Eagles … Rapids … Losier
Upcoming in the days ahead is the annual Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League showcase event in Sudbury. All 11 NOJHL teams will play two games apiece and be joined by St. Andrew’s College of Aurora as a guest entry. Meanwhile, the NOJHL is more than three weeks into the ’25-26 regular season.
HARD LUCK EAGLES: Soo Eagles did everything but win their first game of the season on the weekend, though they did pick up a point. It began when the Eagles went into French River and out shot the Rapids by a 58-29 margin only to lose 3-2 in overtime. The Eagles then played host to Espanola and despite out shooting the Paper Kings 50 to 26, the Michigan Soo crew dropped a 3-2 decision on a late goal by Cain Savage. Backup goalie Logan Vale stole the game for Espanola with a sizzling 48 save outing. Thus, the Eagles begin the ’25-26 regular season with a single point from a record of 0-8-1.
RAPIDS WIN ONE: French River’s 3-2 OT win over the Eagles was the first of the season for head coach Paul Frustaglio and the young Rapids after they started out with six straight setbacks. Goalie Keiran Caughran was the star of the French River win with 56 saves.
VINTAGE COACH IN HEARST: Hearst Lumberjacks have a league best record of 8-1-0 to date and they are doing so with a 68-year old head coach, who is in his first season as an NOJHL bench boss. The ageless Guy Losier is no stranger to the game, however. Originally from Iroquois Falls, Losier has a long association to Hearst as a rep level coach for boys and girls teams. And as a player, Losier is a former Ontario Hockey League scoring star as a slick centre with both the Windsor Spitfires and Niagara Falls Flyers. Notably, Losier played for a pair of legendary coaches in the OHL — Wayne Maxner in Windsor and Paul (Rhinestone Cowboy) Emms in the Falls.