Sons hop on the Express


By
August 16, 2015

The expansion Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has signed two top players who skated for the Nickel City Sons of the Great North Midget Hockey League last season.

Joel Grandbois, a 1998 birth-year forward who led the Sons in scoring in 2014-2015, and 1997 birth-year defenceman Mitchal Payette, who was Nickel City’s team captain, have signed up to play for Espanola in 2015-2016, Express general manager Chad Clarke has confirmed.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Grandbois produced 24 goals, 25 assists, 49 points in 35 games with the Nickel City midgets last season.

“Joel is ready for a break-out junior season,” said Clarke. “We believe he will make a positive impact in the points column.”

As for the 5-foot-11, 225-pound Payette, Clarke noted that the rugged defenceman “is big, strong and almost impossible to move off the puck.”

Espanola’s main tryout camp begins this Thursday.


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