NOJHL season-opening acts
Soo Thunderbirds are in familiar territory and Blind River Beavers are in an unfamiliar spot following opening weekend action in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Based on two games at least, rumours of the demise of the two-time defending champion Thunderbirds have absolutely no substance.
Despite turning over three-quarters of last season’s team to graduation, relocation and advancement, the fast-skating Thunderbirds breezed to a pair of opening-weekend victories, cuffing the Rayside-Balfour Canadians 6-2 and drubbing the Elliot Lake Wildcats 8-2.
1999 birth-year forward Mark Tassone, fresh from a solid tryout at the Ontario Hockey League main camp of the defending Memorial Cup champion London Knights, had three goals in the two victories for the Thunderbirds, who showed off their youth and team speed on opening weekend.
Meanwhile, Blind River — which missed the playoffs last season and finished 11th overall in the 12-team NOJHL — also rang up a pair of opening-weekend triumphs by twice defeating the Espanola Express, winning by 7-3 and 6-3 scores. The Beavers won only 10 games all of last season.
1996 birth-year defenseman Vincent Robbins showed his offensive side in the two Blind River wins by assisting on six of the Beavers 13 goals. A newcomer to Blind River and the NOJHL, Robbins has three seasons of prior junior experience in the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Greater Metro Jr. Hockey League.
As the Thunderbirds and Blind River are off to 2-0 starts atop the West Division, so too are the Cochrane Crunch, Powassan Voodoos and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners all 2-0 — and tied for the East Division lead.
1996 birth-year forward Konnar Dechaine, formerly of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League and an off-season acquisition by Cochrane coach-general manager Ryan Leonard, made his presence felt in his first two games with the Crunch by scoring four goals and adding an assist.
PHOTO: Winger Mark Tassone is off to a fast start in his second NOJHL season with the Soo Thunderbirds. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)
Nice fan support 130 people the other night
Nice to see the big change this year & the rink full in Blind River.
I agree with Elaine on this big change, it sure was great.
Now on to the Wildcats this weekend.
Go Beavs Go
Congrats to the Beavers Vincent Robbins on being one of Eastlink TV stars of the week.
Keep up the good work.
Espanola wearing grey for their light-colored jerseys, like the Thunderbirds did before.
Another thing I noticed. The Eskis were wearing their red jerseys in pre-season and throughout the first regular season games and a near-empty Jus Jordan Arena. Is the team on the verge of folding?
Maybe a bit premature to speculate on the Eskies folding, Ryan. They have always rightly prided themselves on their fan support with such a small market team. We would hope that a couple of bad seasons wouldn’t spell their doom.
I’m surprised we haven’t heard from ‘Abitibian’, ‘Eskisfan’, and others for a long while. (Unless I’ve missed something along the way.) Would be good to read their thoughts on the situation in IF.
Cheers!