T-Birds add seasoned skaters
As play resumes in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League this week following a two-month shut down, the Soo Thunderbirds have added a pair of veteran forwards to their lineup, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]NOJHL rallies with rebound
Let the record show that junior hockey returned to northeastern Ontario on February 23 after two months on the sidelines.
The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League — which got in an impressive 41 games between November 13 and December 22 of 2020 before Christmas holidays and then a province wide shutdown relative to COVID-19 led to the two month stoppage in play — is back on the ice with a safe schedule of games for the 2021 portion of the season.
…[read more]Express v. Rapids etc.
Better late than never.
The 2021 portion of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season will finally get underway tonight when the French River Rapids play host to their cohort rival Espanola Express in a slated 6:00 start.
The two teams have already faced off against each other six times this season with each side winning three games. Two of French River’s wins were in extra time.
…[read more]NOJHL confirms return
The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has just confirmed what Hockey News North had said would happen in a story posted earlier today — a return to play effective this week.
…[read more]NOJHL working on return
Sources are telling Hockey News North that the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will return to play this week.
And the same sources are saying that teams will be restricted to playing within their own public health units, at least to begin.
In the case of the five-member West Division of the NOJHL, there is an odd number of teams. That is, unless a guest team from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League is allowed in.
…[read more]NOJHL guest team scenario
As amateur hockey teams and leagues try to stick handle around COVID-19 and return to game activity with the blessing of public health units, there are various scenarios in consideration.
One such suggestion would have, for example, the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League joining the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a guest team.
…[read more]Assistants for the Rock
Timmins Rock president Ted Gooch has told Hockey News North that the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team will not hire a new head coach until after the 2020-2021 season.
Gooch confirmed that in the wake of today’s resignation of Corey Beer, who was in his fourth season as bench boss of the NOJHL team.
…[read more]No more Beer in Timmins
Corey Beer has resigned as head coach of the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to accept a position with the Okanagan Hockey Group.
The move to the Whitby, Ontario-based academy will allow Beer to be closer to his family. Beer and his girlfriend are expecting their first child.
…[read more]NOJHL poised to return
Barring any sort of setback relative to COVID-19, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League could resume regular season play within a week or so.
Sources have told Hockey News North that NOJHL commissioner Rob Mazzuca and team representatives have scheduled a conference call for Tuesday evening relative to a return to play.
…[read more]NOJHL has passed COVID test
If a tried, tested and true track record stands up — as it should — then the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League should be cleared for a return to the ice once the provincial government lifts its lock down and stay at home edict.
Under the careful, calculated leadership of NOJHL commissioner Rob Mazzuca, the league managed to play 41 of the 44 games that were scheduled between Nov. 13 and Dec. 22.
…[read more]Final playoff push for Kovacs
Sault Ste. Marie product Bronson Kovacs has had his wish granted to join a playoff contender in the Erste Liga pro hockey loop.
The 30-year old defenseman has been transferred to MAC Budapest from the Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák Steel Bulls.
Kovacs noted that as this is his sixth and final season of playing pro in Hungary, “I was granted my release so I could sign with a contender for my last playoff push.”
…[read more]Express route for OHL picks
Nestled on the Spanish River, about 35 miles west of Sudbury and 145 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie — and just south of the junction of Highway 6 and Highway 17 — lies the little junior A hockey town of Espanola.
As the town is home to just under 5,000 residents, it also houses the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And quite notably, the Express has become a route of choice for no less than nine Ontario Hockey League priority selection draft picks ranging in age from 16 to 18.
…[read more]Ready to play up north
They are waiting for the go ahead from the provincial government and the respective public health units and municipalities of northeastern Ontario.
In the interim, players and coaches on teams from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League and the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are prepared to return to the ice should the provincial stay-at-home lock down be lifted on schedule on February 11 — and if the various public health and city officials subsequently allow indoor rinks to re-open.
…[read more]NE Ontario season scenarios
The best that hockey leagues in northeastern Ontario can hope for relative to the provincial government’s stay at home order is that the current lock down will be lifted on schedule on or about the weekend of February 12.
Hope is an operative word in this current climate of COVID-19. And given that northeastern Ontario is not home to any COVID-19 hot spot areas, a return to play in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Great North Under 18 Hockey League may be within reach at some point in February.
…[read more]He does it the Wright way
He is one of the really good guys of the Sault Ste. Marie amateur hockey scene.
In fact, he is just a really good guy, period.
As a player, Aidan Wright was a steady, stay-at-home defenseman who took a long and winding road from the Sault and back again to play four full seasons of hockey at the Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association level.
…[read more]Life in the lock down
And so they wait, with any resumption of a season solely in the hands of public health units and the Ontario government.
As with the rest of the province as it relates to the amateur level of the game, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is in a shut down state as per the government lock down.
Players on the nine NOJHL teams that were set to resume play this month before the lock down order was issued have remained together in their respective communities, hopeful and prayerful of a return to play at some point this season.
…[read more]Beavers first won with Capy
The early years of the Blind River Beavers in what is the modern day Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League yielded very few victories for the small market franchise.
To be sure, the Beavers won just 31 of 178 games over four seasons that began with their debut campaign of 2000-2001.
…[read more]Bad News, Billy the Kid et al
They didn’t win many games.
But for the most part, they tried hard, worked hard, were entertaining to watch and fun to write about.
In short, they were a collection of delightful rogues who played together and stuck together as the Manitoulin Islanders of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]NOJHL is ahead of the game
This is positive news in a time of uncertainty.
That is, as it plans to return to play when and if it is cleared to do so by the provincial government via regional public health units, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is already ahead of the game.
…[read more]All even on the Express
A .500 mark through 10 games is at least a passing grade.
And what is worth noting is that the teacher — in this case the head coach — has given his students an ‘E’ for effort.
…[read more]Buffam moving on to KL
As the Powassan Voodoos have officially opted to take a leave of absence from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, players on their roster are free to sign with other teams for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season.
One such player is Jackson Buffam, a highly regarded forward with a December, 2002 birth date who signed with Powassan prior to the start of the current ’20-21 campaign after three productive seasons with the New Liskeard Cubs of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Working hard in Espanola
There have been ups and downs as evidenced by an 0-0-2 start through its first two contests to a 3-1-2 mark after six outings to the 4-4-2 record that it has 10 games into the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season.
…[read more]Rock on to Rayside
The holiday embargo on player transactions in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has been lifted.
And Hockey News North has confirmed that the Timmins Rock has traded 2003 birth year defenseman Chris Innes to the Rayside Balfour Canadians in a cash exchange.
…[read more]Chelsea takes the Express
She takes aim and shoots.
And she scores with some really good close-up photos.
We have the work of another good Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team photographer to share.
…[read more]Bob shoots the Birds
It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words.
And, it says here, there are a number of independent photographers who do exceptional work on behalf of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]We are with the Express
Hockey News North and the Espanola Express are planning to team up during what will be a temporary time away from game activity for the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team in the early stages of the 2021 schedule.
With the other eight active teams of the NOJHL potentially slated to return to play later this month as part of cohort competition, Espanola will be on the sidelines as the league’s ninth entry before the Express resumes regular season game action in February.
Which is where Hockey News North will come in to play while the Express is temporarily idle.
…[read more]NOJHL January play update
As 2020 has moved into 2021, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has confirmed key components relative to a poised resumption of play for the ’20-21 campaign.
Notably, any return to activity is based on upcoming decisions by the Province of Ontario and the multiple regional public health units as they relate to the current COVID-19 lock down that is slated to end in northern Ontario on January 9, which is one week from today.
MVP to BR assistant coach
Given his druthers, Caleb Serre would be in uniform this season as a freshman forward with the Laurentian Voyageurs of Ontario University Athletics.
But with no university hockey being played relative to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 21-year old Serre has found an unexpected role as an assistant coach with his hometown Blind River Beavers.
…[read more]Brick boosts baby Beavers
They have their share of veteran performers who have helped vault the Blind River Beavers to five victories in eight outings through their first two sessions of cohort play in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
But four rookie players — two with 2004 birth dates and two others who were born in 2003 — are baby Beavers who have made an early splash in Blind River for veteran coach-general manager Kyle Brick.
…[read more]Net worth of the NOJHL
Through 41 games among the nine Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League teams that have been active thus far in the 2020-2021 regular season, no less 21 goalies have stood between the pipes.
And in a league that features so many good goalies, following is a Hockey News North look at six of the top twine tenders in the NOJHL through the early going of this season.
…[read more]Here ‘n there in the north
Meaningful games have already been played.
Forty one regular season contests have taken place in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
And the major teams from the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have played as many as eight mini matches apiece.
…[read more]Nice NOJHL action shots
We have some good photos to share from the first session of play in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Hockey News North has taken the liberty of choosing a few quality photos from a smattering of the games that have been played in the NOJHL thus far in this 2020-2021 regular season.
…[read more]NOJHL is passing the test
Since the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League began 2020-2021 regular season play back on November 13, a total of 44 games have been scheduled.
Of the 44, only three were not played relative to the COVID-19 pandemic. And it is worth noting that all three games were postponed by the NOJHL itself as precautionary measures — with not a single player, coach or official testing positive for the virus.
…[read more]Ritchie on the right track
No opportunity to play at home?
No problem, just head down the road.
That is what Sault Ste. Marie product Jordan Ritchie is doing as a 2001 birth year defenseman with the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The free agent defender had been out skating with his hometown Soo Thunderbirds prior to the start of this 2020-2021 NOJHL season.
…[read more]Drive for five in NOJHL West
Teams in the cohort tent of the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are now on holiday recess until slated resumption of play in January.
And, to be sure, the Blind River Beavers, Espanola Express, Soo Thunderbirds, Rayside Balfour Canadians and French River Rapids have all wrapped their share of presents from regular season action during these modified days of play that began in mid November.
At any rate, following are some notable notations relative to the five active teams of the NOJHL West. Team records are in brackets.
…[read more]Express stays with the Birds
Younger and less experienced, the Espanola Express nonetheless showed a good compete level against the veteran-laden Soo Thunderbirds this weekend.
After scoring a dramatic, come-from-behind, 4-3 win over the Thunderbirds on Saturday, Espanola dropped a 4-1 decision — including empty net goal — to the visitors from the Soo this afternoon.
…[read more]Espanola overcomes the Soo
It was a frantic finish to a back and back forth contest.
With the game tied 3-3 and time ticking away, forward Cameron Walker scored his second goal of the third period — and third of the day — with 35 seconds left on the clock to lift the Espanola Express to a 4-3 win over the visiting Soo Thunderbirds in Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League action from this afternoon.
…[read more]Doucette derails the Express
Jacob Doucette is known more for being a defensive defenseman.
But the 19-year old defender got downright offensive on Thursday by netting a pair of goals and adding an assist as the Soo Thunderbirds scored a 5-2 home ice victory over the Espanola Express.
In 63 previous Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League games over parts of two seasons while playing for, ironically, Espanola, Doucette managed just one goal, nine assists, 10 points.
…[read more]T-Birds v. Express takeaways
Soo Thunderbirds were, to be sure, full marks for a resounding 8-1 romp over the visiting Espanola Express in the first of four meetings between the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League foes.
The Thunderbirds out-shot and out-played the Express over the final 30 minutes of the match to turn a narrow 1-0 lead into a decisive 8-1 decision.
…[read more]Birds dispatch the Express
It was a close game through more than half of it.
But the Soo Thunderbirds eventually broke through to dispatch the visiting Espanola Express 8-1 in Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League play from tonight.
…[read more]T-Birds home to Express
Soo Thunderbirds and Espanola Express will begin a four-games-in-six-days series tonight when the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League cohort rivals meet in a 7 p.m. match at John Rhodes Community Center.
…[read more]Nine OHL picks in Espanola
A small market team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, the Espanola Express has become a major location for Ontario Hockey League draft picks to develop.
Notably, no less than nine players who are currently in the Espanola lineup are priority selection draft picks of seven different OHL teams.
…[read more]Birds flapping their wings
They are the young Birds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
To be sure, of the 22 players — 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies — that dot the roster of the Soo Thunderbirds, no less than 17 of them will still have junior hockey eligibility remaining after this season.
…[read more]NOJHL pre-Christmas action
Eighteen games are on the slate between tomorrow (Dec. 15) and Dec. 23 as the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has confirmed its second session of cohort opponents ahead of a Christmas break.
…[read more]Express on the right track
It is still early in the 2020-2021 regular season.
But with a record of 3-1-2 through its first six games, the Espanola Express seems to be on the right track from what has been somewhat of a train wreck through its first five seasons as members of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Soo crew hops the Express
It will be an early trip home before Christmas for two Sault Ste. Marie lads when the Espanola Express visits the Soo Thunderbirds for a pair of Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League games next week.
The Tuesday, December 15 and Thursday, December 17 games will be part of the second cohort segment of the season for both teams.
Of note, as part of its Sault Ste. Marie connection, Espanola has a pair of 2001 birth year skaters aboard the Express in forward Cole Delarosbil and defenseman Jordan Ritchie.
…[read more]Cohort competitors confirmed
The next round of regular season play within its West Division has been scheduled by the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
In new, head to head, cohort matches that will take them to a Christmas break, Espanola Express and Soo Thunderbirds will face off against each other four times and the Blind River Beavers and Rayside Balfour Canadians are slated to do the same.
…[read more]Good old days of Jr. B hockey
There were rabid rivalries with games that were high scoring and penalty filled as part of a rough and tumble junior B league with teams in towns that highlighted local and area hockey players.
Games were played in cold rinks where fans braved the chills of winter to hoot and root for the home team and boo and hiss the visitors.
Before there was the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, there was the International Jr. B Hockey League with teams such as the Blind River Beavers, Chapleau Huskies, Elliot Lake Vikings, Marquette Americans, Soo Indians, Soo Thunderbirds, Thessalon Flyers and Wawa Travellers.
…[read more]Denny digs the NOJHL gig
He has played the game at its highest level, suiting up for more than 500 National Hockey League games in what was an inspiring, improbable rise to the top.
He was later an assistant and head coach of eight seasons in the Ontario Hockey League for the same team that he played for, the Soo Greyhounds.
And now, 50-year old Denny Lambert is combining a career as a police officer with being the first year head coach of the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]