Back in the game
A pair of exhibition contests have marked the return of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to game activity.
Along with the rest of amateur hockey across the nation, the NOJHL had been dormant from game play since shutting down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friday night return to play features included a 5-4 overtime win by the visiting French River Rapids over the Espanola Express and the Soo Thunderbirds scoring a 6-1 home ice verdict over the Blind River Beavers.
See below for photos via Chelsea Solomon in Espanola and Bob Davies in Sault Ste. Marie.
…[read more]NOJHL exhibitions begin
Under strict, modified guidelines relative to COVID-19, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will return to play tonight. A pair of exhibition games will make up tonight’s slate, Hockey News North has confirmed via the NOJHL.
…[read more]NOJHL is returning to play!
Junior ‘A’ hockey is soon to return to northeastern Ontario.
Having received the go ahead from the various public health officials, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is set to begin the 2020-2021 regular season this month.
With safety precautions and guidelines in place, first pucks are poised to drop on the 2020-2021 campaign, including slated exhibition action between the Soo Thunderbirds and Blind River Beavers this weekend.
…[read more]T-Birds tag another Doucette
Oh, brother.
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed 2001 birth year defenseman Jacob Doucette, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Doucette will join his younger brother, 2004 birth year forward Tyson Doucette, in the Thunderbirds lineup when the NOJHL begins the 2020-2021 season in November.
…[read more]Hockey North Show start date
Coincident with the looming start of the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season, the Hockey North Show will begin its annual gig on Wednesday, November 18 from 5-6 p.m. on radio station Eagle 95.1 and its on-line site www.eagleradio951.com.
The one-hour, weekly radio show will again be hosted by Hockey News North editor Randy Russon and Soo Today sports editor Brad Coccimiglio and will be broadcast live from Reggie’s Place Tavern in the Sault’s downtown.
…[read more]NOJHL is on ice; OHL is not
This is a statement of fact relative to the coronavirus and two levels of junior hockey in Ontario.
That is, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League does not have to take a lead from the Ontario Hockey League as it pertains to a return to play for the 2020-2021 season.
Because folks, as the OHL will remain in a shutdown until the new year, the majority of the teams in the NOJHL have been on the ice since the middle of September in the form of skills, drills and in-house scrimmages.
…[read more]On the NHL ‘watch list’
A pair of former Great North Midget Hockey League opponents and a scoring star from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are on the radar of the National Hockey League’s central scouting department.
They are among a few hundred prospects who are on the ‘preliminary players to watch list’ ahead of the 2021 NHL draft.
The list is a compilation of top prospects from all the major development leagues throughout North America and Europe. It will be updated throughout the season as scouts further evaluate the players.
…[read more]Birds add well traveled skater
Ryan Williams has a new junior hockey home.
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have obtained the 2001 birth year forward from the Richmond Royals of the Central Canada Hockey League 2 in a cash exchange.
…[read more]Nine NOJHL teams are active
They have been holding skill sessions and non contact scrimmages while waiting and hoping for the first pucks to be dropped on the 2020-2021 season.
Nine of the 11 teams that make up the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have been together since as far back as the latter part of September while following the various public health protocols relative to the coronavirus pandemic.
And thus far there have been no health incidents reported as the waiting game for a potential return to play in the NOJHL continues.
…[read more]NOJHL player safety study
Here is one for the books.
And one for team work.
As head trainer and equipment manager of the Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, J.J. Johnson is also actively continuing his education, with a project focused on player safety.
Toms in training with T-Birds
He has the ‘natural athlete’ bloodlines from the Pettenuzzo side of his mom’s family.
And his dad is a very driven individual who went from being a 13th round draft pick to become an Ontario Hockey League star and from being a ninth round draft pick to play in more than 235 games in the National Hockey League.
A budding prospect and a good athlete in his own right as a third round pick of the Soo Greyhounds at the 2020 OHL priority selections draft, 2004 birth year defenseman Connor Toms is currently skating with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]T-Birds nab Soo boy Novello
Yet another local product has caught the eyes of the Soo Thunderbirds.
Ethan Novello, a 2003 birth year forward, has signed a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League card with the Thunderbirds, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Novello is known for his work ethic, something that Thunderbirds general manager Trev Zachary alluded to, in correspondence with Hockey News North.
…[read more]Junior hockey’s return to play
Could this be the beginning of more junior hockey action?
The news that the 12 teams representing the Saskatchewan Jr. Hockey League have been cleared for an immediate return to the playing of games might be taken as good news for the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
As the province of Saskatchewan has relatively few cases of the coronavirus, so too does northeastern Ontario, where 10 of the NOJHL’s 11 teams are located.
…[read more]T-Birds add to their net
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have solidified their goalie tandem ahead of the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Thunderbirds general manager Trev Zachary has confirmed the acquisition of 2001 birth year net minder Alex Bugeja from the Fort Frances Lakers of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
Zachary referred to the 5-foot-10, 190 pound Bugeja as “a very good goalie with focus and work ethic.”
…[read more]Eagles in flight with few vets
Soo Eagles have a fresh faced look to them with no less than 18 newcomers to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League who have been signed by president and general manager Bruno Bragagnolo.
Still, the Eagles do have a sprinkling of time tested veterans for coach Doug Laprade and his staff to look to for leadership and experience over the course of the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Busy slate for Soo Eagles
Ice time aplenty, in the form of practices and games, is underway for one area junior A hockey team.
To be sure, exhibition matches against high level opponents are on the agenda for the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League over the next few weeks.
A pair of home games against the powerhouse United States National Team Development Program under-17 squad will be followed by two road trips and then another set of contests within the friendly confines of Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Soo.
…[read more]Local talent a T-Bird priority
When the Soo Thunderbirds were admitted into the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League back in 1999, the locally operated franchise had a firm mandate.
Led by Sam Biasucci and several other Sault Ste. Marie business people, the Thunderbird owners vowed to be a haven for local products who were ready to move up from the town’s minor hockey and high school hockey ranks.
To be sure, Biasucci et al stayed true to form for the first couple of years of the Thunderbirds existence in the NOJHL. And later, when Pat Egan and Al Jones took over as operators and moved on from Jim Capy to Toots Kovacs as their head coach, the Thunderbirds were again made up of 95 to 100 per cent local players.
…[read more]Ex-NOJHLer drafted to NHL
This looms as a feel good story.
Speedy forward Phillipe Daoust, who skated for the French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a rookie during the 2018-2019 season, has become a National Hockey League draft pick.
The 6-foot, 165 pound Daoust, who has a November, 2001 birth date, was a surprise pick of the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round of today’s NHL draft.
…[read more]Junior hockey variances
Return to play scenarios for junior hockey in Ontario are contrasts in distinction.
For example, while teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the eastern Ontario based Central Canada Hockey League are on the ice holding drills that vary from skill sessions to non contact scrimmages, members representing the Ontario Hockey League remain in a dormant state relative to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both commissioner Robert Mazzuca of the NOJHL and CCHL commander in chief Kevin Abrams are maintaining a wait and see attitude as they keep in touch with public health officials and their respective governing bodies while overseeing their respective leagues during these unprecedented times.
…[read more]New assistant in Espanola
One of the highest scoring — and, pound for pound, toughest — forwards to ever skate in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is returning to his roots.
Hockey News North has confirmed that 51-year old Shawn Dubois has joined the Espanola Express as an assistant coach under new bench boss Brent Hughes.
A local resident who is originally from the nearby, Highway 17 town of Blind River, Dubois now works in the Espanola area as a sales person.
…[read more]Birds all over the Rhodes
Soo Thunderbirds are just one of a number of teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League who have recently hit the ice ahead of the upcoming season.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no one can say with any degree of certainty when the 2020-2021 NOJHL season will begin, even in the form of exhibition matches.
Still, the majority of teams in the 11-member NOJHL have been holding non contact skill and drill sessions as health and safety precautions are being observed relative to COVID-19.
…[read more]A flock full of local Birds
In true homegrown fashion, the Soo Thunderbirds have already signed 11 — yes, 11 — local skaters ahead of the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]Skills, drills on the Express
Second year skater Cole Delarosbil is taking to the approach of his new coach.
Delarosbil, a 2001 birth year forward from Sault Ste. Marie, was responding to being asked by Hockey News North how the first week of the skills and drills camp of the Espanola Express went under new bench boss Brent Hughes.
The 38-year old Hughes was hired as head coach of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team earlier this summer after three straight winning seasons as an assistant with the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Nice local look for T-Birds
Scout local. Stay local. Play local.
The current operators have got it down pat.
Most recently, it was confirmed that Tyson Doucette, a 2004 birth year forward, is moving up from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Soo T-Birds stay local
Tyson Doucette, a 2004 birth year forward, is moving up from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Mauro boys in Beaver dam
They are a pair of high performance players with speed and a smart skill set.
And they just happen to be siblings.
To be sure, a brother act is prepared to take the stage for the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
As in, Devin Mauro will join his older brother Justin Mauro in Blind River for the upcoming NOJHL season.
…[read more]Birds go Young in the net
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have a new goalie. Hockey News North has confirmed the signing of a new Bird in the nest, er, net.
…[read more]Net gain for Espanola
Goalie Owen Willis, a 2018 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft pick of the London Knights, has signed with the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Willis, who has a late 2002 birth date, was London’s 13th round pick in 2018.
The 6-foot-3, 175 pound Willis tended twine for the Toronto Titans under-18 team in 2019-2020.
…[read more]T-Birds sign two Soo boys
A pair of local products have flapped their way into the Bird nest, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Parker Morgan, a 2000 birth year forward, and Kaden Dundas, a defenseman with a 2003 birth date, have signed up to play for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]T-Birds add Timmins d-man
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have acquired smart, skilled 2001 birth year defenseman Cameron Dutkiewicz in a cash exchange.
A Timmins native, the 6 foot, 190 pound Dutkiewicz spent the 2019-2020 season with the Renfrew Timberwolves of the Central Canada Hockey League 2 division.
He netted four goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 40 games for Renfrew.
…[read more]Bibby boards the Express
Destination, Espanola.
A 15-year old youngster who was chosen at the 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft has signed with the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
He is left winger Luke Bibby, a 13th round draft pick of the Owen Sound Attack from the Brantford 99ers under-16 team.
…[read more]Beavers give Jameus a shot
After originally committing to the Soo Eagles, Nick Jameus has instead signed with the Blind River Beavers.
A 2002 birth year forward, Jameus spent his rookie, 2019-2020 season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with the Elliot Lake Wildcats.
Elliot Lake has taken a leave of absence from the NOJHL for the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Express train runs north
No less than seven players with northeastern Ontario roots could very well be impact performers for the Espanola Express this season.
All are veterans with prior experience in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League who just might be a part of the Express having its first winning season in a franchise history that began in 2015.
Espanola is coming off of a 2019-2020 season in which it posted a record of 17-34-5 in sneaking into the West Division playoffs for the first time since its inaugural 2015-2016 NOJHL campaign.
…[read more]Deforge lands on the Rock
A hometown standout is remaining at home in Timmins to play hockey this season.
A skilled, smart, front line skater, Landon Deforge is moving up from the Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget Hockey League to the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
And both Deforge’s former coach with the Majors and his new coach with the Rock have plenty good to say about the 5-foot-8, 160 pound pivot who has a 2003 birth date.
…[read more]New bench boss for Rayside
The reigning West Division pace setters from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have hired a new head coach.
Vagelli Sakellaris replaces Dan Cuomo as bench boss of the Rayside Balfour Canadians.
Cuomo, who held the position for the past two seasons, has opted to remain overseas in the Holland region of Netherlands with his family because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
…[read more]Small market sizzle
Their combined population is less than 10,000 residents.
Located along rugged highways between the much bigger places of Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, the small market towns that house the Blind River Beavers and Espanola Express are separated by a mere one hour drive.
And looking ahead to the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season, Blind River and Espanola seem set up to be formidable foes.
Which would be a boost for the Beavers-Express rivalry that has favoured Blind River over Espanola in the standings since the Express entered the NOJHL as a first year franchise in 2015.
…[read more]RBC picks up points in Perala
Productive forward Owen Perala has joined the Rayside Balfour Canadians via future considerations trade with the Cochrane Crunch.
The 6-foot-4, 195 pound forward has already played two full seasons in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for Cochrane.
Hailing from the northwestern Ontario town of Nipigon, Perala netted 21 goals, 28 assists, 49 points in 55 games for Cochrane during the 2019-2020 campaign.
…[read more]NOJHL season will start …
No one has the direct answer to the start date question.
No one can say with any certainty when the relatively free COVID-19 zones that encompass the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will be cleared to play.
But — and the word ‘but’ is a big word, more so than ever, perhaps, during these times of pandemic — there is a general feeling out there that if all goes well, the NOJHL will be playing games by early to mid November.
…[read more]Blind River to Espanola
One of the most talented young skaters in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has been traded.
Espanola Express has obtained highly skilled, 2003 birth year forward Devon Savignac from the Blind River Beavers in a cash exchange.
The 5-foot-10, 175 pound Savignac had asked to be traded from Blind River so he could remain at his family’s home in the Sudbury area during the season.
…[read more]Birds knock on Wood
Caleb Wood is crossing back over the International Bridge from the Soo Eagles to the Soo Thunderbirds in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League exchange.
Hockey News North has confirmed that the 2000 birth year forward has been dealt from the Michigan-based Eagles to the Ontario-based Thunderbirds for future considerations.
Hailing from Soo, Ontario, Wood has played the past two NOJHL seasons with the Eagles.
…[read more]Confidence a key for Calisti
Robert Calisti has made gigantic strides since his rookie season of 2017-2018 with the Soo Greyhounds when he dressed for only six games in the Ontario Hockey League and did not pick up a point.
After being picked by the Greyhounds in the third round, 44th overall, of the 2017 OHL priority selections draft, Calisti would spend the majority of the 2017-2018 campaign with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Regular season and playoffs included that 2017-2018 term, Calisti played in 46 games with the Thunderbirds and produced eight goals, 22 assists, 30 points from his defense position.
…[read more]Confirmations for Express
A returning defenseman and a rookie forward have signed to play for the Espanola Express.
Jason Rapcewicz, who is the owner, president and general manager of the small market Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team, told Hockey News North that holdover defenseman William Whelton and freshman forward Isaac Westlake have signed with the Express.
Whelton and Westlake have youth on their side as both have 2003 birth dates.
…[read more]Bird house has a local look
The team that will sport the nifty orange, blue and white colours of the Soo Thunderbirds for the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season is only about half picked.
But of those who have signed up as confirmed skaters for the Thunderbirds for the hopefully anticipated NOJHL season, seven are local residents.
Add in a five member coaching staff with deep roots to the Sault Ste. Marie hockey scene and the Bird house will have a nice local look to it for the upcoming campaign.
…[read more]Incoming on the Express
Two seasoned scouts — both based in Sault Ste. Marie — and a coach with major junior experience represent a trio of newcomers who have hopped aboard the Espanola Express during the summer.
Brad Boyer and Chad Vresk have brought their scouting skills and command to the Express while Brent Hughes has taken over as the head coach in Espanola with proficiency gained from three straight winning seasons as an assistant coach with the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Capy back with the Eagles
A good old coach is nosing his way back into the Eagles nest.
Jim Capy is returning to the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, this time as an assistant under head coach Doug Laprade.
Capy was the head coach of the Eagles for three full seasons from 2015 until 2018 before a mutual parting of ways with the team.
…[read more]Toms is for the T-Birds
One way or another, Connor Toms will be remaining at home to play junior hockey this season.
If the 16-year old defenseman does not make the roster of the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, he will man the blue line for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Thunderbirds general manager Trev Zachary has confirmed the signing of the medium sized defender, who was a third round pick, 44th overall, by the Greyhounds at the 2020 OHL priority selections draft.
…[read more]Mason Chitaroni has Plan B
It is the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League that Mason Chitaroni wants to play for this season.
That is because Chitaroni is a plum prospect of the Knights, who took the 5-foot-10, 150-pound defender in the fifth round, 99th overall, at this year’s OHL priority selections draft from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League.
But if Chitaroni doesn’t make the Knights as a 16-year old, he has a Plan B in place with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]RBC has head coach vacancy
The top team from the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is in the market for a new bench boss.
Rayside Balfour Canadians, who set the pace on the West side of the NOJHL in 2019-2020, are looking at candidates to take over from Dan Cuomo, who has decided to remain with his family in the Holland region of the Netherlands.
With the 65-year old Cuomo at the helm, Rayside registered a record of 40-11-5 for 85 points during the 2019-2020 regular season before the COVID-19 pandemic halted play just before the start of the divisional semi-final playoffs.
…[read more]We have this from the NOJHL
We can only hope this works out at some point this season. Having said that, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has confirmed its initial ‘return to play’ outline for the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]