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]New commander in Cochrane
Memorial Cup champion and National Hockey League draft pick Tom Nickolau is taking the reins of the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The 54-year old Nickolau has purchased the Cochrane franchise from previous owners Ryan Leonard and Katherine Leonard.
Nickolau, who was a member of the 1986 Ontario Hockey League and Memorial Cup champion Guelph Platers, also holds the distinction of being an NHL draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings.
…[read more]New coach on the Express
There will be a fresh face manning the bench for the Espanola Express come the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Well traveled and experienced as a coach and a player at high levels of the game, 38-year old Brent Hughes will take over from Dave Clancy as the new head coach in Espanola.
Among his coaching gigs, Hughes spent three seasons as an assistant with the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League from 2016 until 2019.
…[read more]New gig for John Parco
A successful three season run at the helm of the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has turned into a new challenge for high end coach John Parco.
The soon to be 49 year old Sault Ste. Marie product has signed a two-year contract with the Italian Ice Hockey Federation.
In his new role, Parco will be the director of hockey development for the Italian Federation.
…[read more]Birds have 10 in the nest
Soo Thunderbirds general manager Trevor Zachary has confirmed the signed commitments of 10 players ahead of the 2020-2021 season.
Included in the group of 10 are confirmations from six local skaters — four returnees and two newcomers — who intend to wear the blue, orange and white jerseys of the Thunderbirds for the next Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
The returning local veterans are forwards Avery Rebek, Cooper Smyl, Brock Santa Maria and Kurtis Rogers.
Local newcomers to the Bird house are forwards Michael Chaffay and Ty Zachary.
…[read more]Eagles change camp dates
From one week to another and from once facility to another.
Originally slated for August 12-14 at Big Bear Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have moved their main training camp dates and location.
Instead, the Eagles will now hold their main camp a week later, from August 21-23, at Lake Superior State University’s Norris Center facility.
…[read more]New Liskeard to Powassan
On to the next level for this dandy duo.
A pair of top performers from the New Liskeard Cubs of the Great North Midget Hockey League have signed with the Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
They are forwards Ben White and Jackson Buffam.
White and Buffam were New Liskeard’s top two point producers during the 2019-2020 season. They were also sixth and seventh, respectively, on the Great North scoring chart.
…[read more]Rayside signs rookie goalie
Rayside Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have stayed local with the signing of 2003 birth year goalie Jake Marois.
As a member of the fourth place Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves, the 6-foot, 175 pound Marois was the top goalie in the Great North Midget Hockey League in 2019-2020 with a 2.16 goals against average in 1,280 minutes of action.
Marois also played in the Great North in 2018-2019.
His work in the Great North loop was enough for Marois to earn an invitation to attend the upcoming Ontario Hockey League camp of the London Knights as a free agent.
…[read more]NOJHL playing waiting game
There is no panic coming from Robert Mazzuca.
No panic in his voice. No panic in his plans. No panic in his actions.
Instead, the 10th year commissioner of the 11-team Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is playing the waiting game relative to when the 2020-2021 season might begin.
Meanwhile, the veteran NOJHL boss remains optimistic that the junior league — which includes 10 teams from northeastern Ontario and one northern Michigan based squad — will play at some point this season.
…[read more]Sticks to the Lumberjacks
Overachieving defenseman Keaston (Sticks) Blais has signed with the Hearst Lumberjacks of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
An ever-improving, hard-working, right-hand shooting defender with a late October, 2002 birth date, Blais has spent the past two seasons with the Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget Hockey League.
A character individual who hails from the northeastern Ontario town of Iroquois Falls, Blais greatly advanced his game over two seasons with the Timmins midgets under the watchful eye of no-nonsense Majors coach Brandon Perry.
…[read more]A good coach is a good coach
Junior hockey and the way it operates and carries on can be cyclical, trendy and copycat.
And while some may say or feel that junior hockey is a young man’s game when it comes to the art of coaching, that is simply not the case.
For example, as the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League both boast exceptional coaches who are in their 30s and 40s, so too do they feature high end bench bosses who are in their 50s and 60s.
In other words, when it comes to the NOJHL and OHL as two junior hockey leagues of illustration, a good coach is a good coach, regardless of age.
…[read more]These are the T-Birds to date
There are multiple Birds flying into the junior hockey nest.
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have commitments from more than 10 players ahead of the 2020-2021 season.
Included in the double digit list are confirmations from six local skaters — four returnees and two newcomers — that they will don the blue, orange and white jerseys of the Thunderbirds for the upcoming campaign
…[read more]Lafleur to Carleton Place
The best team in the Central Canada Hockey League from the 2019-2020 season has added a crackerjack coach to its staff.
Hockey News North has confirmed that Marc Lafleur has joined the staff of the Carleton Place Canadians as an assistant coach under owner, general manager and head coach Jason Clarke.
The 45-year old Lafleur and the Hearst Lumberjacks recently parted ways, just over a year after he led what was a second-year franchise to the 2018-2019 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship.
…[read more]Return to play proposals
Junior hockey leagues throughout Ontario have been working on various proposals relative to a return to play at some point in the 2020-2021 season.
Under the Canadian Jr. Hockey League umbrella there are four junior A leagues that are based in Ontario. They are the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, the Central Canada Hockey League, the Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
The province is also home to the Ontario Hockey League, which is part of the major junior level, Canadian Hockey League.
…[read more]Soo Thunderbirds have ice!
It is an optimistic sign. Not a definitive one, perhaps.
But there is definitely a Bird sighting on the horizon, as in a planned, first flap of the wings.
To be sure, we see Birds on ice in the foreseeable future.
As in a tryout camp for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Two more for Espanola
Score a couple more commitments for the Espanola Express ahead of the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]Super scouts hop the Express
Sault Ste. Marie residents Brad Boyer and Chad Vresk have joined the scouting staff of the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, Hockey News North has confirmed.
…[read more]All aboard the Express train
One by one, from here and there, passengers are boarding the Express.
The number of players — returning and incoming — who have committed to the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the upcoming season is now in double digits.
Rather impressively, Espanola president and general manager Jason Rapcewicz currently has commitments from 10 players to be on the Express train to the Spanish River town once the 2020-2021 season begins.
Rapcewicz and the Express are out to build on a 2019-2020 season in which Espanola made the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-2016 term.
…[read more]