Old and new in Espanola
A foursome of northern lads are among the five holdovers who have thus far signed up to play for the small market Espanola Paper Kings ahead of the ’25-26 season. And there are also newcomers who have committed to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League program in Espanola.
Forwards Carter Drigo, Ashton Pitawanakwat, Lucas Dubois and Cain Savage are all poised to play a second season in the NOJHL for Espanola. Also slated to return to the Paper Kings for a second season in ’25-26 season is goalie Jack Helkie.
Meantime, forward Callum Millar and defenseman Nolan Garrard have signed up to be newcomers to the Paper Kings ahead of the looming season.
RETURNING
Carter Drago, who has a 2007 birth date and is from the Greater Sudbury town of Lively, had 12 goals, 8 assists, 20 points in 47 games for Espanola in ’24-25. He has good size to go with a good junior A skill set.
Ashton Pitawanakwat, who has a 2008 birth date, tallied 12 goals, 24 assists, 36 points in 48 games for the Paper Kings in ’24-25. He hails from Sudbury and was a 14th round pick by the Barrie Colts at the 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
Lucas Dubois, who is a local Espanola product with a 2007 birth date, was limited to 32 games for the Paper Kings due to injury in ’24-25. He managed five goals, two assists, seven points.
Cain Savage, who was born in 2006 and who is also from the Sudbury area, had one goal, three assists, four points in 43 games as a depth player with the Paper Kings in ’24-25.
Meanwhile, 2006 birth year goalie Jack Helkie has also confirmed a return to Espanola for the ’25-26 NOJHL season. The lanky net minder from Aurora, Ontario had a record of 7-10-1 in ’24-25 with a 4.64 goals against average and .880 save percentage.
Coached by team owner Jason Rapcewicz, the small market Paper Kings just missed the NOJHL playoffs in ’24-25 with 46 points from a record of 21-27-4. In finishing in ninth place in ’24-25, Espanola was a mere two points back of the eighth place Iroquois Falls Storm and only three points behind the seventh seed Powassan Voodoos.
INCOMING
He is well traveled but still young with a 2007 birth date. Defenseman Nolan Garrard has signed with the Paper Kings.
The 6 foot 1, 195 pound defender manned the blue line for both the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners of the NOJHL and the Komoka Kings of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League in ’24-25.
Prior to last season, Garrard suited up for the French River Rapids of the NOJHL and the under 18 level Grey-Bruce Highlanders of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association in ’23-24.
As for Callum Millar, he has opted to play his final season of junior hockey in Espanola.
The 2005 birth year forward from Aurora, Ontario divided the ’24-25 season between the Elliot Lake Vikings of the NOJHL and the Toledo Cherokee of the U.S. Premiere Hockey League. Between the two, Millar totalled 13 goals, 8 assists, 21 points in 41 games.