USPHL to CIHL
Defenceman Adam Johns is taking his game from the Syracuse Stars of the United States Premiere Hockey League to the Espanola Rivermen of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Johns, a 5-foot-11, 195 pound, 1994 birth-year skater who hails from the southeastern Michigan town of Clarkston, heads to Espanola for his final season of junior following an impressive showing at a recent tryout camp of the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League.
Johns represents the second Michigander that Espanola general manager Chad Clarke scouted and recruited at the Soo camp.
As was reported earlier by HockeyNewsNorth.com, 1995 birth-year goalie Trevor Kalinowski — who played the past two seasons with the Metro Jets of the North American 3 Hockey League — has also signed with CIHL Espanola.
Clarke likes what Johns will bring to Espanola as a 20-year old defenceman.
“His skill set and work ethic are what stood out when he scouted him at the Soo Eagles camp,” Clarke said of Johns. “He brings good experience to us.”
Johns, who played high school hockey in Clarkston before moving to Syracuse and the USPHL, wants to make the most of the season ahead in Espanola as he aspires to move up to the National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks.
“I want to further develop my hockey skills so I can be ready to play NCAA next season,” Johns told HockeyNewsNorth.com.
Great pick up for the Rivermen. Welcome to the north Adam!
It would be interesting to see how many kids showed up at the TBIRDS Midget camp. If this cijhl is going to flourish it will probably spell the end of the GREAT NORTH MIDGET League. With so many young players playing junior whether it be in nojhl or cijhl the numbers in the midget league will definitely dwindle. Any thoughts?
With the Minor Midgets for the 15 Year Olds and now the Batchawana Attack and the Thunderbirds at the Junior level I think the days of Major Midget hockey in this Town are done. The North Stars did not have a team last year and no one seem to care all that much. The OHL drafts from the Soo Minor Midgets now and the 16 and 17 Year Olds can play Juniors for either the Thunderbirds ore the Attack.
Isn’t there a push from the cities in the north for a minor midget league but the NOHA keeps voting it down?
They really should explore a super team based out of Sudbury (because it’s central).
A team made up of the 20 best 15 year olds from the north and compete against the other minor midget teams.
Shattuck, Hill Academy and others can do it, why not the Northern Ontario Selects?
I agree Luc it seems that both programs in the sudbury area can’t get along,combined they can run a powerhouse midget program. The Great North midget league has been hurting for a few years to.