EL Vikings hire Sault scout

Elliot Lake Vikings owner Jef Jarmovitch and his coaching staff want to keep a close watch on the talent pool in Sault Ste. Marie. To that end, the newly-named Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team has hired a scout who is based in Sault Ste. Marie to do just that.

No stranger to minor hockey in Sault Ste. Marie as an AAA and AA level coach of many years, 41-year old Michael Gagnon said he is naturally excited to work for the rebranded Vikings as their area scout. The aforementioned Jef Jarmovitch just recently took over control of the Elliot Lake Red Wings from former operator Paul Noad and re-named the NOJHL team the Elliot Lake Vikings. And Gagnon is one of Jarmovitch’s first new additions to the hockey staff.

“I am excited for this new opportunity and eager to get started,” the affable Gagnon relayed to Hockey News North. “I am looking forward to helping recruit players to Elliot Lake, being a fan, watching games and promoting kids from here in the Sault.”

Gagnon grew up around the game as the son of Don Gagnon, who played in the Ontario Hockey League with the Soo Greyhounds and the Lake Superior State Lakers of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and at the minor pro level before going on to coach minor and junior hockey for close to 40 years. ‘Donny Gags’, as he was affectionately known, also scouted for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. He passed away in 2021.

“When my dad was a scout for the Saginaw Spirit, I used to go to games with him and watch how he scouted players and rated them,” the younger Gagnon recalled. “As a coach I alway preach to the kids no matter where you are playing if it is AAA or AA hockey, if you want to further your hockey career, there are plenty of options out there for you to continue to play the game you love. Just because you don’t make AAA and play AAA elite hockey, you can still further your career in the game.”

Father and son had a very close relationship and coached teams together in both the Sault Major Hockey Association and Soo Pee Wee Hockey League. And Michael learned a lot from Don.

It is a message that Gagnon intends to deliver to AAA and AA level players from the Sault that he hopes to recruit to play in the NOJHL with the new Vikings of Elliot Lake.

“I have witnessed it myself with the many players I have coached and some have gone on to playing in the OHL, the NOJHL and college hockey. Never give up on your dreams and if you want it, work hard at it, and it will pay off,” summed up young Gagnon, as he eagerly gets ready for his first official NOJHL scouting gig in Elliot Lake.

And as he prepares to scout Sault Ste. Marie and area players for the NOJHL Vikings, Gagnon can scarcely contain his anticipation and enthusiasm.

“It’s such an exciting opportunity,” he virtually gushed. “I can’t wait to be involved and watch games and get kids from the Sault a chance to go further in hockey.”