Hounds in a pressure cooker
Just as was the case in the first round of the playoffs, Soo Greyhounds are in a must-win situation on home ice.
Having lost Game 1 of their second-round, best-of-seven, Ontario Hockey League playoff series to the visiting Erie Otters on Wednesday, the Greyhounds are in desperate need of a victory tonight at the Essar Centre. …[read more]
Soo boys up for OHL draft
The annual Ontario Hockey League draft will be staged on Saturday and several Sault Ste. Marie skaters stand to have their name called.
Topping the list of rated players is Soo Thunder forward Zack Dorval, who actually hails from the northeastern Ontario town of Hearst.
Following Dorval among rated players are forwards Zachary Senecal and Nic Sicoly. …[read more]
Top two teams in NOJHL finals
This gives definite meaning to the regular season.
The first-and-second-place teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will face off in a best-of-seven championship series. …[read more]
Clock ticking on Espanola Rivermen
There is no turning back for the Espanola Rivermen.
In more ways than one. …[read more]
Top OHL prospects commit to NTDP
Two high-end forwards who were viewed as potential first-round selections at Saturday’s Ontario Hockey League draft have committed to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program for the 2014-2015 season. …[read more]
T-Birds take it in OT
Abitibi Eskimos were 17 seconds away from narrowing the gap in their second-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series with Soo Thunderbirds. …[read more]
CIHL moving forward
Officials connected to the proposed Canadian International Hockey League met on Tuesday evening in Toronto.
Long-time junior hockey operator Tim Clayden, who is the force behind the formation of the CIHL, said the new league will be ready to go for the 2014-2015 season with eight-to-ten teams. …[read more]
Gold Miners strike again
Make that another one-goal win for Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
Sam Wilbur’s goal with 42 seconds left in the third period lifted Kirkland Lake to a 3-2 triumph over visiting Espanola Rivermen in Game 3 of their best-of-seven, second-round, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series on Tuesday night. …[read more]
OHL draft is Saturday
Sarnia Sting, by virtue of having the worst record during the 2013-2014 regular season, will have the first overall pick at Saturday’s annual Ontario Hockey League draft.
The draft begins at 9 a.m. and will be conducted over the Internet.
From a local standpoint, Soo Greyhounds hold the 17th pick in the first round.
Kirkland Lake in command
Kirkland Lake Gold Miners can all but put away the Espanola Rivermen with a win tonight.
The Gold Miners lead their second-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series with the Rivermen two games to none by virtue of a pair of 2-1 victories. …[read more]
It is Erie in Houndtown
Round two of the playoffs is coming to Houndtown.
Having sidelined Owen Sound Attack in five games in their first-round, best-of-seven, Ontario Hockey League playoff series, Soo Greyhounds will face Erie Otters in the second set. …[read more]
Soo, KL up two
Soo Thunderbirds and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners have both taken two-games-to-none leads in their second-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series. …[read more]
LSSU coach search continues
The process remains ongoing.
After firing Jim Roque on March 11, Lake Superior State University Lakers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association are continuing their search for a new head coach. …[read more]
Stretch run told story in NAHL North
From top to bottom, it was a close race.
And it went to the second-last day of the 2013-2014 regular season to decide the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the North Division of the North American Hockey League.
At the end of the day, it was the Johnstown Tomahawks getting the last playoff spot, one point ahead of fifth-place Springfield Jr. Blues and three points more than sixth-place Soo Eagles. …[read more]
Espanola Rivermen award winners
Espanola Rivermen of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League recently held their awards-night banquet. …[read more]
Tonight in the NOJHL
Final four playoffs resume in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League tonight with a pair of games.
Top-seeded Soo Thunderbirds will play host to fourth-ranked Abitibi Eskimos while third-place Espanola Rivermen are home to second-seeded Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. …[read more]
Erie scene for Hounds
Soo Greyhounds are off to the second round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs and a date with the Erie Otters.
The Hounds eliminated the Owen Sound Attack on Friday with a 6-1 win at Essar Centre to take the best-of-seven series in five games. …[read more]
New MWJHL team hires coach
MC Monarchs, the newest team in the MidWest Jr. Hockey League, have made their first coaching hire.
Detroit product Jason McCrimmon will be the bench boss of the Michigan-based Monarchs when they begin play effective the 2014-2015 season. …[read more]
Let it ride
So, Espanola Rivermen owner Tim Clayden plans to leave the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League after this season for the proposed Canadian International Hockey League of which he would be a founding member.
So what? …[read more]
Hounds in position to advance
Home sweet home.
Soo Greyhounds are one win away from the second round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. …[read more]
Here come the Abitibi Eskimos
Fresh — well, maybe not that fresh — from a seven-game conquest of Elliot Lake Bobcats in the opening round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs, fourth-seeded Abitibi Eskimos will get their shot at the top-ranked Soo Thunderbirds.
The second-round series between the Eskimos and Thunderbirds will begin this weekend with Games 1 and 2 slated for Essar Centre in the Soo on Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. …[read more]
Make way for the CIHL
Espanola Rivermen owner Tim Clayden has served notice that he intends to move his team out of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and into the new Canadian International Hockey League effective the 2014-2015 campaign.
I asked Clayden why the Rivermen are leaving the NOJHL and what we can expect from the CIHL.
Following is a transcript of the interview. …[read more]
Running on empty
A team that has as much veteran talent as any in the Eastern Conference is on the verge of bowing out in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.
Sudbury Wolves, who were challenging Oshawa Generals for first place but instead finished a disappointing fifth in the Eastern Conference, regular-season standings, have taken their losing ways into the playoffs. …[read more]
Bad blood
They are teams of skill with lamplighters aplenty.
For starters, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners boast the high-scoring troika of Steve Babin, Austin Rust and Samuel Wilbur.
Not to be outdone, Espanola Rivermen can counter with gunslingers Corbin Bean, Brennen Dubchak and Brad Edwards, just to name three.
But the second-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series between second-seeded Kirkland Lake and third-seeded Espanola also has a pool of bad blood. …[read more]
NOJHL to Lindenwood
Lindsay Middlebrook is an Ontario-born, former National Hockey League goalie who is the coach of an American Collegiate Hockey Association school that will take to the ice for the first time in 2014-2015.
And the 58-year old Middlebrook has been putting together a roster for the Lindenwood University-Belleville Lynx built around players from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. …[read more]
It is what we think it is
Opinions and views are varying and open to debate.
They are neither right or wrong, except in the eyes of the beholder.
In other words, it is what we think it is, be it everyday life or the game of hockey. …[read more]
OHL Whalers leaving Plymouth?
Multiple sources, including one close to the team, have indicated that Plymouth Whalers are looking to relocate their money-losing, Ontario Hockey League franchise.
The Michigan-based Whalers have been playing out of Compuware Arena in Plymouth since 1997. …[read more]
Warriors in, Eagles out
Michigan Warriors are headed to the North American Hockey League playoffs.
Soo Eagles are not.
The I-75 highway rivals will be going in opposite directions when the playoffs begin in the North Division of the NAHL on the first weekend of April. …[read more]
Fort Knox, Blind River
Soo Thunderbirds have taken a 3-1 lead in their first-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series with Blind River Beavers.
But it hasn’t been easy for the Thunderbirds, who finished in first place during the NOJHL regular season, 75 points ahead of the last-place Beavers. …[read more]
Stating the obvious
Soo Greyhounds need to rebound.
As with a victory tonight in Game 2 of their first-round, best-of-seven, Ontario Hockey League playoff series with Owen Sound Attack. …[read more]
Beavers out to get even
Can David upset Goliath again?
Playing at home tonight, Blind River Beavers will be out to try to even their first-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series with Soo Thunderbirds. …[read more]
Hounds await Attack
Houndtown will be home to a pair of Ontario Hockey League playoff games, tonight and Saturday.
Soo Greyhounds, seeded second in the Western Conference, will face the seventh-seeded Owen Sound Attack in the first-round, best-of-seven series. …[read more]
NAHL North nestle
Port Huron Fighting Falcons are in with 74 points.
Michigan Warriors are almost there with 63.
Which leaves four teams fighting for two playoffs spots in the North Division of the North American Hockey League.
And the clock is ticking. …[read more]
Birds blank Beavers
Soo Thunderbirds regained their scoring touch on Thursday and the end result was a one-sided whitewash. …[read more]
Soo Indians moving on, up
They played 58 games this 2013-2014 season as a major midget outfit that rose from the doldrums after being dormant in 2012-2013.
And Soo Indians not only fashioned a 31-26-1 record against top competition — the season concluded with a berth at the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association state championships — but a number of their players have attracted the attention of teams from various junior leagues. …[read more]
NOJHL playoff picture
Two teams have advanced to the second round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs, two others have been eliminated and the remaining four are on ice tonight. …[read more]
Rivermen can sweep Sudbury
Espanola Rivermen are one win away from advancing to the second round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs.
The Rivermen lead the Sudbury Nickel Barons 3-0 in the best-of-seven series and will be on the road to try to complete the sweep tonight. …[read more]
It’s over in North Bay
It’s all over for the North Bay Trappers.
In more ways than one. …[read more]
Attack has Hope against Hounds
To be sure, Soo Greyhounds loom as the favourites in their first-round, best-of-seven, Ontario Hockey League playoff series with Owen Sound Attack.
The second-seeded Hounds finished 25 points ahead of the seventh-seeded Attack in the Western Conference standings and the Soo took both regular-season matches from Owen Sound.
But there is Hope in Owen Sound.
As in goalie Brandon Hope. …[read more]
Soo 300 season-ticket drive
Soo Eagles of the Tier 2 junior, North American Hockey League have launched a “Soo 300” season-ticket drive for the 2014-2015 campaign.
The area-wide ticket drive will ensure the Eagles long-term commitment to Sault Ste. Marie and Chippewa County, according to primary owner Ron Lavin and owner-general manager-coach Bruno Bragagnolo. …[read more]
Laker signs with Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League have signed forward Colin Campbell to a two-way, entry-level contract. …[read more]
Reports of rumours
Rinks and rumours. It’s almost as if there can’t be one without the other.
Rumours have a way of making the hockey world revolve and seldom is there a shortage of rinkside rhetoric. …[read more]
Rivermen on the road
Espanola Rivermen take to the road tonight trying to take a further hold on their opening-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series with Sudbury Nickel Barons. …[read more]
Birds in a battle with Beavers
What is going on here?
Wasn’t this supposed to be a sweep of a series?
Put the brooms away. There will be no sweeping.
Soo Thunderbirds and Blind River Beavers are tied at a game apiece in their first-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series. …[read more]
Saluting the Hounds
Soo Greyhounds played their final home game of the Ontario Hockey League regular season on Sunday afternoon, managing to cuff the despised London Knights 7-5. …[read more]
Laker fan favourites
A change has been made.
A new guy will in charge.
But who will it be?
HockeyNewsNorth.com has conducted a random, unscientific poll of fans and sponsors connected to Lake Superior State University and come up with a list of the four most-popular choices to take over as new head coach of the hockey Lakers. …[read more]
Birds, Beavers are even
Soo Thunderbirds have evened their first-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series with Blind River Beavers.
But it wasn’t easy. …[read more]
Espanola over Sudbury
Espanola Rivermen have taken a two games to none lead in their first-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series with Sudbury Nickel Barons. …[read more]
Beavers v. Birds up close
Despite being outshot 36-15, Blind River Beavers stole a 3-2 road win over Soo Thunderbirds in Game 1 of their opening-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series on Saturday night at the Essar Centre. …[read more]