Fox of the Eagles to school
Three full seasons with the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has turned into a National Collegiate Athletic Association school commitment for 2003 birth year defenseman Coby Fox.
A 6 foot, 190 pound defender, Fox played in 148 career games for the Eagles and totalled 11 goals, 61 assists, 72 points. Hailing from Littleton, Colorado, Fox told Hockey News North that he will “never forgot the three great seasons” that he spent with the Eagles.
“I fell in love with the Soo and playing for a great organization like the Eagles was just an amazing experience. From (president and general manager) Bruno (Bragagnolo) to (since departed head coach) Doug (Laprade) to every one involved with the Eagles I just want to say thank you for helping me develop as a player and grow as a person,” said Fox. “Now I get to realize my goal of playing college hockey. I can’t say enough about the Soo Eagles and how they helped me in what was a great experience.”
Fox, who will major in Digital Sports Media, is headed to Johnson and Wales, which is a Division 3 NCAA school. He becomes the fifth member of the Eagles from the 2023-2024 team to get a school commitment for the 2024-2025 season.
The others are forwards Jack Paweski and Darby McCarthy, defenseman Michael Starzomski and goalie Marino Ramirez. Notably, Paweski led the Eagles in scoring this past season with 71 points, including 19 goals.
Paweski has a commitment from Dubuque University, which is a Division 3, NCAA program. McCarthy is also headed to an NCAA D3 school, Southern New Hampshire University.
Meanwhile, Starzomski and Ramirez are both off to American Collegiate Hockey Association schools. Starzomski is staying at home to attend Sault College while Ramirez is bound for the University of Mary.
The aforementioned Bruno Bragagnolo, as the president and general manager of the Eagles of the NOJHL, has overseen dozens of players from his team head to the college hockey ranks over the years. And Bragagnolo had good words to say about the latest Eagles to fly off to school and continue to play hockey.
“Coby, Jack, Darby, Michael and Marino are not only good players but they are good kids and character individuals,” Bragagnolo relayed to Hockey News North. “The Soo Eagles wish all them well in school and in hockey … we are proud to have helped out with their development.”