Whiteduck on the move
Rayside Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added a veteran skater via the trade route, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Majors go for Walker
Homegrown product Kevin Walker will serve as the head coach of the Timmins Majors of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season.
Majors general manager Ron Holmes confirmed the appointment of Walker.
…[read more]Delarosbil is for the Birds
It is a deal that is finally official after being in the works for more than a month.
That is, Hockey News North has confirmed that the Soo Thunderbirds have obtained homegrown product Cole Delarosbil from the Espanola Express in a cash exchange.
…[read more]Big d-man to the Crunch
Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has added a young defenseman from the reputable Brantford 99ers program.
…[read more]Powassan via Oshawa
Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed rookie forward Elliott Haigh from the Oshawa Generals under 18 program.
…[read more]EL Red Wings go local
Alexandre Antoine is staying home to play junior hockey for the 2021-2022 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Crunch time for Ingram
Junior C to Junior A.
Moving up from the Dundas Blues of the Provincial Jr. Hockey League to the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season is Ethan Ingram.
…[read more]Kam River to Elliot Lake
The process of putting together a new team ahead of the 2021-2022 season has landed the Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League a player from the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Thunderbirds to Voodoos
Proven puck-stopper Alex Bugeja is on the move.
The 2001 birth year goalie has been traded from the Soo Thunderbirds to the Powassan Voodoos in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League transaction, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Ex-OHL star in Espanola
Joey Talbot, a former high scoring right winger with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League and part of their 1999 Memorial Cup championship team, has joined the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as an assistant coach/skills development coach.
The 41-year old Talbot later had a productive pro career, including four standout seasons with the legendary Sheffield Steelers of the British Elite Ice Hockey League.
…[read more]Riley is back on the Rock
Hustle bustle crowd favourite Riley Brousseau has signed up to return to the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
A local Timmins lad, the 2001 birth year forward opted to sit out the 2019-2020 NOJHL season.
…[read more]New coach in Espanola
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is keeping it in house. That is, the Express has filled its vacant head coach position with a familiar name.
…[read more]Toms signs with Hounds
It is the next step in development.
Local lad Connor Toms is moving up from the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Victoria to Elliot Lake
Dayton Clarke will head from west to east to continue his junior hockey journey.
The Victoria, British Columbia product has signed with the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Espanola to Vermilion County
Vermilion County Bobcats of the Southern Professional Hockey League have officially confirmed the former bench boss of the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as the first head coach in franchise history.
Brent Hughes leaves Espanola and the NOJHL after coaching the Express to a 5-4-3 record in 12 games during the abbreviated 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Ritchie opts for Sault College
Sault Ste. Marie product Jordan Ritchie is planning to forgo his final season of Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League eligibility. The 2001 birth year defenseman will stay in the game but also go to school.
…[read more]Rock adds homegrown lad
Brandon Perry has made a good first move as the new coach and general manager of the Timmins Rock. Perry has confirmed to Hockey News North that the Rock has obtained homegrown defenseman Cameron Dutkiewicz in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League trade with the Soo Thunderbirds.
…[read more]Smyl is Alberta bound
“It’s a pleasure just to be Alberta bound … I long to see my next of kin … Alberta bound … it’s good to be Alberta bound …” — from the song Alberta Bound by legendary Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot.
High performance forward Cooper Smyl is moving on from the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Birds commit to rookie flock
Soo Thunderbirds general manager Jamie Henderson has confirmed the commitments of several rookie players ahead of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Included in the flock are top performers from both the Soo Jr. Greyhounds and Kapuskasing Flyers of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]RBC banks three locals
Rayside Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have stayed local by committing to three forwards from the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]New recruit to Sault College
He played two full seasons as a steady defender with the Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget Hockey League. And he suited up for 16 games as a rookie for the Cochrane Crunch during the abbreviated 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
With that behind him, 2002 birth year defenseman Keaston (Sticks) Blais now has his sights set on attending Sault College in the fall and playing for the hockey Cougars.
…[read more]Fuel for the NOJHL rivalries
Combat. Competition. Conflict. Confrontation. Contention.
Five words that are synonyms for rivalry.
And it is rivalry that fuels the healthy warfare between the nearby teams that comprise the 12-member Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Standing tall in Cochrane
He is a big one. And a good one.
Michael Nickolau was a huge presence in the net for the Cochrane Crunch during the abbreviated 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]Bosses on the job in Hearst
Given that both the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons did not end in completion relative to COVID-19, the Hearst Lumberjacks remain as the reigning champions heading into the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Hearst won the 2018-2019 NOJHL title when the visiting Lumberjacks upset the heavily favoured Soo Thunderbirds in the seventh and deciding game of the league championship series.
…[read more]Reopening in Elliot Lake
Junior hockey has had a presence in Elliot Lake since 1965, beginning with the old Jr. B Vikings.
And since 1997 there have been the Elliot Lake Ice, Elliot Lake Bobcats and Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. (The Bobcats were also part of the Greater Metro Jr. Hockey League.)
Now, after the Wildcats took a leave of absence from the NOJHL in 2020-2021, the franchise was recently rebranded as the Elliot Lake Red Wings with new operator, new general manager and new coaching staff in place ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Coaching vacancy in Espanola
Brent Hughes is moving on from the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as its head coach after one season on the job, Hockey News North has learned.
…[read more]Chairman Mazzuca, take a bow
Score one for the north.
The Canadian Jr. Hockey League has confirmed its executive committee for the 2021-2022 season and Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League commissioner Rob Mazzuca will have a commanding role.
Mazzuca has been appointed the CJHL’s chairman of the board for the upcoming campaign.
Raffi Torres to Elliot Lake
A former star winger who was an impact player in the Ontario Hockey League before going on to play in more than 700 National Hockey League games will assist the new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a mentor.
…[read more]Soo crew in the Bird house
It is like getting the house in order.
Seven homegrown skaters have confirmed their intention to return to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season.
Meanwhile, sources have told Hockey News North that the Thunderbirds have agreed in principle to acquire two more local lads via the trade route and are prepared to sign a number of players from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Crunch adds to hockey staff
It is Crunch time up in Cochrane.
President and coach Tom Nickolau has hired a general manager and an assistant GM to bolster the staff of the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The 55-year old Nickolau purchased the Cochrane franchise a year ago and steered it through 21 games of a 2020-2021 NOJHL season that was abbreviated relative to COVID-19.
…[read more]Ten of the best of the North
As we venture to take an early glance ahead of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season here is a Hockey News North look at 10 probable returnees who loom as impact players.
…[read more]North winds of change
A late spring breeze has altered the makeup of four of the 12 teams that have membership within the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
From east to west, north winds of change have blown through Timmins, Powassan, Elliot Lake and Sault Ste. Marie within the past few weeks.
Will there be more to come?
…[read more]Local lad lands in Elliot Lake
On the job ahead of the 2021-2022 season are the all new Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
And sources with knowledge of the situation have told Hockey News North that the Red Wings are poised to make a home grown Elliot Lake product one of their first acquisitions.
…[read more]Rekindling the BR-EL rivalry
This is an age old tug-of-war that I am so looking forward to writing up again.
That is, the rabid, often rowdy rivalry between the gritty, nearby junior hockey towns of Blind River and Elliot Lake is poised to be rekindled.
…[read more]Cougars knock on Wood
Graduated Soo Thunderbirds forward Caleb Wood is moving on to skate for the Sault College Cougars of the Division 2, American Collegiate Hockey Association for the planned 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Birds returning to nest
A flock of Birds is intent on once again tapping sticks on the frozen pond of Sault Ste. Marie.
That is, seven local products and a fellow northeastern Ontario lad are among the skaters who have affirmed their return to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]Staffing the Red Wings
The hockey department of the new Elliot Lake Red Wings is taking shape. Rebranded from the erstwhile Elliot Lake Wildcats, the Red Wings are adding on to their staff in advance of the 2021-2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]Henderson is on the jobs
His zeal and zest for the game are clear and pronounced.
Talk hockey with him and chances are the conversation will be a long-lasting, long-winded one.
And not only has Jamie Henderson signed up for another term as head coach of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League for next season but he was recently hired as the new general manager for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Malek is heading home
Soo Thunderbirds graduated forward Andrew Malek is returning to his home state to play Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey for the Concordia University of Wisconsin Falcons.
…[read more]May days of junior hockey
Junior A level hockey leagues across Canada are closed for registry business until June 1.
Which, as an example, means that teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League can’t officially announce any new player transactions until June 1.
But, as they should be, NOJHL coaches and general managers will no doubt be busy throughout the month of May working on potential player recruitment and trades ahead of June 1.
…[read more]Smyl explains Bird exchange
Local businessman Darren Smyl said he was not looking to sell the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
But Smyl, who had rescued the Thunderbirds from the verge of folding in 2017, said once he was approached by Trevor Daley and Cole Jarrett about buying the local NOJHL team, a deal gradually came into being.
…[read more]New operators for T-Birds
Two friends with prime time backgrounds have teamed up to take over the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Good citizens Cole Jarrett and Trevor Daley have obtained operational control of the Thunderbirds from local businessman Darren Smyl, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Smyl had presided over the Thunderbirds since 2017.
…[read more]Perry is solid as a Rock
Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has stayed local in hiring hard driven, hard working Brandon Perry as its new coach and general manager, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]KL makes a Smart move
Coach-general manager Kyle Smart is returning to the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Fedorov assisting Soo Eagles
Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added a full time skills and development coach to their staff, Hockey News North has confirmed.
He is 39-year old Fedor Fedorov, who starred in the Ontario Hockey League as a high scoring forward with the Sudbury Wolves during the 2000-2001 campaign before playing 18 games in the National Hockey League and multiple seasons in the American Hockey League prior to a nine-year career in the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League.
…[read more]Active, operative in NOJHL
It is aware of COVID-19 as an opponent. And that hasn’t prevented the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League from being in mindful overdrive as it and its member teams make provisions for the 2021-2022 season.
At the top, 11th year commissioner Rob Mazzuca is in his home office bunker on a regular basis, ministering what needs to be governed.
To be sure, from coaches affirming their return to new coaches being hired to due process being conducted on other business, the NOJHL and its teams are being anything but listless.
…[read more]June camp in Elliot Lake
Elliot Lake Red Wings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are intent on getting a head start well in advance of the 2021-2022 season.
…[read more]Hockey North Show will return
Currently on hiatus relative to the Ontario government’s stay at home order, the Hockey North Show will return to radio station Eagle 95.1 once its host site, Reggie’s Place Downtown, re-opens for business. The stay at home order is slated to be lifted during the third week of May.
…[read more]Marc Lafleur to Powassan
He is a celebrated coach who has won championships with two different teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
And now, Marc Lafleur is returning to the NOJHL to coach, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]