USA Hockey approves Soo Eagles
It’s official.
Michigan-based Soo Eagles have received approval from governing-body USA Hockey to re-join the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as an expansion team for the 2015-2016 season, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
The Eagles had earlier been approved by Hockey Canada to return to the NOJHL after being a part of the North American Hockey League the past three seasons.
As members of the NOJHL, the Eagles won the championship in 2010-2011.
Coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo, who has been with the Eagles for five years — two in the NOJHL and three in the NAHL — said he is “both happy and excited to have received the phone call from USA Hockey earlier today.
“The NOJHL is a growing league with good leadership and a good reputation. We are very happy to again be a part of the NOJHL and to be able to renew the cross-border rivalry with the Soo Thunderbirds,” Bragagnolo added.
The Eagles will continue to play their home games at venerable Pullar Stadium in the downtown Michigan Soo.
With all the necessary approval for the Eagles now in place, the NOJHL will be a 12-team league in 2015-2016 — which is double what it was seven years ago.
Besides the Eagles and Thunderbirds, other teams that will comprise the NOJHL in 2015-2016 are the Blind River Beavers, Elliot Lake Wildcats, Espanola Express, Rayside-Balfour Canadians, French River Rapids, Powassan Voodoos, Timmins Rock, Iroquois Falls Eskimos, Cochrane Crunch and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
Great News RR!!!!! Bring on the T-Birds!!!!!
Any word as to if Bruno is sticking with the Eagles or not?
Great addition to the the NOJHL always loved the Eagles style of game great skating teams and hard working teams over the years !
Andrew,
As per the story above, Bruno is still the Eagles coach-general manager.
Good to hear Bruno is staying with the Eagles. I thought I heard or read somewhere that he was going to the New Jersey NAHL franchise. Glad that was false.
Brad1984,
Bruno will also be a GM/advisor to the New Jersey/NAHL team.
Nothing makes me happier than having a bigger league. Now that Timmins has a team and Cochrane and Kirkland Lake are well on their way, the reawakening rivalry is in the air. The ghosts of the ’30’s and early 40’s mining league around here are waiting for the fall licking their chops. When I visit out of town the talk of hockey is NOJHL, it makes me wonder how many baby boys are going to be named Rock that are born in Timmins? What I love about the Eagles when they come to town is singing their anthem before the game. It gives me all the more reason to belt out ours after with my sea lion voice. They have always shown the fans at the Igloo a good time and I’m looking forward to their visits. With 4 teams within 45 miles of my house I expect to be doing my own travelling. The Mac, the Tim and the Joe are all easy drives for the best of nighttime drama.
Glad to see Bruno Bragagnolo is staying in Sault Ste Marie to coach Soo Eagles. You will not find a more dedicated coach then Bruno. He also surrounds himself with great staff and volunteers. That’s why the Soo Eagles are the most successful Junior team in Town and hopefully will be here for a long time playing at the Pullar