as an extension of quality programs. And the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League certainly fits into that type of group categorization.

…[read more]

Showdown at the Mac


By
October 27, 2021

It has the makings of a stare down, a match between arch-rival teams who have first place aspirations on the East side of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

…[read more]

Hearst in a burst for first


By
October 26, 2021

Photo by Marc-Andre Longval

Hometown coach Marc-Alain Begin and the Hearst Lumberjacks are among the beasts of the East side of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

Winners of nine of its past 10 games, Hearst has burst to within two points of first place in the NOJHL East with a record of 9-2-1.

…[read more]

All even on the Express lane


By
October 25, 2021

A record of 4-0-1 over its past five outings has brought the Espanola Express to the .500 level with a 7-7-1 mark after 15 games of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.

…[read more]

Home sweet home, at last


By
October 23, 2021

Finally, the Elliot Lake Red Wings have their first home ice victory at Centennial Arena. Matthew Shulist notched his first three Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League goals on Friday to propel the Red Wings to a 5-2 triumph over the Blind River Beavers.

…[read more]

Rock on an East side roll


By
October 21, 2021

Rookie coach Brandon Perry and the Timmins Rock are on a roll through 10 games of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.

…[read more]

JDM, Maciuk, make it happen


By
October 21, 2021

David Maciuk

David Maciuk has been involved in hockey since he was a youngster growing up in Sault Ste. Marie in the mid 1950s and later playing for the Soo Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and then the Ontario Hockey League.

Now living in Chicago and the president and founder of JDM Sports Management, Maciuk has grown his firm into one of North America’s top advisory agencies with over 100 Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association commitments during the past four years alone.

…[read more]

Cochrane, Red Lake transfer


By
October 20, 2021

Logan Arsenault

A three player trade between the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Red Lake Miners of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has been finalized.

…[read more]

Wild West and the Express


By
October 19, 2021

A mere four points is all that separates the top five teams of the six members who comprise the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Indeed, the upstart, fifth place Espanola Express collected five of a possible six points last week to move within four points of the lead in the NOJHL’s version of the Wild West.

…[read more]

Eagles set to Pullar together


By
October 17, 2021

To be sure, the Michigan Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are looking forward to the early part of November when the United States will once again allow non essential travel from Canada.

…[read more]

David Campbell is a Duke


By
October 16, 2021

David Campbell

Local product David Campbell is on his way to the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League via the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League.

…[read more]

Clarke clicking for Wings


By
October 14, 2021

Dayton Clarke

Dayton Clarke is on a goal scoring spin for the Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

…[read more]

Cubs, SmartCell, food, support


By
October 14, 2021

When the the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League take to the ice for a home game at Countryside Arena tonight it will signal the start of a partnership between SmartCell Communications and the Elgin Street Mission that will help bring good food and support to those living with hunger in the community.

…[read more]

Baby Birds flap their wings


By
October 13, 2021

A flock of young skaters are leading the way for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

…[read more]

Young Tallaire is on a tear


By
October 12, 2021

Chase Tallaire

Medium size forward Chase Tallaire has been a huge presence for the Michigan Soo Eagles through seven games of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.

…[read more]

NOJHL to Fort Frances


By
October 12, 2021

Looking to overcome a win-less start through four games of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League season, the Fort Frances Lakers have added another forward from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League via trade.

…[read more]

High flight of the NOJHL


By
October 9, 2021

Nearby rivals, Blind River Beavers and Elliot Lake Red Wings. (Northern Exposures Photography)

It is without peer in terms of being an exceptionally well run junior hockey league from longstanding commissioner Robert Mazzuca through to outstanding website content and management that could well be a model for others to follow.

And on the ice, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is off to a fluid start to the 2021-2022 season with several serious contenders inching towards potential gain and glory.

…[read more]

Marc Lafleur is a winner


By
October 6, 2021

Junior A hockey coaches just don’t come any better than the peerless Marc Lafleur. To be sure, there is one thing that the 46-year old Lafleur has displayed throughout his Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League coaching career — how to win.

…[read more]

Cubs best in close NOJHL West


By
October 4, 2021

Sudbury Cubs celebrating one of their five wins to date. (Sudbury Light Event Photography)

A mere six points are all that separate the six teams of the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League heading into play this week.

And it is the Sudbury Cubs who lead the pack in a hotly-contested west side where all six teams have won at least two games thus far.

…[read more]

EL coach has NOJHL history


By
September 30, 2021

Photo by KEVIN McSHEFFREY/THE STANDARDTanner Bowditch is the new head coach for the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
Tanner Bowditch

To be sure, Tanner Bowditch has come full circle as the head coach of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

Not new to town, Bowditch played for the erstwhile Elliot Lake Wildcats several years back, during the 2014-2015 NOJHL season.

…[read more]

Rookie goalie on the Express


By
September 29, 2021

Patrick Boivin of the Espanola Express

Looking good between the pipes, kid.

Patrick Boivin has more than stepped up as the starting goalie for the rebuilt Espanola Express in the early going of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.

…[read more]

Return of the Soo Eagles


By
September 26, 2021

Chase Tallaire

It had been a long time between Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League victories for the Michigan Soo Eagles.

In fact, the last time the Eagles won an NOJHL game was on Friday, March 6, 2020 when they scored a 2-1 road decision over the Espanola Express to sweep a best of three preliminary round playoff series.

…[read more]

Express lane to Sudbury


By
September 20, 2021

Cameron Walker

Cameron Walker is now playing hockey at home in Sudbury after two seasons with the nearby Espanola Express.

Walker had his trade request granted by Espanola when Express general manager and coach Jason Rapcewicz dealt the third-year Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League skater to the Sudbury Cubs in a cash exchange.

…[read more]

We see a coach in Elliot Lake


By
September 19, 2021

Elliot Lake Red Wings have finally settled on a head coach one game into the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.

…[read more]

‘Good bet Doucette’


By
September 19, 2021

Tyson Doucette

Soo Thunderbirds forward Tyson Doucette more than lived up to his off season hype in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League 2021-2022 opening weekend match.

Pegged by Hockey News North as a rising NOJHL star in a series of summer stories, Doucette fired three goals and goalie Noah Zeppa pitched a shutout with 17 saves in his Thunderbirds debut as the Soo scored a resounding 7-0 road victory over the Blind River Beavers.

…[read more]

Hendo has three hockey hats


By
September 18, 2021

Jamie Henderson, at the recent Ontario Hockey League training camp of the Ottawa 67s. (Photo by Jon Halpenny)

Suffice to say that Jamie Henderson will be spending a lot of time in the various rinks of the north over the course of the 2021-2022 hockey season.

A Sault Ste. Marie native known for his thoroughness and relentless attachment and devotion to the game, Henderson has three diverse roles with three different teams in three separate hockey leagues.

…[read more]

Cubs pitch shutout in debut


By
September 17, 2021

Owen Perala of the Sudbury Cubs heads up ice in the NOJHL regular season opener. (Sudbury Light Event Photography)

Captain Owen Perala started the show with a goal, Joel Rainville completed the shutout and the rebranded Sudbury Cubs blanked the visiting Espanola Express 4-0 as the 2021-2022 regular season got underway on Thursday in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

…[read more]

For puck sakes


By
September 16, 2021

Elliot Lake Red Wings v. Espanola Express is just one junior hockey rivalry in northeastern and northwestern Ontario. (photo by Northern Exposures)

Regular season play is getting underway in both the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.

And as my heart has been sweetly stolen with the birth of my first grand child, Malala, we nonetheless have story lines to peruse relative to junior A hockey in northeastern and northwestern Ontario.

…[read more]

Hockey north watch tower


By
September 14, 2021

We have teams, players and coaches to keep collective eyes on as junior hockey in the north puts its sticks on the 2021-2022 season.

…[read more]

Elliot Lake has a nice look


By
September 13, 2021

Tyson Bradford wears the colours of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings. (photo by Northern Exposures)

After a year away and sporting a new name, Elliot Lake is back in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

…[read more]

Between the pipes


By
September 11, 2021

Goalies. They represent the last line of defense at the most scrutinized and evaluated position in hockey.

In the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, there are no shortage of top flight goalies. And following is a look at several who figure to be difference makers this season.

…[read more]

Here come the Sudbury Cubs


By
September 10, 2021

It is a new chapter for junior hockey in Sudbury under the watch of a philanthropic owner and his right hand man — fellow locals who represent a time honoured history in the game.

Formerly the Rayside Balfour Canadians, now the Greater Sudbury Cubs, this is a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team that is experienced in community leadership, management and coaching — and with sights set on a championship.

…[read more]