Soo Eagles to Guelph Storm
1999 birth-year defenseman Nolan Makkonen is moving on from the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to sign with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
The 6-foot, 183-pound Makkonen almost made Guelph out of training camp last fall. The Storm selected the 1999 birth-year defender in the ninth round of the 2015 OHL draft on the recommendation of its Sault Ste. Marie-based scout Jimmy Mancuso.
A strong kid with a good right-handed shot, Makkonen has been a steady and dependable defenseman with the Michigan-based Eagles through 34 games this 2016-2017 NOJHL season. He has 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points from his blue-line position.
Eagles co-coach/general manager Bruno Bragagnolo, while sad to lose Makkonen, said the team takes pride in assisting with the development of the smooth-skating defender.
“We’re happy for him,” Bragagnolo told HockeyNewsNorth.com. “Guelph really wants him and from our end, we feel Nolan is ready to play in the OHL and is deserving of this opportunity.”
Storm general manager Mike Kelly told HockeyNewsNorth.com that with the recent trade of defenseman Noah Carroll to the Soo Greyhounds, Makkonen “will get the chance to play some quality minutes for us. We really like him and believe that he is ready for OHL duty.”
Bruno class act moving guys when they get opportunities !