Spitfires boost net worth
On a day in which they made multiple transactions ahead of this week’s Ontario Hockey League trade deadline the Windsor Spitfires upgraded their goalie position.
…[read more]Firebirds deal with Spitfires
Flint Firebirds have flipped their own script. After dealing away some high-end veteran talent in recent days for future draft picks, the Firebirds have obtained overage defenseman Roberto Mancini from their Ontario Hockey League Western Conference rival Windsor Spitfires for future second and third round draft picks.
…[read more]Four straight for U18 Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League will take a streak of four successive victories into play this week. The Jr. Greyhounds are fresh from a home ice weekend sweep of the league leading Sudbury U18 Wolves.
…[read more]Hounds add Team USA champ
Soo Greyhounds are clearly all in as they chase an Ontario Hockey League championship. The Greyhounds have traded for 19-year old forward Gavin Hayes, acquiring the Team USA World Junior Hockey gold medal champion from the Flint Firebirds for two players and a house full of draft picks.
…[read more]U13 AA Jr. Hounds win it all
CHICAGO — Hey, hey, hey … they went all the way! In what was a truly inspiring total team toil, the Soo U13 AA Jr. Greyhounds won four of five games including the title tilt to head home as champions of a Sports Illustrated Prospects Showdown Hockey Tournament that was held here on the weekend.
…[read more]Flint flips overage forward
Flint Firebirds have parted ways with one of their top players ahead of the looming Ontario Hockey League trade deadline. The Firebirds have dealt overage forward Braeden Kressler and two draft picks to the Ottawa 67’s for five draft picks.
…[read more]The travelling goalie coach
Bill Vanderleest is an anomaly of sorts among goalie coaches. When he is not at home working with the net minders of the Sault College Cougars women’s team, Vanderleest is travelling 280 miles round trip for once a week practices as the goalie coach for the Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]T-Birds deal three for cash
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have traded away a trio of players in separate cash exchanges.
…[read more]Spitfires via Paper Kings
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League played a season long role in the development of hulking defenseman Conor Walton of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Spitfires chasing Firebirds
It is the midway point of the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League regular season. And five head to head matches between the Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires could be major factors in deciding the eighth and final playoff spot in the OHL’s Western Conference.
…[read more]Trade deadline is looming
D-Day is approaching in both the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League. As in January 10 being the trade deadline in both the NOJHL and the OHL.
…[read more]Hounds, Spitfires stay hot
Soo Greyhounds and Windsor Spitfires both returned from the Ontario Hockey League’s Christmas holiday recess on Thursday and picked up where they left off with impressive road victories.
…[read more]Net gain for Kam River
Following in the high marks crease class of graduated goalies Austin Madge and Eric Vanska over the past two seasons, the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League has again come up with a top tender between the pipes.
…[read more]Vikings of valour and valiance
Forget about their low place in the standings. This is not about wins and losses. Rather, this is a story of courage, strength and commitment in the face of adversity.
…[read more]Assistance for the Spitfires
Twenty years after graduating from the Ontario Hockey League as a high scoring forward with the Sarnia Sting, Kris Newbury is back in the OHL as a newly hired assistant coach of the Windsor Spitfires.
…[read more]Test of the OHL West
Hounds. Spirit. Firebirds. Sting. Spitfires. There is bark and there is a motivating force and there is combustion and there is buzz and there is a fiery temperament that lies within the West Division of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]SIJHL at the break
Five of the eight teams in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League will take records well above the .500 level into the 2024 segment of this season.
…[read more]NOJHL at the break
There are races for first place in both the West and East sides of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Just as there are teams in chases for the final playoff positions in both divisions ahead of the 2024 segment of the NOJHL regular season.
…[read more]Unforgettable Soo Indians
This was a junior hockey team like no other that I have ever covered on a regular basis. It began with a good fellow of an owner who reminded me of any one of a number of characters from the classic hit television series The Sopranos.
…[read more]Overcoming the odds
Seattle Kraken scout Mike Dawson has a plain, simple and uncomplicated message for aspiring young players who were late round draft picks to the Ontario Hockey League or who were not drafted at all. “Keep working. Every one has setbacks. It’s how you deal with adversity,” Dawson relayed while home visiting family in Sault Ste. Marie and stopping by to make a guest appearance on a recent edition of the Hockey North Show podcast.
…[read more]Best and rest of OHL West
Soo Greyhounds are in first place in the West Division — and just three points back of the Kitchener Rangers for first overall in the Western Conference — with the Ontario Hockey League on the Christmas break. And while the Windsor Spitfires are at the bottom of the Western stage, they are within clear range of the eighth and final playoff spot.
…[read more]Gage on the GOJHL stage
WINDSOR — Sault Ste. Marie product Gage Evans is officially among the elite young players in the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League while patrolling the blue line here for the Windsor LaSalle Vipers.
…[read more]Sault College at the break
They will both head into the 2024 segment of this season’s schedule with very impressive records within the ranks of the Division 2, American Collegiate Hockey Association. Sault College Cougars women’s team has a record of 10-0-0 while the men have a 15-3-0 mark.
…[read more]U18 Hounds at the break
It has been an inverted, up and down and back again season for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. A major exodus in players from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 also included the Sault Major Hockey Association moving on from last year’s bench and management crew.
…[read more]Sault boys in OHL West
Four of the five teams in the West Division of the Ontario Hockey League have Sault Ste. Marie products on their respective rosters. Ironically, it is the Soo Greyhounds who do not have a single local lad on their team.
…[read more]Firebirds and Spitfires
They are scheduled to face off against one another no less than five times in the 2024 segment of this Ontario Hockey League regular season. And those five matchups could go a long way towards deciding playoff spots for the Flint Firebirds and Windsor Spitfires.
…[read more]Vis to the Voodoos
Powassan Voodoos have bolstered their blue line by way of a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League cash exchange with the Elliot Lake Vikings.
…[read more]10 straight for Blind River
A season high 10 game winning streak has the Blind River Beavers in a dam good position among the elite of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Torres and the Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires are still at the bottom of the standings among the 10 teams of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. But the Spitfires have now won more games with interim head coach Casey Torres at the helm than they did under his fired predecessor Jerrod Smith.
…[read more]Hudson and Hudson
They are the two youngest players — impact ones at that — for the Sudbury Cubs of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Both are 2023 Ontario Hockey League draft picks of the Sudbury Wolves. And both have connections to not only the Wolves but to Sault Ste. Marie.
…[read more]Goalie coaches old, young
Terry Barbeau. Bill Vanderleest. Noah Zeppa. They are three reputable Sault Ste. Marie residents who are all performing goalie coach roles with high end hockey programs on both sides of the International Bridge and the St. Mary’s River.
…[read more]Spitfires continue ascent
The recharged Windsor Spitfires are becoming a pretty good story in the making. After starting the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League season with a 4-16-1 record that led to the firing of first year head coach Jerrod Smith, the Spitfires have since gone 4-2-0 under interim bench boss Casey Torres.
…[read more]Local lad in Windsor LaSalle
Sault Ste. Marie product Gage Evans is continuing his development with the Windsor LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Rock adds power forward
Reigning champion Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has added a power forward with the acquisition of Jack Kelly from the Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]New d-man on the Rock
The reigning champions of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have added to their blue line brigade with the acquisition of a dependable defenseman from the Maritime Hockey League.
…[read more]Majors of the Great North
Who are these guys? They are the Majors from Timmins that’s who. And they made a Major statement on the weekend with a home-ice sweep of the first place team in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League.
…[read more]Spitfires are taking flight
A change in head coaches has thus far led to a well timed turnaround for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]The old Junior B days
Northern Ontario has long had a prominent presence in the junior A hockey game. Nowadays it is the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. But from 1965 until 1981 it was the International Jr. B Hockey League that had a town filled existence in Northern Ontario and Northern Michigan.
…[read more]Maciuk family advisors
Like father, like son. Long-time player agent and family advisor David Maciuk has spent more than 60 years in the game of hockey dating back to his childhood days growing up in Sault Ste. Marie. And as the age-less Maciuk — who has lived in Chicago for a number of years — continues to grow his JDM Sports Management company, he works alongside his 36-year old son Justin Maciuk.
…[read more]U18 Hounds home for three
This is a crucial set of games for the Soo Jr. Greyhounds. The Jr. Hounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League are home for three games in as many days this weekend as the New Liskeard Cubs are in town.
…[read more]Wolves of the Great North
They are howling and are leaders of the pack atop the standings of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League. Sudbury U18 Wolves have a record of 11-2-1 ahead of three scheduled games this week.
…[read more]Ways of the Wild West
Soo Greyhounds have maintained first place despite a record-setting win streak by the Saginaw Spirit. Flint Firebirds are holding serve in the middle of the court while fourth seed Sarnia Sting is on a skid and the last place Windsor Spitfires have responded well to a coaching change.
…[read more]Vikings will play in Massey
The vagabonds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have officially secured a home away from home arena for the balance of the 2023-2024 season. Hockey News North has confirmed that the Elliot Lake Vikings will play the remainder of their ‘home’ games at the Massey and District Community Centre effective a December 1 match against the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
…[read more]Kovacs is lighting it up
It is sufficient to say that Jake Kovacs is having a career season as a 20-year old forward with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Spitfires alter flight plan
WINDSOR — There has been some topsy turvy turbulence that has grounded the Windsor Spitfires this season following back to back first place regular season finishes atop the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Kam River via Elliot Lake
Elliot Lake Vikings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League have finalized a player for cash transaction.
…[read more]Modest surge for U18 Hounds
They are still not close to where new head coach Denny Lambert has aspirations for them to be. However, after winning just one of five games to begin the 2023-2024 Great North Under 18 Hockey League season, the Soo Jr. Greyhounds have five points from a record of 2-2-1 since Lambert and his new staff of assistant coaches took over.
…[read more]Majors are on the move
Timmins Majors are one of three teams in the seven member Great North Under 18 Hockey League with a winning record as November nudges towards December.
…[read more]Spitfires fire head coach
Long-time assistant coach Jerrod Smith has lasted just 21 games as the head coach of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.
…[read more]Disparity in the NOJHL
For the second successive season there is clear disproportion between the East and West divisions of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and a playoff format that is cause for consternation as a result.
…[read more]Fearsome OHL fighters
Like it or not, fighting has a secure place in hockey history. There are fighters who were as popular — maybe more popular — than many of the star players. These days, fighting is virtually non existent in the game. But that does not change the fact that some of the most fearsome fighters in the history of — in this case — the Ontario Hockey League are still held in reverence by many with a nostalgic attachment to the game.
…[read more]Lambert has come full circle
Denny Lambert skated in the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons before eventually making it to the National Hockey League where he toughed it out for more than 500 games as a battling left winger. But the 53-year old Lambert, who recently stepped in to take over as head coach of the AAA Under 18 Soo Jr. Greyhounds, says it was his time with the program as a player in the Great North Under 18 Hockey League that went a long way to shape him for what was ahead.
…[read more]Count on Kam River, Dryden
There is no such thing as a sure thing. But there are constants in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League. Such as sustained success and perennial contention from the Kam River Fighting Walleye and the Dryden Ice Dogs.
…[read more]Spitfires are sputtering
Windsor Spitfires are in a nosedive that requires imminent attention. Since scoring a big victory over the Western Conference-leading Kitchener Rangers, the Spitfires have dropped five straight games and are now in last place among the 20 teams of the Ontario Hockey League with a record of 4-13-1.
…[read more]U13 AA Hounds win two of four
LONDON — Soo Under 13 AA Jr. Greyhounds left here with a good takeoff following an above board showing at a high end weekend tournament that featured a whopping 18 teams in their age group alone.
…[read more]Hello from the Great North
Let us skate here and there in the good, old Great North Under 18 Hockey League with the middle of November now upon us:
…[read more]Latest on the U18 Jr. Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have decided on their coaching staff as they move ahead on the 2023-2024 season. Joining recently appointed head coach Denny Lambert on the new look staff of the Jr. Greyhounds are assistant coaches Jeremy Stevenson, Keegan Stevenson and Ty Zachary with added support from goalie coach Ryan Cook, trainer Dr. Kevin Caruso and equipment manager Louie Cuglietta.
…[read more]Svarich an NOJHL Rock star
Want to talk about being an impact player in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League? Well, among those who are making a major impact in the NOJHL this season is 20-year old forward Mason Svarich of the Timmins Rock.
…[read more]Sault College men are 10-2
Nine straight victories have the Sault College Cougars roaring with a record of 10-2-0 through 12 games on the Division 2, American Collegiate Hockey Association schedule.
…[read more]NOJHL & the all star challenge
The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has confirmed the playing rosters and coaching staffs for the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, which is slated to be held November 13 to 15 in Trenton, Ont.
…[read more]Retentions of Windsor Arena
Sault Ste. Marie is home. Windsor is my acquired home, initially through Croatian family on my mother’s side. As a journalist who has been writing about hockey for a living since 1975, my main passion is now with the various minor and junior teams of northern Ontario. But the Windsor Spitfiires of the Ontario Hockey League and its Windsor Arena home of 1975 to 2008 remain high on my chosen and close to one’s heart list of all time fondness and partiality.
…[read more]Winning ways of the Walleye
They finished in first place in their first full season in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League before losing in the playoff championship series. They again placed first in their second season and then capped it off by winning the SIJHL championship. And now, in season no. 3 as members of the SIJHL, the Kam River Fighting Walleye has continued its winning ways.
…[read more]U18 Hounds moving forward
The winds of change have altered the course of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds in what are still the early stages of the 2023-2024 Great North Under 18 Hockey League season.
…[read more]New GM for U18 Hounds
As Denny Lambert is the new head coach of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League, he has brought a familiar sidekick on board to be the general manager of the program.
…[read more]Lambert to coach U18 Hounds
Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Under 18 Hockey League have brought aboard the highly regarded and well respected Denny Lambert as their head coach.
…[read more]Sault Ste. Marie Spitfires
Recently acquired defenseman Connor Toms has become the latest in a long line of players from Sault Ste. Marie who have suited up for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League over the years. Indeed, the number of Sault boys who have become Spitfires is rather notable.
…[read more]Kowal is a Paper King
Espanola Paper Kings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have obtained hulking forward Cayden Kowal from the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League in a cash transaction.
…[read more]Spitfires are high on Toms
WINDSOR — Connor Toms has a good opportunity to go from being a fringe defenseman with the Soo Greyhounds to a stabilizing presence with the Windsor Spitfires. The 19-year old Sault Ste. Marie product is now a seasoned member of a rookie laden Spitfires blue line brigade after being obtained from the Greyhounds for a 12th round pick at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft.
…[read more]Birds in a Wild West fight
Winners of nine of their past 10 games, the Soo Thunderbirds are one of five teams in a frantic race for first place within the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]The return of classic Rock
Whether it was a championship hangover or not, the Timmins Rock staggered and stumbled to begin the 2023-2024 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season.
…[read more]U18 Wolves bank on Shank
Sudbury U18 Wolves ran their record atop the Great North Under 18 Hockey League standings to 7-1-1 today with a decisive 10-2 win over the visiting New Liskeard Cubs.
…[read more]U18 Jr. Hounds cuff Kap
Soo Jr. Greyhounds have their first win of the 2023-2024 Great North Under 18 Hockey League season. In their home opener today, the Jr. Greyhounds upended the travel-weary Kapuskasing Flyers by a 5-1 score. The Soo victory followed three straight road losses to the North Bay Trappers last weekend.
…[read more]A return to Blind River
Jesse Dupuis is back with the Blind River Beavers by way of a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League cash transaction with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
…[read more]Horgan a Paper King howitzer
He is the highest scoring defenseman in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. As a matter of fact, Spencer Horgan of the Espanola Paper Kings is the top scoring defender throughout the entire Canadian Jr. A Hockey League.
…[read more]