Soo Thunderbirds v. Soo Eagles
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League will resume the Rollie King Cup series after a two-year hiatus with games slated for this Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Soo. …[read more]
Hound house in good shape
We’re a day away from the end of summer and two days away from the start of the school year.
But that is cause for little concern in the hockey hotbed that is Sault Ste. Marie.
What is cause for concern is this: …[read more]
Is it Miller time?
He has put up back-to-back seasons of point productivity for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Still, the best may be yet to come for Anthony Miller, a 6-foot, 175 pound, 1994 birth-year forward for who the 2014-2015 season will be his final one at the junior level. …[read more]
Phoenix to Collingwood
Collingwood Ice of the new Canadian International Hockey League has signed a pair of American-born skaters, the team’s general manager has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com. …[read more]
I took the ice bucket challenge
It was for a good cause so I did my best to be a good sport.
Local insurance agent John Palmerio recently nominated me for the ALS ice bucket challenge. And on Thursday, in the outdoor patio of Service Grill on Korah Road, I accepted the challenge. …[read more]
New Kingston Frontenacs fan
Kingston Frontenacs have a number of new fans from the small northeastern Ontario town of Hearst.
That’s because the Frontenacs used their second-round pick from the 2014 Ontario Hockey League draft to take high-scoring, hard-nosed centre Zack Dorval from the Soo Thunder minor midgets. …[read more]
Sudbury Royals add speed
Speed demon Matt St. Jean has committed to playing his final season of junior with the Sudbury Royals of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
St. Jean, a 5-foot-9, 155 pound, 1994 birth-year centre who previously played at the AA level in both Sudbury and Mississauga, will bring “leadership and maturity” to the Royals, according to general manager KB Beals. …[read more]
Solomon joins Syrette on the Attack
First it was Grant Syrette. Now it is Jeremy Solomon.
In the space of two days this week, Syrette and Solomon have both confirmed that they are leaving the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to sign with the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Both players are 1994 birth-year skaters who hail from Garden River First Nation. …[read more]
Thanks to our advertisers (updated)
HockeyNewsNorth.com came into official existence on February 1 of this year and I am both happy and humbled by the response to the site.
The number of visitors — especially during the summer months — seems to back up what I have often said, and that is the hockey season never really ends.
At any rate, here is the latest update of the list of the many advertisers and sponsors who continue to support HockeyNewsNorth.com. They are: …[read more]
Meet the Sudbury Royals poster boy
Jake Mactaggart is back home and the Sudbury Royals are the beneficiary.
After tending goal for other junior teams the past three seasons, Mactaggart will play his final season of eligibility in 2014-2015 with the Sudbury Royals of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
…[read more]
New crew in Kingston
Much is new in Kingston and that is good because what is getting old is that the Frontenacs have not won an Ontario Hockey League playoff series in 16 years. …[read more]
Soo Thunderbirds to Batchewana Attack
Grant Syrette is heading across town from one junior A hockey team to another.
To be sure, the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League has landed a feared left winger with Ontario Hockey League and Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League experience. …[read more]
Milton Cobras sign big guy
Milton Battle Arts Cobras of the new Canadian International Hockey League have signed 20-year old forward Zach Crema. …[read more]
My first OHL love
It was 1974 — 40 years ago now — and I was a season away from making my debut as a paid, part-time member of the Sault Ste. Marie sports media with radio station CKCY.
Just before that, it was as a journalism student at Sault College in 1974-1975 that I managed to get a few articles published in the local weekly then known as Shopper News, which became Sault This Week. …[read more]
Multiple signings for Blind River
Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have signed nine players from their weekend tryout camp, head coach Don Gagnon confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com.
Among those who have signed with the Beavers are three returnees and six newcomers.
…[read more]
Five take to the Ice in Collingwood
Collingwood Ice of the new Canadian International Hockey League has signed five players, including three with high-level, junior experience, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
Topping the list of Ice recruits are 1995 birth-year goalie CJ Sharp and 1994 birth-year defencemen Austin Bissonnette and Jan Mendel.
…[read more]
Ex-OHLer to coach CIHL, Toronto
Toronto Jr. Hockey Academy, one of eight teams in the new Canadian International Hockey League, has confirmed the hiring of its head coach to HockeyNewsNorth.com.
33-year old Tommy Kotsopoulos, who skated as a dependable forward for three Ontario Hockey League seasons with the Sudbury Wolves, will coach the Toronto entry of the new CIHL.
After his OHL playing days, Kotsopoulos went on to play parts of eight seasons in the minor-pro ranks.
Overage trio leads Hounds
A trio of overage skaters are among the more than 35 would-be, could-be Soo Greyhounds who will hit the ice in a couple of days as training camp begins for the Ontario Hockey League team.
Forwards Jean Dupuy and Bryan Moore and defenceman Alex Gudbranson are the three 1994 birth-year skaters who are expected to at least begin the 2014-2015 OHL season in Houndtown. …[read more]
Sudbury Royals getting their KICX
They are Sudbury’s newest junior hockey team and they are getting their message out to area fans and supporters via marketing and promotion.
Sudbury Royals are part of the new, eight-team, Ontario-based, junior-level, Canadian International Hockey League that will begin play this 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
Maruk’s Milton Cobras go local
Milton Battle Arts Cobras of the new Canadian International Hockey League have signed a pair of homegrown forwards.
Montana Kingsbury and Paul Knight are both 1997 birth-year skaters who were born and raised in Milton.
…[read more]
NOJHL drops the first puck
It’s only the third week of August but there was a junior hockey game on Thursday night in Cochrane.
Mind you, it was an exhibition game, not a regular-season match but still, it was hockey.
As a prelude to the start of the 2014-2015 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season, the Cochrane Crunch defeated the visiting Mattawa Blackhawks 5-3. …[read more]
Wolves get another commitment
The new-look Sudbury Wolves have confirmed that 6-foot-2, 180 pound, 1998 birth-year defenceman Trenton Bourque has committed to play for the Ontario Hockey League team.
Bourque was the Wolves third-round selection, 51st overall, from the Hamilton Bulldogs minor midgets at the 2014 OHL draft.
…[read more]
Greyhounds hire new GM
Soo Greyhounds have hired 28-year old Kyle Raftis as their new general manager, multiple sources have confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com. …[read more]
Brett Cooke joins Espanola Rivermen
In keeping with an organizational mandate of providing opportunities for quality players from the North Shore, Espanola Rivermen of the new Canadian International Hockey League have signed 1996 birth-year defenceman Brett Cooke.
Cooke, who hails from the small northern town of Thessalon, heads down the highway to Espanola after spending the 2013-2014 season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with first the Elliot Lake Bobcats, then the Blind River Beavers. …[read more]
Wolves welcome workhorse winger
Sudbury Wolves have signed hulking right winger Brady Pataki, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
The 6-foot-3, 220 pound right winger was selected in the fourth round, 65th overall, by the Wolves from the Chatham minor midgets at the 2014 Ontario Hockey League draft.
…[read more]
Two more Eagles advance to NCAA
Soo Eagles coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com that two more of his players have recently secured National Collegiate Athletic Association commitments for the 2014-2015 season.
Scott Cuthrell, a 1993 birth-year forward, and Matthew Montemurro, a 1994 birth-year defencemen, will both be advancing to the Division 3, NCAA ranks. …[read more]
Anzalone ready to Wing it
Michigan Soo native Francis Anzalone is preparing for his first season as head coach of the Aberdeen Wings and will be looking to build on the success that the North American Hockey League team had during the 2013-2014 regular season.
With 38 wins, a berth in the NAHL playoffs and 13 current and former players making National Collegiate Athletic Association commitments within the last year, the 2013-2014 campaign was a rousing success for the Wings. …[read more]
Blind River Beavers tryout camp
Under the direction of veteran head coach Don Gagnon, Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will be holding their main tryout camp this weekend. …[read more]
USPHL to CIHL
Defenceman Adam Johns is taking his game from the Syracuse Stars of the United States Premiere Hockey League to the Espanola Rivermen of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Johns, a 5-foot-11, 195 pound, 1994 birth-year skater who hails from the southeastern Michigan town of Clarkston, heads to Espanola for his final season of junior following an impressive showing at a recent tryout camp of the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League. …[read more]
Sonny days in Plymouth
Score one for the Ontario Hockey League.
Sonny Milano, who was the Columbus Blue Jackets first-round pick at the 2014 National Hockey League entry draft, has opted to sign with the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers instead of going the National Collegiate Athletic Association route. …[read more]
Rights to Ryan Vendramin
Soo Thunderbirds have secured the Junior A rights to right winger Ryan Vendramin from the Sarnia Legionnaires, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
Vendramin, a 6-foot-3, 180 pound, 1995 birth year forward from Sault Ste. Marie, split the 2013-2014 season between the Legionnaires of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]
Net gains for Espanola Rivermen
Trevor Kalinowski and Keegan Paulette will form a 1-2 goaltending tandem to begin the 2014-2015 season for the Espanola Rivermen of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Espanola general manager Chad Clarke told HockeyNewsNorth.com that the Rivermen — formerly of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and now of the CIHL — have committed roster spots to the 5-foot-10, 160 pound Kalinowski and the 6-foot-1, 195 pound Paulette. …[read more]
Twin signings for Milton Cobras
Milton Battle Arts Cobras of the new Canadian International Hockey League have gone local and signed twin brothers Brett and Zac McInal, HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed.
The twins, who are 1998 birth-year skaters, played for the Oakville Rangers minor midgets of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association in 2013-2014 — Brett as a high-scoring forward and Zac as a top defencemen. …[read more]
Soo Firehawks to Division 1 ACHA
Andrew Holder, a 1993 birth-year forward from the Detroit area, will advance to play for Western Michigan University of the Division 1, American Collegiate Hockey Association in 2014-2015. …[read more]
Birds play Rhodes hockey
It’s Bird season.
Soo Thunderbirds hit the ice of John Rhodes Community Centre in full force over the weekend preparatory to the 2014-2015 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season that begins during the second week of September.
…[read more]
Irish family
They are the new leaders of the Irish hockey family.
Detroit Fighting Irish of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League has named its captains for the 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
Wolves deal overage centre
Sudbury Wolves have dealt overage centre Mathew Campagna to the Plymouth Whalers in an Ontario Hockey League trade finalized earlier today.
…[read more]
Jimmy Roy shows his Spirit
Jimmy Roy is joining the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League from the Sudbury Nickel Barons of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]
Knights to Attack
Jesse Delavalle, a 6-foot-3, 195 pound, 1996 birth-year forward, has committed to play for the Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League for the 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
T-Bird camp begins today
The defending regular-season champs from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will hold a weekend camp beginning today at 5 p.m. at John Rhodes Community Centre.
…[read more]
St. Charles signs five more forwards
Make that five more player signings for the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Just after confirming that he had committed to 1994 birth-year centre Ben Miller — formerly of the Abitibi Eskimos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League — St. Charles general manager Scott Ginson has told HockeyNewsNorth.com that five more forwards have signed with the CIHL team.
…[read more]
Berkley Bruins to Detroit Fighting Irish
Four players for cash.
Detroit Fighting Irish and Berkley Bruins of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League have finalized a major transaction.
…[read more]
Abitibi Eskimos to St. Charles Spirit
Ben Miller, a 1994 birth-year forward from Timmins, Ont., has committed to the St. Charles Spirit of the new Canadian International Hockey League for the 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
Halverson holds Hounds hopes
Hopes are high for the Soo Greyhounds to carry on from a 2013-2014 term that yielded 95 regular-season points and two rounds of playoffs that ended with an exit.
Afterall, potential overages not included, the Greyhounds will return considerable veteran talent for the 2014-2015 Ontario Hockey League season led by scoring leaders Sergey Tolchinsky, Jared McCann, Michael Bunting, Blake Speers and David Miller — and the 109 goals that they combined for in 2013-2014.
…[read more]
Setting the record straight
President and founder Tim Clayden wants to set the record straight regarding players who choose to play in the new, eight-team, Ontario-based, junior-level, Canadian International Hockey League.
…[read more]
Pilon twins join the Attack
Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League has committed roster spots to twin brothers Darian and Drake Pilon for the 2014-2015 season.
The brothers are 1998 birth-year forwards who played for the Soo Source For Sports AA midgets in 2013-2014 and were 1-2 in team scoring.
…[read more]
Getting ready to Attack
They represent the new Jr. A hockey team in Sault Ste. Marie.
Members of the new, eight-team, Ontario-based, Canadian International Hockey League, the Batchewana Attack will play out of Rankin Arena effective the upcoming 2014-2015 season.
…[read more]
Michigan Warriors to Ferris State Bulldogs
The leading scorer from the Michigan Warriors of the North American Hockey League is headed to the Division 1, Western Collegiate Hockey Association ranks.
…[read more]
13 players commit to Attack
They are lining up for the Attack.
Batchewana Attack of the new Canadian International Hockey League has received 10 player commitments in the past week, general manager Dennis Bolton has confirmed to HockeyNewsNorth.com.
…[read more]