Fab five of the NOJHL
It doesn’t get much closer than this. A mere four points are all that separate the top five teams within the well balanced Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
SUDBURY CUBS (17-6-1, 35 points.) The two time reigning champions are deep throughout the lineup and are paced by former Barrie Colts, Ontario Hockey League forward Nolan Newton who has tallied 19 goals, 25 assists, 44 points in 21 games. Also standing out for the Cubs is OHL Sudbury Wolves prospect Mason Walker, a 2008 birth year forward who has 13 goals, 12 assists, 25 points in only 11 games. Then there is recent acquisition Owen King, a veteran forward who has 13 goals, nine assists, 22 points in just nine games.
HEARST LUMBERJACKS (16-6-2, 34 points.) A pair of 2005 birth year forwards are leading the way for Hearst. Mathieu Comeau leads the league in scoring with 53 points and the well travelled Chase Thompson is right up there with 53 points.
SOO THUNDERBIRDS (16-7-2, 34 points.) The Thunderbirds recently took back to back road games from Hearst in a show of strength put forth by the Soo crew. The Thunderbirds have three players with 10 goals or more in Devin Jones-McDonald (13), James Legler (12) and Callum McAuley (10.) From among a three goalie roster that the T-Birds have been going with, Nathan Maguire has the best numbers.
ESPANOLA PAPER KINGS (16-8-1, 33 points.) A surprise contender as a small market team, the Paper Kings boast two goalies with respective save percentages of .925 and .924 in Jack Helkie and Logan Vale. Espanola also features the high scoring troika of Cameron Menard (25 goals, 23 assists, 48 points), Joseph Coates (16 goals, 27 assists, 43 points) and 2009 birth year rookie — and 2025 OHL priority selections draft pick of the North Bay Battalion — Owen Smith (14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points.)
TIMMINS ROCK (15-5-1, 31 points.) Timmins has the fewest losses in the NOJHL and the best winning percentage in the league at .738. Two local Timmins products lead the Rock in scoring led by league most valuable player candidate Brant Romaniuk (20 goals, 22 assists, 42 points) and Kaeden McArthur (14 goals, 16 assists, 30 points.) Timmins also has a dandy duo between the pipes in oldster Freddie Cousineau and 2009 birth year rookie Ayden Mullen.