Good to go in the NO
It is early June and the warmth of the sun has taken away the ice in the rinks.
Having said that, teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are open for business.
For example, the French River Rapids, who will begin play as an NOJHL expansion team in 2015-2016 under esteemed junior hockey coach Moe Mantha, have their first player commitment.
Goalie George Hill, a 1995 birth-year who was with the Detroit Fighting Irish of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League (now the U.S. Premier Hockey League) last season, told HockeyNewsNorth.com that he has made a verbal commitment to Mantha to sign with French River.
As part of a rather-bizarre four-man goalie system with Detroit in 2014-2015, Hill had a 6-5-1 record to go with a 3.66 goals against average and team-best .902 save percentage, regular season and playoffs included.
Hill said he intends to visit French River later this month to sign with the Rapids.
Meanwhile, up in Cochrane, Crunch coach-general manager Ryan Leonard recently returned from a scouting mission to the Chicago area.
Leonard, who carries a reputation within junior hockey circles as a recruiter with a peerless work ethic, did well by several American-born players as the Crunch made it to the NOJHL championship series in 2014-2015.
As earlier reported, starting goalie Brett Young and defenceman Joe Mavrin are two 1995 birth-year Americans who have committed to returning to Cochrane for a second season in 2015-2016.
Among others, the Crunch also has a commitment from goal-scoring sensation Dustin Cordeiro for the 2015-2016 campaign.
Playoffs included, Cordeiro a 1995 birth-year winger who hails from Kitchener, was an impact player for Cochrane in 2014-2015 with a remarkable 60 goals in 61 games.
Over in Timmins, where the relocated Rock will take to the ice in 2015-2016, defenceman Joe Olson and forward Tristan Salesse recently confirmed their return, according to coach-general manager Paul Gagne.
“(Olson) knows the philosophy. He knows the program. He is going to be a leader like he was last year,” Gagne told Thomas Perry of the Timmins Daily Press.
As for Salesse, Gagne noted that, “Tristan is another player who will be coming in knowing our program, knowing our philosophy and knowing how our dressing room is run. Like Joe, he will be taking a leadership role.”
From what I have seen Hill is a good Goalie who was part of ridiculos 4 goalie system with DFI. In my experiences a 3 goalie system can be OK as long as roles are defined however a 4 goalie rotation does not help any of the goalies. Good luck to Hill up in the Northern League. Be sure to Bring your long under-wear!. Seriously I have seen a few games in that NOJL over the years and am happy to read that the “Soo Michigan Eagles” have returned. As that way I can watch the games without having to cross over in to Canada.
281 Seasons Tickets for the “TIMMINS ROCK” have now been SOLD!!!
Lets get ready to “ROCK”!!!
Curius as to how many # Seasons Tickets the “PESKY ESKIES” sold so far???
More great News from Tom Perry and Randy Russin…..Thank You!!!
Corderro is such a Player of such excitement every time he hits the ice its like there is a chance that he is gonna score a goal.
Brenda go crall under neeth big Rock with you big mouth ahahahahahaha
ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
If and I say “If” George plays up his potentiel then his new Team have a real good Number 1 Goaltender that is coming to play for them. I say “If” cause George has lapses some times. So I am what I am saying is that if George concentrates then he will become the Goaltender that win many Games all by himself. George you need to focus for you to sucseed in Canada and then you can play N.C.A.A. I am cheering for you George and so are many other’s . . . from Irish fans. And yes Randy you are right that George had the best Stats for the Irish . . . now it is up to George to play up to his potentiel that you Randy and Others see in him.
From our little Town of 4,000 peoples we are close to your numbers FROM your town of 45,000 people Madame BRENDA.N
Lenny gets the top players & for 1 big reason: He outworkes the other G.M.’s dammit!
After listening to my son talk to Moe this week, I have to admit was very impressed with how open Moe was (you could genuinely hear in his voice that he is doing this for all the right reasons and for the development of the kids) he especially got a smile from my son when he said “there will be some days you won’t like me, because I will push you… but it’s only to make you the best you can be and to develop you to move to the next level” and “do your homework on French River, make sure you know what you would be signing up for… small town wise”. My son, who has been talking with several teams hung up the phone with a big smile, and said “I want to play for him!”. Looking forward to meeting coach Mantha at camp in July.
The NOJHL is a below average Junior Leegue IMHO. Whats all the fuss about this friggin Leegue?
???? Tony WTF ???? Where did this come from ???
I shall “consider the source” and say that “Tony Heyword” is an IDIOT with a Capital “I” for making such an un-found-ed Statement.
Idiot is to nice of a word to describe Tony. fu–ing nob is what best describe’s Tony u are a piece of trash to make such a foolish comment.
hey Tony are you serious? if you are then go phuk your self LOL.
Its a free world so even a complete moron such as this Tony Heyward dude is intitled to his opinion.
Tony Haywire……….say no more about this Wannabe Dick who is friend’s with Marcel Awwww-Dett and Douche Bag Dave……….yup say no more.
Have the Soo Eagles really returned NAHL Scout birch run?
Actually “Fred Walker”, they have been approved by Hockey Canada and I do believe that USA Hockey will follow suit.
Here’s the Dudley Hewitt Cup league champions the last 4 years:
NOJHL 2
SIJHL 1
OJHL 1
Randy: you know that’s not the real Tony Heyward, right??
Fanman:
BTW: last 10 Dudley results
NOJHL=2
SIJHL=2
OJHL=6
The NOJHL is a good little league that represents its communities well;
but please don’t mistake yourself for anything other than that.
True hockey knowledgeable people know that the CCHL is the best league in Ontario.
Luc: I was using the recent trending numbers which puts the numbers the way I have them.