Good return for the Soo Eagles
They were champions of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in 2010-2011 and made it to the semi-finals in 2011-2012 before deciding to test the North American Hockey League for the 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons.
And while the NAHL experience was a productive one for the Eagles — they went to the North Division finals in two of their three seasons in the United States-based junior league — their hockey boss is happy to be back in what he calls “a much-improved NOJHL.”
Bruno Bragagnolo, who is in his sixth season as coach-general manager of the Eagles, said the NOJHL in 2015-2016 “is a lot better now” than it was when the Michigan Soo left it for the NAHL after the 2011-2012 campaign.
“The skill level and the overall caliber of play in the NOJHL has really improved from when we left three years ago to what it is now,” Bragagnolo noted. “The league is definitely attracting a lot more skilled players than before.”
Bragagnolo admitted that when the Eagles returned to the NOJHL as an expansion entry last fall that he “underestimated the caliber of play. I didn’t realize how much better the league had become.”
How much has the NOJHL improved?
Bragagnolo said he thinks the 2015-2016 edition of the Eagles, who are in fourth place in the West Division and eighth overall in the 12-team NOJHL, would give his championship team of 2010-2011 “a good run for their money.
“As good as our championship team (of 2010-2011) was I think that this year’s team has as much skill and talent,” Bragagnolo said evenly. “And we are talking about our team this season that is in the bottom half of the league with a record below .500.”
All in all, while Bragagnolo noted how the Michigan Soo enjoyed success in the NAHL — and being a part of it to the extent that he and Eagles owner Ron Lavin have remain involved in the league as part-owners of the New Jersey Titans — he is glad to be back in the NOJHL.
To be sure, as members of the NAHL, the Eagles did not have intense rivalries that they have in the NOJHL, especially with the Soo Thunderbirds, Blind River Beavers and Elliot Lake Wildcats.
In particular, the Eagles cross-river rivalry with the Thunderbirds is as rabid as it gets at this level of junior hockey.
“Our games with the Thunderbirds have been some of our biggest home crowds this season,” Bragagnolo pointed out. “We have had crowds of well over 750 for our games with the T-Birds.”
Fans in the Michigan Soo have taken well to the Eagles return to the NOJHL.
As a matter-of-fact, the Eagles are atop the attendance chart of the 12-team NOJHL with a per-game average of 605 clicking the turnstiles at venerable Pullar Stadium.
It’s good to see the Mich. Soo back at it in the NOJHL. The league is leaps and bounds ahead of where it was when they exited the NOJHL years ago and now the program has come back into a very fresh and exciting Canadian Junior product.
Their 18-22-0-2 record indicates that they’re a competitive bunch on the ice, but they (management) will now have to “up their game” off the ice in order to compete with the very savvy Soo Thunderbirds and Elliot Lake Wildcats in the West Division. On the flip side of the standings, I won’t even begin to continue my praise in the Eastern Division’s; Cochrane, Powassan, Kirkland Lake. and the Timmins Rock, who are all great stories/programs.
The Eagles are definitely a staple in this league and should continue as such. However, now they’ll have to be a bit competitive off the ice in order to keep up with the above programs mentioned. They’ll always have the fan support, there’s no question there. I’ve been the Pullar a few times when visiting the Soo and my goodness, I still greatly enjoy that place and its popcorn.