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]Delarosbil dings the Express
Score another one for Soo Thunderbirds forward Cole Delarosbil against his former Espanola Express crew. The 20-year old forward once again found the back of the net for his current Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team against his former one.
…[read more]Rock climbing to the top
Points wise, Timmins Rock trails both the Hearst Lumberjacks and Powassan Voodoos atop the East Division standings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. But with games in hand on Hearst and Powassan, Timmins has 53 points from a record of 25-5-3 for what is a league best winning percentage of .803.
…[read more]Riley rallies North Stars
It was a night of firsts. Sault College Cougars recruit Trennis Riley posted his first win in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League and the Thunder Bay North Stars scored their first victory of 2022.
…[read more]OHL extends regular season
We have good news to report from the Ontario Hockey League. The OHL has confirmed a comprehensive update to its regular season schedule. It is one that will enable all 20 OHL teams to complete their respective 68-game schedules by an extended closing date of Sunday, April 17.
…[read more]Power play proficiency
Four of the 12 teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have power plays that are clicking at a better than 20 per cent success rate.
…[read more]Blackburn and Lumberjacks
Wisconsin Lumberjacks forward Ryan Blackburn seems to be proving his coach right by having dealt for him at this year’s junior hockey trade deadline.
…[read more]Hounds in the Great North hunt
Along with the Sudbury U18 Nickel Capitals and the North Bay U16 Trappers, Soo Jr. Greyhounds are among the upper class teams atop the standings of the eight member Great North Under 18 Hockey League. And the major junior scouts are taking notes.
…[read more]Up North and along Superior
Here and there in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League:
…[read more]Tough break for the Beavers
A broken ankle and subsequent surgery has sidelined Garden River First Nation product Nate Headrick for the balance of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season. The big defenseman had signed with the Blind River Beavers as a free agent earlier this month and had an assist in six games while playing regular minutes.
…[read more]SIJHL on a forward path
Founded in 2001, the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has had a helter skelter existence of disorder and confusion via pop up teams in northwestern Ontario, Wisconsin and Minnesota that came and went without ever gaining validity. But the league’s newest entry, the Kam River Fighting Walleye, has swiftly become an ideal franchise. And the SIJHL is set to expand to Sioux Lookout next season.
…[read more]Rebek has seen the hockey world
When Jeremy Rebek left his Sault Ste. Marie home as a 17-year old it was the beginning of what would be three seasons as an overachieving defenseman with the Owen Sound Platers of the Ontario Hockey League.
Then came a long and winding professional hockey career that would eventually lead him to Austria, Northern Ireland and Italy before finally retiring as a player at the age of 37.
…[read more]Sault High salutes its seniors
Sault High Blue Devils closed out the home segment of the 2021-2022 regular season schedule on the weekend with a pair of victories including a 5-4 win over the Traverse City Titans on Senior Night.
…[read more]Dogs pound falling Stars
There is no longer a tie for third place in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. Dryden Ice Dogs took care of that in ferocious fashion with a two game takedown of the Thunder Bay North Stars.
…[read more]Wild West of the North
It is setting up to be a wild ride in the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. While the East Division of the NOJHL features a torrid race for first place between three teams, the Wild West has close battles going on for the first and second, third and fourth, and fifth and sixth slots with mere points separating the pairings.
…[read more]Espanola via Thief River Falls
Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has signed 2003 birth year goalie Matthew Loney. A free agent, Loney had been playing with the Thief River Falls Norskies of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Clarke clicks for Kam River
Forward Dayton Clarke gave a three goal glimpse of why he was a prize catch by Kam River Fighting Walleye general manager Kevin McCallum at the Canadian Jr. Hockey League trade deadline.
…[read more]