NOJHL lined up for ’24-25

Now united as one division of 12 teams — there is no more East and West — regular season play in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is set for opening puck drop on September 12. What will follow is a regular season slate of 50 games for all 12 teams, the top eight of which will qualify for the playoffs.

Let us take a brief here and there tour ahead of the ’24-25 NOJHL season.

COOL HAND LUKE: Pint size scoring sensation Lucas Signoretti has taken his point producing pin ball machine from the Espanola Paper Kings to the reigning champion Sudbury Cubs following an off season transaction. The 5 foot 6, 170 pound Signoretti has become one of the most prolific scorers in recent NOJHL history.

Over two seasons — playoffs included — for Espanola, Signoretti skated in 102 games for the Paper Kings and lit it up to the tune of a remarkable 94 goals, 119 assists, 213 points. As the ’24-25 campaign will be the last season of junior eligibility for the 2004 birth year phenom, Signoretti no doubt has sights set on further scoring exploits — and keeping the NOJHL championship banner in Sudbury for philanthropic owner Mark Burgess and his chief lieutenant Blaine Smith.

WALKER TALKER: Another notable addition to the Cubs den is skilled skater Mason Walker. The 2008 birth year forward was a ninth round pick by the Sudbury Wolves at the 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. On the small size at 5 foot 8, 160 pounds, Walker let his play do the talking for him in ’23-24.

Walker finished second in the entire Great North Under 18 Hockey League in scoring in ’23-24 despite playing for the league’s only under 16 team — the Sudbury U16 Wolves — and against older competition. In 41 games — regular season and playoffs included — for the U16 Wolves, Walker lit it up to the tune of 37 goals, 34 assists, 71 points.

NEW TO SOO EAGLES: The new head coach of the Michigan Soo Eagles has brought a trio of fellow Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario residents with him to the south side of the International Bridge.

Prior to being hired as the new bench boss of the Eagles during the off season, 48-year old Jeremy Rebek spent the previous three years as a valuable assistant coach with the cross-river Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL. Rebek takes the helm as the Eagles head coach from Doug Laprade, who had been the Eagles bench boss since 2018.

On the player side, Rebek was able to recruit and sign three young skaters from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. They include a pair of 2008 birth year defensemen and 2024 OHL draft picks in Cole Wreggitt (Sudbury Wolves) and Liam Watson (North Bay Battalion.)

In all, the Eagles signed three players from the ’23-24 edition of the U18 AAA Soo Jr. Greyhounds. In addition to Watson and Wreggitt the other one is Coulson Bell. A 2007 birth year forward, the under-rated Bell is a medium size skater who has a good reputation for his hustle bustle style of play.

BEAVERS AND VIKINGS: Look for the historic Blind River-Elliot Lake rivalry of many moons ago to be further activated this season.

The Beavers of Blind River have been a contender for close to a decade since Kyle Brick came on board as head coach and general manager. Blind River finished atop the regular season standings of the NOJHL in ’23-24 and is in position to again be a force to be reckoned with in ’24-25.

Meanwhile, Elliot Lake finished last overall in the 12-team NOJHL in ’23-24 under the coaching of both Chris Keleher and Jon Campbell. But new head coach and general manager Mike Nesbitt has been a busy guy during the off season by trading for and recruiting a number of good players — and bringing back a good group of Northern Ontario products from the ’23-24 season led by 19-year old retread defenseman Matthew Kallo.

Even more importantly, the Vikings are in the trusted and honourable ownership hands of local resident Jef Jarmovitch. Jarmovitch is entering his second year as the owner and president in Elliot Lake after purchasing the rag tag Elliot Lake Red Wings from previous, unreliable ownership and restoring the original — and beloved — Vikings moniker to the franchise.

Also on board with the Vikings as a trusted assistant to both Jarmovitch and aforementioned head coach and GM Mike Nesbitt is good guy John Buchanan. The ageless Buchanan officially wears the title of assistant GM for the Vikings and is a hard-working, loyal individual who works the scouting trail in a thorough fashion.

PAPER CLIPS: The Paper Kings of Espanola have added to their northern talent base in moves that should excite and ignite the fan base.

It begins with local Espanola product Lucas Dubois. A 2007 birth year forward, the 5 foot 10, 180 pound Dubois skated for the New Liskeard Cubs of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League in ’23-24 and produced 14 goals, five assists, 19 points in 29 games. He also played in two NOJHL games for Espanola as an affiliate player and netted a goal, two assists, three points.

The Paper Kings also signed a pair of 2008 birth year forwards who were 2024 OHL draft picks from the Sudbury U16 Wolves — Ashton Pitawanakwat (Barrie Colts) and Kaden Wicklander (Brantford Bulldogs.)

Among others who played in the Great North in ’23-24, Espanola has defenseman Carter Makasoff and forward Carter Drigo from the Sudbury U18 Wolves and hulking defender Brayden Westberry from the league champion Timmins Majors on board as NOJHL rookies.

Espanola also employs a pair of ancient warriors — and good guys of the game — who reside in Sault Ste. Marie. They are goalie coach/assistant coach Bill Vanderleest and weathered scout Charly (Old Goat) Murray.

COACHES CORNER: There is no shortage of head coaches in the NOJHL who are a combination of experience and success. The list includes the aforementioned Kyle Brick of Blind River and Jason Rapcewicz of Espanola as well as Brandon Perry of the Timmins Rock, Marc-Alain Begin of the Hearst Lumberjacks, Darryl Moxam of the Sudbury Cubs and Cole Jarrett of the Soo Thunderbirds.

SIDEBARS: As previously noted, the NOJHL’s ’24-25 regular season will get underway on September 12. All teams will play 25 games at home and another 25 on the road. With one division of 12, the top eight teams in the final standings will make the playoffs … The shootout has been eliminated and will see games that are tied after regulation go to a seven minute overtime period, skating three players aside. Should contests remain without a winner being decided after OT, the game will end in a tie and each squad will earn one point. Teams will still receive two points for wins in regulation and OT as well as one for extra time defeats … The ’24-25 NOJHL season will be the 14th for Rob Mazzuca as commissioner. The previous longest serving commish was the legendary Joe Drago at 13 years. The distinguished Mazzuca, who played in the NOJHL before becoming a first round pick to the OHL way back when, has also been acclaimed to his position as chair of the board for the Canadian Jr. Hockey League.