Signed up again in Espanola
A pair of northern lads are among three returnees who have thus far signed up to play for the Espanola Paper Kings ahead of the ’25-26 season. Forwards Ashton Pitawanakwat and Lucas Dubois are poised to play a second season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for Espanola.
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.
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.
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 with a 2006 birth date 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.