Second season scene in NOJHL


By
December 28, 2016

Some of what is seen, scene and heard as play sets to resume in the second half of the 2016-2017 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season:

Let’s begin with a question. What’s up with the Soo Thunderbirds?

There have been multiple reports that the two-time defending champions are having financial issues with rumours swirling that the Thunderbirds are on borrowed time with regards to their NOJHL future.

Contacted by HockeyNewsNorth.com and asked about rampant talk about the alleged shaky future of the Soo entry, coach-general manager Jordan Smith replied: “Your e-mail prompted my investigation into this matter and there are no issues with the Thunderbirds operating for the remainder of the season! Onward and upward!”

Let’s hope so.

On the ice over a period of so many seasons now, the Thunderbirds have been an unmatched success in terms of victories, championships and advancing players to higher levels of hockey.

At the gate, however, the Thunderbirds have routinely drawn average crowds of less than 200 fans per home game despite being well covered by media that includes Sault This Week, Sault Star, Soo Today and HockeyNewsNorth.com.

And it’s money from attendance, advertising and sponsorship, not to mention player fees, that keeps teams at this level of junior hockey in business.

Why the Thunderbirds insist on playing their home games in front of more than 4,500 empty seats at the Essar Centre is perplexing. Playing at the Essar does nothing for atmosphere or a feel for the game, let alone serve as a way to attract more fans to a base that, for whatever reason, has never really increased from when the Thunderbirds played out of the much-smaller John Rhodes Community Centre.

Meanwhile, the second half of the season will eventually tell the story of whether the small-market Powassan Voodoos can transfer their wild ways of winning into a playoff championship.

And the second half will also continue what thus far has been a nice turnaround story in Blind River where a new-look, no-nonsense hockey department led by head coach Kyle Brick, assistant coach Dylan King, director of player personnel Craig MacDonald and head scout/senior advisor Charly Murray have combined to write a positive script that has only been overshadowed by what general manager Chris Dawson and bench boss Scott Wray have done in Powassan.

Elsewhere, across the International Bridge in the Michigan Soo, the up-and-down Eagles will strive to achieve a consistency that many feel could result in a long playoff run with effective coaching and bench management from skipper Jim Capy, who calls the on-ice shots for a team that has been well put together by co-coach/general manager Bruno Bragagnolo.

And in an East Division side where Powassan has been the supreme league power thus far this season, relentless coach-general manager Ryan Leonard and his Cochrane Crunch are lurking close by with visions of casting a spell on the Voodoos.

Settle in.

The second season is about to begin.


What you think about “Second season scene in NOJHL”

  1. The second half of the regular season will be better, each team is improving. The rosters are established and the players are working well together. I go to lots of out -of-town games and I won’t predict any game any night. The fans are getting good value for their dollars, and for the life of me I cannot understand why only the relatives go to the Essar Centre to see the T-Birds. I travel 40 or 50 miles to see them play when they come up HWY 11 for a rare visit. I just hope the 4 teams around me stay in play for years to come. And yes, never count out the Crunch. Mr. Leonard is a mover and a shaker in this game and I wonder how many sleepless nights he has incurred fabricating a winning solution to defeat the Voodoos.

  2. ThunderBirds at the gate playing at the Essar need to let 15 and under free with a parent.
    With all those empty seats, fill some with some more tickets being sold to the parents.
    ThunderBird have little following and need a shake upin their front end .
    14-15 year olds should have exposure to a team they want to play for. All though Its good hockey, theres no exposure to the younger players who may have their dreams crushed when they dont make the all mighty OHL.

    1. The problem is the atmosphere of the Essar center with only 200 people sucks… it gives the illusion that they have the lowest turn out in the league which is not the case not by much atleast, although I would venture to say FRR have a lower turn out.

      The Arena is soo huge, that it even turns down the volume on us rowdy Elliot Lake Fans 😛 despite our best effort! Another thing that boggles my mind is that a team as good as them is playing in a barn where they can’t even have their own logo on the ice….

      I remember the former Elliot Lake Bobcats played a home game at the Rankin arena and there were alot of fans or what appeared to be alot of fans lol. But to be honest out of all the smaller arenas in the soo I can’t understand why the T-birds would not play out of the Peewee…. it is beautiful, central location, not to big, walking distance from college Residence, doesn’t have a restaurant people can watch the game from free in like John Rhodes. They could have their own logo, there is a bus stop right accross the street.

      Either way I would hate to see the soo go there fans are some of the best fans you can really have fun with them 🙂 Sudbury sucks you might as well go watch golf… their fans just sit there like lumps on logs…Espanola is alright but for the quality of team they put on the ice they are WAY over priced! Blind River has some awesome fans! But then they also have fans that swear at our kids and push us (litterally) as we are leaving…. but the soo they have an awesome set of fans that know how to have fun with the opposing teams fans.

  3. As fan i dont see a need to move unless they pay less for the ice time. The team has more advantage playing in their barn . Bigger ice than most rinks out of town teams have some problems . Also the same amount fans will show up anyway and you will probably loose a few . When they go up too the bar instead of the rink and have a pop and look out the windows. Admission verses five dollar pop. More comforable at essar anyway. Just my thoughts .

  4. The Thunder birds of the past of tried it all, From allowing Algoma U and Soo College students in for free from giving away thousands of free tickets to Students.
    The Thunder birds of the past did move back to the Rhodes and attendance fell off greatly and hence why they moved back to the Essar. Better seating, better views, more comfortable, nicer dressing rooms. Also the greatest thing all should know is how the City of Sault Ste Marie ( City Hall & Recreation & Tourism SSM) have supported this team.

    The press has always been great. Especially Randy Russon! This team cant get anymore media support than what Randy has done over the many many years. As well I know personally what Randy has done for many local players on promoting them. The power of Randy’s pen is greater than anyone really believes. This man has done so much for the Soo Thunder Birds and for Local athletes that i truly hope some day he is truly recognized for what he has done for all.

    The Soo Thunder birds belong at the Rankin Arena. It is a great barn with great seating, Lots of parking. Just needs some upgrades for dressing room and must have alcohol sales.
    I truly hope that the rumors are not true and that this team is here for many years
    Happy New Years to All
    Albert Giommi

  5. Except for a few teams, attendance is down across the league , not just in the Soo. Look at the numbers for Kirkland Lake and they are the draw in that city. Management had already stated if it does not pickup they might not be there in the future.and they are the highest level of hockey in that town and have no competition as in an OHL or University

    The Essar is the best facility for the TBirds and does allow people to watch the game for free as does the Rhodes via the restaurant.

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