NOJHL races and faces


By
January 26, 2025

There are four divisions to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Right now, the Sudbury Cubs are in a league of their own. Then it is a hotly contested race for second place featuring the Blind River Beavers, Soo Eagles, Hearst Lumberjacks and Timmins Rock. In the middle of the pack and in contention for the sixth, seventh and eighth and final playoff spots are the Powassan Voodoos, Soo Thunderbirds, Iroquois Falls Storm, French River Rapids and Espanola Paper Kings. And in no man’s land are the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.

Reigning champs. Who says there is no junior hockey champion in Sudbury? While the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League have not won a championship in the 53 years that they have been members of the OHL, the Sudbury Cubs of the NOJHL did so as a third year program in 2024. That bit of accurate history aside, the Cubs of ’24-25 are looking to repeat what the Cubs of ’23-24 did — win another NOJHL title.

Mason Chitaroni

And in a league where there are at least four other teams who might be able to give Sudbury everything it can handle come playoff time, the fact of the matter is that the Cubs are again an NOJHL powerhouse — and have a double digit lead on their nearest competitors. Not only are the Cubs the top team in the NOJHL but they also continue to top the rankings of the coast to coast Canadian Jr. A Hockey League.

To be sure, this is a Cubs team that has the tools to repeat as NOJHL champs led by a good coach in Darryl Moxam and a collection of old and young star players.

Yes, the Cubs are more than just 2004 birth year veteran sensations such as the 1-2 scoring punch of forwards Lucas Signoretti and Samuel Assinewai and another 20 year old standout in defenseman Mason Chitaroni. Rather, the Cubs also boast younger OHL draft picks such as 2008 birth year forward Mason Walker (Sudbury Wolves) and 2007 birth year defenseman Alex Valade (Brampton Steelheads) who are developing as NOJHL standouts this season.

Mason Walker

Notably, Sudbury is also a haven for players from northern Ontario as owner Mark Burgess likes to stay true to his roots. For example, of the above mentioned players, Assinewai (Manitoulin), Chitaroni (Sault Ste. Marie via Marathon), Walker (Greater Sudbury) and Valade (Greater Sudbury) are all northern boys.

Oh, and back to the OHL Wolves. The current ownership and management team of the Wolves boasted, upon purchasing control of Sudbury’s OHL team back in 2016, that they would win the Memorial Cup national championship “within five years.” They also bragged that they would become “the London Knights of the North.”

Well, neither has happened for the ownership and management of the self named ‘New Era” Wolves of the OHL. Not even close. But across town in Sudbury, there are the reigning NOJHL champion Cubs. Which is truth, not fantasy or fiction.

Second cup. Yes, Sudbury is very good. But so are the Soo Eagles, Blind River Beavers, Timmins Rock and Hearst Lumberjacks. Do not count any of these teams out when it comes to talk of being in contention for the eventual league championship series. The Eagles, Blind River, Timmins and Hearst are all well structured teams with coaches who range from good to very good. And at the most important position, the Eagles, Blind River, Timmins and Hearst all have exceptional goalies.

Paul Frustaglio

Frantic chase. The battle for the eighth and final playoff actually begins with the sixth and seventh seeds, the Powassan Voodoos and Soo Thunderbirds. Then it gets real intense for the eighth seed with the Iroquois Falls Storm, French River Rapids and Espanola Paper Kings in an old fashioned dog fight. Espanola, by the way, pulled off a shocker of all shockers recently when it knocked off first place Sudbury, handing the Cubs their first loss in more than two months. If there is an experienced head coaching edge among the above mentioned teams it is Powassan with Peter Goulet, French River with Paul (Capo) Frustaglio and Espanola with Jason Rapcewicz.

Cellar dwellers. Kirkland Lake has last place all to itself and it appears that is where the Gold Miners will remain. Sorry guys. Don’t blame it on a writer. Take a look in the mirror, perhaps.

RIP, Dan McCourt. Along with so many others, the NOJHL is mourning the loss of Greater Sudbury product, Dan McCourt, who recently passed away following an extended illness. An honoured member of the Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame, McCourt had a distinguished 25 year career as a linesman in the National Hockey League, from 1979 through 2004. Following that, he continued on with the NHL, serving as an officiating manager for well over a decade.

All the while, McCourt was instrumental in the continued development of the NOJHL officiating program over the past 12 seasons. From the supervision of game officials, to providing guidance during the course of their assignments, he presented abounding direction in their progress over the course of each campaign.

That valuable insight to the league referees and those working the lines, earned the respect of all those that McCourt was associated with. McCourt was also a key member of the NOJHL officials’ supervisory staff.

From working alongside commissioner Rob Mazzuca as a special assistant and with the other league supervisors in the day-to-day role of the betterment of the league and its on-ice officials, he aided in their development, including advancing to the next level.


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