Hudson and Hudson
They are the two youngest players — impact ones at that — for the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Both are 2023 Ontario Hockey League draft picks of the Sudbury Wolves. And both have connections to not only the Wolves but to Sault Ste. Marie.
They are forward Hudson Chitaroni and defenseman Hudson Martin.
Let us begin with Chitaroni, who has moved up from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League to the Cubs of the NOJHL.
To be sure, Chitaroni, a 5-foot-10, 170 pound forward with a 2007 birth date and a fast motor, has made the adjustment to the NOJHL from the Great North U18 HL in rapid fashion. Through his first 30 NOJHL regular season games in a Cubs uniform, Chitaroni is second on the team scoring chart with 18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points.
Not surprisingly, Cubs general manager and associate coach Dave Clancy has a rave individual review on Chitaroni.
“First off, let me say that we are very excited to have Hudson playing with the Cubs this season. Hudson is a player who has a high hockey IQ and he is an important contributor to our hockey team,” Clancy relayed to Hockey News North.
Chitaroni was the first of 11 players from the Great North U18 HL to be picked at the 2023 OHL priority selections draft. He was taken by the Wolves in the third round after leading the Jr. Greyhounds in scoring and finishing second in the Great North points parade in 2022-2023.
Chitaroni has hockey bloodlines of the deep and elite sort.
His father, Terry Chitaroni, played four OHL seasons with the Wolves from 1988 to 1992 as a hard nosed forward who scored 97 goals and racked up 567 minutes in penalties while eventually becoming team captain. The elder Chitaroni was taken by Sudbury in the second round of the 1988 OHL draft from the New Liskeard Cubs of the Great North.
Now over to Martin, he looms as a potential steal by the OHL Wolves after being Sudbury’s distant 14th round pick at the 2023 priority selections draft. Despite his youthful age and with a 2007 birth date, the 5-foot-10, 170 pound Martin has been a standout for the NOJHL Cubs this season and leads all defensemen with four goals, 18 assists, 22 points in 33 games.
Martin’s father, Neal, is a former OHL defenseman of considerable note. He played in the OHL from 1992 to 1996 with both the Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves before embarking on a 14-year pro career that took him overseas. The elder Martin ended his OHL career in style with the Wolves during the 1995-1996 season by potting seven goals, 42 assists, 49 points in just 51 games.
At any rate, back to the aforementioned Dave Clancy as the GM and associate coach of the NOJHL Cubs, he is more than thrilled with Chitaroni and Martin — or as he calls them, Hudson and Hudson.
“We are extremely pleased with the development of our two young players Hudson and Hudson. Both these young men are very skilled players who have an ability to find teammates in all zones of the ice,” Clancy relayed to Hockey News North. “I would say that both players have a good hockey IQ which should translate in both players being able to develop to the next level. Hudson and Hudson have adjusted to junior hockey quickly and have great character on and off the ice … it should be fun to see what hockey will bring these two young players.”
Congratulations to both Hudsons, in particular Hudson Martin, my grand nephew, who’s dad Neal is my nephew. Best wishes to many great years in your hockey careers. Very proud of you.