Birds returning to nest
A flock of Birds is intent on once again tapping sticks on the frozen pond of Sault Ste. Marie.
That is, seven local products and a fellow northeastern Ontario lad are among the skaters who have affirmed their return to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for the 2021-2022 season, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Recently hired Thunderbirds general manager Jamie Henderson told Hockey News North that the confirmations among eligible returning players for next season includes forwards Michael Chaffay, Brock Santa Maria, Tyson Doucette, Ty Zachary, Russell Oldham and Ethan Novello and defensemen Cameron Dutkiewicz and Kaden Dundas.
All are Sault Ste. Marie products with the exception of Dutkiewicz, who hails from Timmins.
To be sure, it was a busy first week on the job for Henderson as, among other matters, he was on the phone with eligible returnees and getting a handle on their plans for next season.
“We had a great week as a program. We are excited to get to work with this group and all the new players who will be announced next month,” Henderson relayed.
“We are thrilled to have the returning players commit to the program for next season. They understand they will be in a competitive situation next season in terms of ice time so it will be important for all of our players to have great summers in spite of the challenges we face with COVID-19. We have also had some great conversations with incoming players who are excited to be Soo Thunderbirds next season and we will be excited to welcome them when it is appropriate,” added Henderson.
New player commitments and trades cannot be made official until the NOJHL opens for new registry business on June 1 ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
As for the above mentioned skaters who have committed to return for the 2021-2022 campaign, Chaffay and Santa Maria both produced six goals, 10 assists, 16 points for the Thunderbirds over the course of the abbreviated 2020-2021 season in which the Soo posted a record of 13-6-2 over 21 games. Among the other committed returning forwards, Doucette had five goals, six assists, 11 points while Zachary had 4-6-10 statistics, Oldham had 1-8-9 totals and Novello had 1-2-3 numbers.
From the blue line, Dutkiewicz finished third on the Thunderbirds scoring chart with nine goals, 10 assists, 19 points in 21 games as an outstanding defenseman while Dundas had five assists in 16 outings.
Oldest to youngest, Dutkiewicz and Oldham both have a 2001 birth date, Chaffay, Santa Maria and Zachary were all born in 2002, Novello and Dundas were born in 2003 and Doucette has a 2004 birth day.
As for new additions to the Thunderbirds for next season, multiple sources have told Hockey News North that the team will formally confirm the acquisition of at least two local products via trade once the NOJHL opens for registry business on June 1.
