Kudos to Kam River; SI playoffs begin
The newest active team in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League will go into the playoffs as the no. 1 seed. In its first full season of existence, the Kam River Fighting Walleye splashed a record of 35-7-2 and a winning percentage of .818 to finish atop the SIJHL’s regular season standings.
…[read more]Putting a Kap on an NOHA crown
Soo Jr. Greyhounds have returned from Kapuskasing as Under 15 AA Northern Ontario Hockey Association champions.
…[read more]Local lads lift Thunderbirds
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or so it seems. During the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League’s last complete season, the 2018-2019 campaign, the Soo Thunderbirds finished first overall in the 12 team loop with 15 local players in their lineup.
…[read more]Winging it into the playoffs
It took them until the second last game of the regular season to clinch a playoff position in their first go around as members of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Showing gradual improvement as the 2021-2022 regular season progressed, the Elliot Lake Red Wings managed to secure the fifth and final playoff spot in the West Division of the NOJHL, just ahead of the Espanola Express.
…[read more]Pancakes for U18 Jr. Hounds
Champs of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League, Soo Jr. Greyhounds are headed to the Central Region provincial championship tournament in Toronto next month. And as a fundraiser, the Jr. Greyhounds will be hosting a pancake breakfast. Tickets are available in advance from any team member or their parents. See below for details.
…[read more]NOJHL playoff timeline
Playoff season is just around the corner in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. And the NOJHL has finalized its format and timeline for the upcoming 2022 playoffs and the competition for the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy.
…[read more]Lein is keen on his Lumberjacks
Through a number of losing streaks, one-sided losses and inconsistent play, Wisconsin Lumberjacks owner, general manager and coach Doug Lein sent out positive vibes when it came to discussing his Superior International Jr. Hockey League team.
…[read more]Central Region awaits U18 Hounds
Up next for the Great North Under 18 Hockey League champion Soo Jr. Greyhounds is Ontario’s Central Region championship tournament. It is slated for April 4 to 10 in Toronto.
…[read more]Black Bears of the North
They were only in existence for three seasons. But the Northern Michigan Black Bears had winning records in all three of their seasons as members of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League from 2003 to 2006.
…[read more]Kam River to Oregon … again
A third soon to be graduating member of the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League is heading to the University of Oregon and its Division 1, American Collegiate Hockey Association program effective the 2022-2023 season.
…[read more]Thoughts of NOJHL playoffs
The last time I watched a playoff game in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League was two years ago — March 4, 2020 at Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Soo Eagles routed the visiting Espanola Express by a 7-1 score and would go on to sweep the best of three preliminary round series in two straight games.
…[read more]NOJHL and the Centennial Cup
Further to the announcement made by Hockey Canada, the 2022 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff champion will advance directly to compete at the Centennial Cup national tournament, to be held May 20-29, in Estevan, Saskatchewan.
…[read more]Champs of the Great North
They were the no. 1 team during the regular season. And that is where they stood when the buzzer sounded to end the 2022 playoff championship tournament.
…[read more]Major development
As the no. 6 seed of the eight teams that took to the ice for the Great North Under 18 Hockey League championship tournament, the Timmins Majors became the cinderella story of the 2022 event.
…[read more]Lowden of the Lumberjacks
He has an even record on a team that is seven games below the .500 mark. To that end, 19-year old goalie Kyler Lowden has been a net gain for the Wisconsin Lumberjacks of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]SIJHL gearing towards playoffs
Finish the regular season on high with the playoffs looming. That would be a logical and obvious focus for the six teams of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Ottawa via French River
Three years ago at this time Phillipe Daoust was finishing up his rookie season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a member of the French River Rapids.
…[read more]True north, vintage era Wolves
Through half a decade as members of the Ontario Hockey League, the Sudbury Wolves have stayed true to northern Ontario. From the pioneer era, 1972 ownership of Bud Burke, Joe Drago et al to the staying, time tested leadership of the Burgess family that spanned 30 years from 1986 to 2016, the Wolves den was home to close to 200 players from throughout the northeastern and northwestern regions of the province.
…[read more]U18 Hounds top the Great North
First place finishers during the recently completed regular season, Soo Jr. Greyhounds are being joined by their fellow seven member teams at the championship tournament of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Stick handling through traffic
This marks the third season in succession that the Covid nemesis has affected junior A hockey, in this case two leagues that are based in the rugged regions of northeastern and northwestern Ontario. But both the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Superior International Jr. Hockey League have faced off against the opponent and managed to stick handle through traffic.
…[read more]First place for U15 AA Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Nickel District Minor Hockey League’s under 15 AA division are preparing to head to Kapuskasing for regional playoffs on the March 25-27 weekend. At stake for coach Jerry Lortie’s U15 Hound pups is a spot at the Ontario Hockey Federation championship tournament that is slated for April 22-24 in North York.
…[read more]Baker’s dozen for the Birds
Make that 13 straight wins for the Soo Thunderbirds. The top ranked team in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League extended its victory streak to lucky 13 with weekend road victories over the Hearst Lumberjacks and Timmins Rock.
…[read more]Bowen boys of the broadcast booth
As the legendary play by play voice of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, 70-year old Joe Bowen has stood the test of time as one of the absolute best in the business. And now there is another Bowen who has taken to calling games behind the mic.
…[read more]Hounds of mid to late ’80s
Through the 1980-81, ’81-82, ’82-83, ’83-84 and ’84-85 regular seasons, the Soo Greyhounds reeled off respective records of 47-19-2, 40-25-3, 48-21-1, 38-24-4 and 54-11-1 that culminated in the franchise’s first-ever Ontario Hockey League playoff championship and Memorial Cup berth. But the remainder of the 1980s were not as kind to the Greyhounds, though there were some memorable players and moments.
…[read more]Flint hockey boss ousted
Flint Firebirds president of hockey operations Terry Christensen has been banned from the Ontario Hockey League by commissioner David Branch.
…[read more]Ice Dogs, Lakers visit Kam River
Fans of the Kam River Fighting Walleye — of which there is a surging flow of frantic followers — will have the fortuity of watching their favourite Superior International Jr. Hockey League team take to the home ice of NorWest Arena three times in as many days this weekend.
…[read more]Charly talks up Sault College
Known for his frankness, honesty and calling it as he sees it, Sault College Cougars chief scout and recruiter Charly Murray discussed the state of the men’s hockey program in a recent interview.
…[read more]Three Dog Net
As they hit the road for three games against the top two teams in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League the third place Dryden Ice Dogs take a record of 22-11-3 into a weekend that looms as a tough test for the pack.
…[read more]Major winning streak
Playing four games in five days could not stop the Timmins Majors from going on a winning streak for the ages. The Majors won all four of the games to move into sole possession of sixth place among the eight teams of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Shoemaker Extravaganza
Soo Pee Wee Hockey League and its Extravaganza Tournament concluded with championship matches in all divisions on Sunday. And championship day was especially noteworthy for twin brothers Parker and Nelson Shoemaker and their younger sister Haizel.
…[read more]S & T takes U11 tournament title
Soo Pee Wee Hockey League held its annual Extravaganza Tournament on the weekend as local teams were joined by out of town entries in various divisions.
…[read more]10 in a row for T-Birds
They have a league best winning percentage of .813. And the Soo Thunderbirds will take a record of 30-5-5 into Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League play this week.
…[read more]RIP, Bobby Orazietti
He was a small centre who was fast and could score and set up his line mates with quick passes. Bobby Orazietti, who wore no. 9 and played for the Jr. A Soo Greyhounds from 1962 to 1964 when they were members of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, passed away recently at the age of 78.
…[read more]Superior showcase sidebars
All six active teams of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League gathered in the northern Wisconsin town of Spooner for a recent showcase tournament. Each team played two games that counted in the regular season standings.
…[read more]Nine straight for T-Birds
Hardworking forward Cole Delarosbil netted three goals and goalie Noah Zeppa made 20 saves as the Soo Thunderbirds continued their winning ways on Wednesday with a 6-2 verdict over the visiting Blind River Beavers.
…[read more]Sobush on a steady stride
He has lurked in the shadows of high scoring veteran Kyler Campbell and 16-year old rookie sensation sniper Billy Biedermann. But 17-year old neophyte Pierson Sobush has emerged as a top scorer for the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Showcase shocker
What goes around really does come around. Less than two weeks ago — February 19 and 20 — the visiting Wisconsin Lumberjacks were soundly pounded by the Red Lake Miners by distressing scores of 13-1 and 17-4. But on the opening day of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League’s showcase tournament, the hosts from Wisconsin absolutely stunned Red Lake with a 5-1 victory.
…[read more]Birds take over the Gardens
A showdown between the top two teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is on the slate as the Soo Thunderbirds will play host to the Hearst Lumberjacks on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at GFL Memorial Gardens.
…[read more]12 straight has Hearst in first
There is a thirst to finish first up in Hearst. Winners of 12 games in a row, the Hearst Lumberjacks have hustled into first place in the East Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Express puts brakes on skid
Espanola Express took to the road to get back on track. The Express halted a nine game losing streak today by scoring a 6-0 decision over the Cochrane Crunch.
…[read more]Birds, Eagles, Cubs, Beavers
They are the front runners of the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Soo Thunderbirds, Michigan Soo Eagles, Sudbury Cubs and Blind River Beavers are all well above the .500 mark as the NOJHL heads into the stretch run of the 2021-2022 regular season.
…[read more]Six straight one-goal games
Playoff season in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League is still several weeks away. But having played six successive games that have been decided by one goal, the league leading Kam River Fighting Walleye is already in a playoff-like mode.
…[read more]Local lad lifts EL Wings
Alex Antoine has the potential to be an impact player for his hometown Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team. A 2003 birth year forward, Antoine is among the scoring leaders for the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
…[read more]Superior shores and roars
Kam River Fighting Walleye and Red Lake Miners have a thirst for first as the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has a slate of games on a plate that will click the gate on the final state of the 2021-2022 regular season standings. Meanwhile, the Dryden Ice Dogs are lurking and the Thunder Bay North Stars, Wisconsin Lumberjacks and Fort Frances Lakers are working at perking before the regular season finishes up at the end of March.
…[read more]A first for French River
At last, there is cause for celebration on the French River. For the first time in their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League history, the French River Rapids will be a part of the playoff picture.
…[read more]Lukenda talks Hound town
Soo Greyhounds president and governor Tim Lukenda talked about his favourite Ontario Hockey League team. And then he yakked about his new craft beer of choice.
…[read more]Hockey North Show special edition
Soo Greyhounds — who are celebrating their 50th anniversary as members of the Ontario Hockey League — will be the feature topic tonight when the Hockey North Show makes its weekly appearance on local radio station Eagle 95.1 from 5-6 p.m.
…[read more]Dogs ice Walleye win streak
A lengthy victory lap has been zapped. Derek Koivisto’s 12th goal of the season at the six minute mark of the third period lifted the visiting Dryden Ice Dogs to a 4-3 win over the Kam River Fighting Walleye in a Family Day matinee match.
…[read more]At play on Family Day
The cozy confines of NorWest Arena will be the site of a Family Day matinee match this afternoon when the Kam River Fighting Walleye plays host to the Dryden Ice Dogs in a 1:30 start at the Fish Tank.
…[read more]