Solomon joins Syrette on the Attack
First it was Grant Syrette. Now it is Jeremy Solomon.
In the space of two days this week, Syrette and Solomon have both confirmed that they are leaving the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to sign with the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Both players are 1994 birth-year skaters who hail from Garden River First Nation.
Syrette is a big, strong, 6-foot-1, 215 pound left winger and Solomon is a slender, 6-foot-2, 180 pound defenceman.
Syrette played 62 games in the Ontario Hockey League for the Mississauga Steelheads before returning home to the Soo to play in the NOJHL with the Thunderbirds in 2013.
Batchewana general manager Dennis Bolton said Attack bench boss Denny Lambert — the former Soo Greyhounds player and coach who skated in more than 500 games in the National Hockey League — played a major role in getting Syrette and Solomon to commit to the Attack.
“Denny was instrumental in acquiring Grant who no doubt will enjoy playing out of Rankin Arena,” said Bolton. “Grant is one tough player who undoubtedly will benefit from Denny’s expertise and coaching style.”
As for Solomon, Bolton said the veteran blueliner “will add solid depth to our defensive zone. His physical style of play will no doubt make him a favourite at Rankin Arena.”
Over three NOJHL campaigns with the Thunderbirds, Solomon played in 159 games, regular-season and playoffs included.
ABOUT THE CIHL
The junior-level, Ontario-based CIHL will begin its inaugural season in October with eight teams — four in the North Division and four in the South Division.
Batchewana, the Espanola Rivermen, Sudbury Royals and St. Charles Spirit will make up the North Division while the South Division will be comprised of the Colborne Cramahe Hawks, Collingwood Ice, Milton Battle Arts Cobras and Toronto Junior Hockey Academy.
these signings certainly help make this team a favorite
The Attack is for certain going to be the favorite it also is good for the team to have these two guys.
Going to a league that allows you to fight once, get a 5 minute major and return to the game. It’s a pretty simple decision for Solomon to bail on the TBirds and go to the Attack.
You must not have played the game much
fan. Maybe it was the win at all costs attitude
that got to them. Maybe it was the allure of playing
for Lambert who is a great guy and good coach.
Just putting that out there for you to think
about as I don’t think the decision was as easy
as you may think.
It should be easy. He was hardly playing with the TBirds, when he was, he was chucking knuckles or pinned as a 5th or 6th Dman every night. What he does best is intimidate and fight and hit. So its an easy decision to bail, get more playing time, do what he does best and of course he gets to be coached by Lambert.
The way this year looks he would have been top
two or three