Here come the NOJHL Voodoos
The newest team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League held its first press conference on Monday as the ownership group of Marc Rivet, Sylvain Rivet, Dan Rivet, Ray Seguin, Graeme Bruce and Jim Bruce unveiled the Powassan Voodoos.
The Voodoos are named after the RCAF fighter that used to fly out of CFB North Bay.
The team will sport the olive green jersey very similar to the one worn by their Ontario Hockey League parent club, the North Bay Battalion.
Battalion coach-general manager Stan Butler and assistant GM Matt Rabideau were in attendance in a show of support for the new NOJHL team.
“We’re excited about this, we think it is necessary,” said Butler.
“We believe that if we’re going to be a Northern Ontario team in the Ontario Hockey League, then we want a Northern Ontario affiliate. As an organization, we feel a strong obligation to help re-develop hockey in the North Bay and district area. The last little while, they haven’t produced as many elite players as they have in the past.
“We want to provide an opportunity for players from the area to get better. When (the late) Bert Templeton coached the North Bay Centennials (now the Saginaw Spirit), probably 20 per cent of their roster were North Bay and area kids, so that’s something we would hope to happen again,” Butler added.
As was first reported on HockeyNewsNorth.com on Monday, former North Bay Trappers general manager Chris Dawson has been hired as GM of the new Voodoos.
solid ownership. great gm. and will be a great natural rivalry with mattawa. No need to bring up behind the scenes b.s. , we have heard it all before , I am talking on the ice and between the towns/fans. should be intense.
Interesting choice of names……wouldn’t a military themed name be a little more appropriate with afilliation with the Battalion?
I think the Voodoos are going to cut off the lifeline to Mattawa from NB
No local players will want to play there when they can play for the Battalion team, also what fans are going to want to watch Mattawa when there will be a better team playing in Powassan.
I don’t see a great rivalry here at all, I see the Voodoos taking everything that Mattawa possibly had left.
good luck to the Voodoos I think you will have good success in Powassan.
As from the article above Puck Man ;
“The Voodoos are named after the RCAF fighter that used to fly out of CFB North Bay.:”
Seems military themed to me unless you don’t count the Canadian Air force as being military .
This part of South Dakota doesn’t get much news about the NOJHL, but I bet lots of people will start following the league. The Voodoos’ inaugural head coach just retired from playing for the Rapid City Rush of the Central Hockey League. He will be greatly missed in Rapid City, but we wish Scott Wray the greatest success in coming back home. Given ’em hell, Wrayzer!
POWASSAN VOODOOS PRESS RELEASE
Former North Bay Centennial is first Powassan Voodoos Coach
The Powassan Voodoos organization has named former North Bay Centennial Scott Wray as its first ever head coach.
The 34-year-old Ottawa native, just wrapped up a long minor pro hockey career which concluded last season with the Rapid City Rush of the Central Hockey League, where he has served as a player/assistant coach.
Wray was interviewed and hired for the position through the North Bay Battalion; the Voodoos OHL affiliate.
“I am very excited about the opportunity and challenge ahead of me,” said Wray from his home in Rapid City, South Dakota.
“After playing for 15 years in the minors in the US and Europe I am very happy that I can return to where it all started and start my coaching career.”
Voodoos GM and VP of Hockey Operations Chris Dawson, is impressed with what Wray brings to table.
“Scott was always a player that played the game with an edge,” said Dawson recalling Wray as a player with the Centennials in the late 1990’s.
“He’s very passionate and I think he will be a very nice fit into our new organization. Scott knows the area well since his wife is from here so it will be a homecoming of sorts for Scott and his family,” said Dawson.
The Voodoos will be announcing dates for their inaugural training camp later this week.
Does anyone know if the town plans to be home of 2 Jr. A clubs or is the GMHL Eagles moving out with the arrival of the Voodoo’s?
The Eagles are relocating. New location should be announced in a week or two.
Giovanni Foschia of the Sudbury Nickel Barons has been dealt to the Hamilton Red Wings of the OJHL. Anyone know who or what Sudbury received?
Fanman, , word on the street is that giovanni requested the trade and that the barons asked for top dollar for him (5,000) I think that’s a big loss for the Barons, I was predicting him as being team capitain for the upcoming season.
I hope for Foscia’s sake, he’s going there to be close to a university or college because Hamilton is one of the worst run franchises in the OJHL in my opinion.
He was a very good player for the Barons.