Nine NOJHL teams are active
They have been holding skill sessions and non contact scrimmages while waiting and hoping for the first pucks to be dropped on the 2020-2021 season.
Nine of the 11 teams that make up the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have been together since as far back as the latter part of September while following the various public health protocols relative to the coronavirus pandemic.
And thus far there have been no health incidents reported as the waiting game for a potential return to play in the NOJHL continues.
…[read more]NOJHL player safety study
Here is one for the books.
And one for team work.
As head trainer and equipment manager of the Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, J.J. Johnson is also actively continuing his education, with a project focused on player safety.
Toms in training with T-Birds
He has the ‘natural athlete’ bloodlines from the Pettenuzzo side of his mom’s family.
And his dad is a very driven individual who went from being a 13th round draft pick to become an Ontario Hockey League star and from being a ninth round draft pick to play in more than 235 games in the National Hockey League.
A budding prospect and a good athlete in his own right as a third round pick of the Soo Greyhounds at the 2020 OHL priority selections draft, 2004 birth year defenseman Connor Toms is currently skating with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]T-Birds nab Soo boy Novello
Yet another local product has caught the eyes of the Soo Thunderbirds.
Ethan Novello, a 2003 birth year forward, has signed a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League card with the Thunderbirds, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Novello is known for his work ethic, something that Thunderbirds general manager Trev Zachary alluded to, in correspondence with Hockey News North.
…[read more]Junior hockey’s return to play
Could this be the beginning of more junior hockey action?
The news that the 12 teams representing the Saskatchewan Jr. Hockey League have been cleared for an immediate return to the playing of games might be taken as good news for the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
As the province of Saskatchewan has relatively few cases of the coronavirus, so too does northeastern Ontario, where 10 of the NOJHL’s 11 teams are located.
…[read more]All new Hockey North Show
There will be significant changes to the Hockey North Show when the well established program returns to the airwaves in mid November for its annual 25 week gig.
For one, the Hockey North Show with Randy Russon and Brad Coccimiglio is moving to a new radio home, Eagle 95.1 — on line via www.eagleradio951.com — from its former ESPN 1400 spot.
As well, the Hockey North Show will be broadcast live on Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. (as opposed to Tuesdays) and as a bonus, all editions will be recorded and archived on www.eagleradio951.com as well as the Eagle 95.1 Facebook page for replay on demand.
…[read more]T-Birds add to their net
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have solidified their goalie tandem ahead of the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Thunderbirds general manager Trev Zachary has confirmed the acquisition of 2001 birth year net minder Alex Bugeja from the Fort Frances Lakers of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
Zachary referred to the 5-foot-10, 190 pound Bugeja as “a very good goalie with focus and work ethic.”
…[read more]Eagles in flight with few vets
Soo Eagles have a fresh faced look to them with no less than 18 newcomers to the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League who have been signed by president and general manager Bruno Bragagnolo.
Still, the Eagles do have a sprinkling of time tested veterans for coach Doug Laprade and his staff to look to for leadership and experience over the course of the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Busy slate for Soo Eagles
Ice time aplenty, in the form of practices and games, is underway for one area junior A hockey team.
To be sure, exhibition matches against high level opponents are on the agenda for the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League over the next few weeks.
A pair of home games against the powerhouse United States National Team Development Program under-17 squad will be followed by two road trips and then another set of contests within the friendly confines of Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Soo.
…[read more]Practice time at Soo Pee Wee
Restrictions relative to the coronavirus have delayed the start of the minor hockey season as it pertains to the actual playing of league games.
But, for instance, in Sault Ste. Marie, teams in the various age categories have been holding weekly practice and skill sessions and scrimmages that are organized and under the watchful eyes of coaches.
Soo Pee Wee Hockey League has put together teams in age categories that include under 7, under 9, under 11 and under 13.
…[read more]No contact beats no hockey
Remember the days, not so long ago, when fighting was such a big and entertaining part of junior hockey and goons and enforcers were just as popular — maybe more — than the skilled players?
Well, fighting is now a very small part of hockey to the extent that when a scrap breaks out, it almost looks awkward, not to mention foolish.
And as players and coaches and fans have adapted to the sharp decline in fighting, they can probably similarly adjust to hockey without contact for as long as the coronavirus remains the health risk that it currently is.
…[read more]Working the Knight shift
If you don’t like, appreciate, or respect the London Knights, you might want to skip this story.
That is, Luke Evangelista is just the latest example of how the Knights develop their hockey players the London way.
The 2002 birth year forward went from a whitewash of an Ontario Hockey League rookie season with the Knights in 2018-2019 to becoming a second round National Hockey League draft pick of the Nashville Predators in 2020.
…[read more]Local talent a T-Bird priority
When the Soo Thunderbirds were admitted into the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League back in 1999, the locally operated franchise had a firm mandate.
Led by Sam Biasucci and several other Sault Ste. Marie business people, the Thunderbird owners vowed to be a haven for local products who were ready to move up from the town’s minor hockey and high school hockey ranks.
To be sure, Biasucci et al stayed true to form for the first couple of years of the Thunderbirds existence in the NOJHL. And later, when Pat Egan and Al Jones took over as operators and moved on from Jim Capy to Toots Kovacs as their head coach, the Thunderbirds were again made up of 95 to 100 per cent local players.
…[read more]Ex-NOJHLer drafted to NHL
This looms as a feel good story.
Speedy forward Phillipe Daoust, who skated for the French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a rookie during the 2018-2019 season, has become a National Hockey League draft pick.
The 6-foot, 165 pound Daoust, who has a November, 2001 birth date, was a surprise pick of the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round of today’s NHL draft.
…[read more]Junior hockey variances
Return to play scenarios for junior hockey in Ontario are contrasts in distinction.
For example, while teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the eastern Ontario based Central Canada Hockey League are on the ice holding drills that vary from skill sessions to non contact scrimmages, members representing the Ontario Hockey League remain in a dormant state relative to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both commissioner Robert Mazzuca of the NOJHL and CCHL commander in chief Kevin Abrams are maintaining a wait and see attitude as they keep in touch with public health officials and their respective governing bodies while overseeing their respective leagues during these unprecedented times.
…[read more]New assistant in Espanola
One of the highest scoring — and, pound for pound, toughest — forwards to ever skate in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is returning to his roots.
Hockey News North has confirmed that 51-year old Shawn Dubois has joined the Espanola Express as an assistant coach under new bench boss Brent Hughes.
A local resident who is originally from the nearby, Highway 17 town of Blind River, Dubois now works in the Espanola area as a sales person.
…[read more]They call him Captain Kovacs
Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák Steel Bulls have named veteran defenseman Bronson Kovacs their team captain for the 2020-2021 season.
Based in Central Hungary, the Steel Bulls are part of the Erste Liga professional hockey league.
The 2020-2021 campaign, which begins shortly, will mark the sixth season of pro hockey in Hungary for Kovacs, who is a 30-year old native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
…[read more]Hockey North Show on 95.1
A seasonal mainstay of the airwaves since 2013, the Hockey North Show is planning its return for the upcoming season via Eagle Radio 95.1.
The plan is for the Hockey North Show to be on air a week in advance of when, for example, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League begins play for the 2020-2021 campaign.
The NOJHL, along with minor hockey in the Twin Sault and northeastern Ontario areas, will be focal points of the Hockey North Show.
…[read more]Birds all over the Rhodes
Soo Thunderbirds are just one of a number of teams in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League who have recently hit the ice ahead of the upcoming season.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no one can say with any degree of certainty when the 2020-2021 NOJHL season will begin, even in the form of exhibition matches.
Still, the majority of teams in the 11-member NOJHL have been holding non contact skill and drill sessions as health and safety precautions are being observed relative to COVID-19.
…[read more]SPWHL return to play guide
Minor hockey has made a return in Sault Ste. Marie with teams selected for skill and practice sessions in the various age categories. Following is a return to play guideline as issued by the Soo Pee Wee Hockey League.
…[read more]A flock full of local Birds
In true homegrown fashion, the Soo Thunderbirds have already signed 11 — yes, 11 — local skaters ahead of the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
…[read more]Skills, drills on the Express
Second year skater Cole Delarosbil is taking to the approach of his new coach.
Delarosbil, a 2001 birth year forward from Sault Ste. Marie, was responding to being asked by Hockey News North how the first week of the skills and drills camp of the Espanola Express went under new bench boss Brent Hughes.
The 38-year old Hughes was hired as head coach of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team earlier this summer after three straight winning seasons as an assistant with the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Nice local look for T-Birds
Scout local. Stay local. Play local.
The current operators have got it down pat.
Most recently, it was confirmed that Tyson Doucette, a 2004 birth year forward, is moving up from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Soo T-Birds stay local
Tyson Doucette, a 2004 birth year forward, is moving up from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League to the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Mauro boys in Beaver dam
They are a pair of high performance players with speed and a smart skill set.
And they just happen to be siblings.
To be sure, a brother act is prepared to take the stage for the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
As in, Devin Mauro will join his older brother Justin Mauro in Blind River for the upcoming NOJHL season.
…[read more]Birds go Young in the net
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have a new goalie. Hockey News North has confirmed the signing of a new Bird in the nest, er, net.
…[read more]Hockey is back in town
Across Canada, return to play guidelines are either in place or about to be observed as players in various levels of hockey are back on the ice.
As an example, minor hockey is back in Sault Ste. Marie, at least in the form of organized team sessions that have been slated at various local rinks.
…[read more]Flint deals with London
Once a Knight, now a Firebird.
Flint Firebirds have acquired highly touted forward Sahil Panwar in an Ontario Hockey League transaction with the London Knights.
Flint has transferred its fourth round pick at the 2021 OHL priority selections draft to London in exchange for the 6-foot-1, 180 pound Panwar.
…[read more]Net gain for Espanola
Goalie Owen Willis, a 2018 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft pick of the London Knights, has signed with the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Willis, who has a late 2002 birth date, was London’s 13th round pick in 2018.
The 6-foot-3, 175 pound Willis tended twine for the Toronto Titans under-18 team in 2019-2020.
…[read more]T-Birds sign two Soo boys
A pair of local products have flapped their way into the Bird nest, Hockey News North has confirmed.
Parker Morgan, a 2000 birth year forward, and Kaden Dundas, a defenseman with a 2003 birth date, have signed up to play for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]T-Birds add Timmins d-man
Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have acquired smart, skilled 2001 birth year defenseman Cameron Dutkiewicz in a cash exchange.
A Timmins native, the 6 foot, 190 pound Dutkiewicz spent the 2019-2020 season with the Renfrew Timberwolves of the Central Canada Hockey League 2 division.
He netted four goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 40 games for Renfrew.
…[read more]OHL to Austria pro league
A durable, honest, hard nosed, two way right winger has turned three full seasons in the Ontario Hockey League into a professional contract in Austria.
Daylon Groulx, who would be going into his overage season in the OHL, has instead opted to turn pro as a 20-year old.
The 6 foot, 185 pound Groulx finished up his OHL career with the Ottawa 67’s in 2019-2020 after being acquired from the Owen Sound Attack for three draft picks.
…[read more]Bibby boards the Express
Destination, Espanola.
A 15-year old youngster who was chosen at the 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft has signed with the Espanola Express of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
He is left winger Luke Bibby, a 13th round draft pick of the Owen Sound Attack from the Brantford 99ers under-16 team.
…[read more]Beavers give Jameus a shot
After originally committing to the Soo Eagles, Nick Jameus has instead signed with the Blind River Beavers.
A 2002 birth year forward, Jameus spent his rookie, 2019-2020 season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with the Elliot Lake Wildcats.
Elliot Lake has taken a leave of absence from the NOJHL for the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]Express train runs north
No less than seven players with northeastern Ontario roots could very well be impact performers for the Espanola Express this season.
All are veterans with prior experience in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League who just might be a part of the Express having its first winning season in a franchise history that began in 2015.
Espanola is coming off of a 2019-2020 season in which it posted a record of 17-34-5 in sneaking into the West Division playoffs for the first time since its inaugural 2015-2016 NOJHL campaign.
…[read more]Kory is back in Kingston
K is for Kory. K is for Kingston.
Kory Cooper is back in the Ontario Hockey League with the Kingston Frontenacs, this time as their assistant general manager and goalie coach.
Cooper will work under Paul McFarland, who earlier this summer returned to the Frontenacs as coach and general manager after three seasons as an assistant in the National Hockey League.
…[read more]Deforge lands on the Rock
A hometown standout is remaining at home in Timmins to play hockey this season.
A skilled, smart, front line skater, Landon Deforge is moving up from the Timmins Majors of the Great North Midget Hockey League to the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
And both Deforge’s former coach with the Majors and his new coach with the Rock have plenty good to say about the 5-foot-8, 160 pound pivot who has a 2003 birth date.
…[read more]New bench boss for Rayside
The reigning West Division pace setters from the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have hired a new head coach.
Vagelli Sakellaris replaces Dan Cuomo as bench boss of the Rayside Balfour Canadians.
Cuomo, who held the position for the past two seasons, has opted to remain overseas in the Holland region of Netherlands with his family because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
…[read more]Small market sizzle
Their combined population is less than 10,000 residents.
Located along rugged highways between the much bigger places of Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, the small market towns that house the Blind River Beavers and Espanola Express are separated by a mere one hour drive.
And looking ahead to the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season, Blind River and Espanola seem set up to be formidable foes.
Which would be a boost for the Beavers-Express rivalry that has favoured Blind River over Espanola in the standings since the Express entered the NOJHL as a first year franchise in 2015.
…[read more]RBC picks up points in Perala
Productive forward Owen Perala has joined the Rayside Balfour Canadians via future considerations trade with the Cochrane Crunch.
The 6-foot-4, 195 pound forward has already played two full seasons in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League for Cochrane.
Hailing from the northwestern Ontario town of Nipigon, Perala netted 21 goals, 28 assists, 49 points in 55 games for Cochrane during the 2019-2020 campaign.
…[read more]NOJHL season will start …
No one has the direct answer to the start date question.
No one can say with any certainty when the relatively free COVID-19 zones that encompass the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League will be cleared to play.
But — and the word ‘but’ is a big word, more so than ever, perhaps, during these times of pandemic — there is a general feeling out there that if all goes well, the NOJHL will be playing games by early to mid November.
…[read more]Blind River to Espanola
One of the most talented young skaters in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has been traded.
Espanola Express has obtained highly skilled, 2003 birth year forward Devon Savignac from the Blind River Beavers in a cash exchange.
The 5-foot-10, 175 pound Savignac had asked to be traded from Blind River so he could remain at his family’s home in the Sudbury area during the season.
…[read more]Birds knock on Wood
Caleb Wood is crossing back over the International Bridge from the Soo Eagles to the Soo Thunderbirds in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League exchange.
Hockey News North has confirmed that the 2000 birth year forward has been dealt from the Michigan-based Eagles to the Ontario-based Thunderbirds for future considerations.
Hailing from Soo, Ontario, Wood has played the past two NOJHL seasons with the Eagles.
…[read more]Confidence a key for Calisti
Robert Calisti has made gigantic strides since his rookie season of 2017-2018 with the Soo Greyhounds when he dressed for only six games in the Ontario Hockey League and did not pick up a point.
After being picked by the Greyhounds in the third round, 44th overall, of the 2017 OHL priority selections draft, Calisti would spend the majority of the 2017-2018 campaign with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Regular season and playoffs included that 2017-2018 term, Calisti played in 46 games with the Thunderbirds and produced eight goals, 22 assists, 30 points from his defense position.
…[read more]Confirmations for Express
A returning defenseman and a rookie forward have signed to play for the Espanola Express.
Jason Rapcewicz, who is the owner, president and general manager of the small market Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team, told Hockey News North that holdover defenseman William Whelton and freshman forward Isaac Westlake have signed with the Express.
Whelton and Westlake have youth on their side as both have 2003 birth dates.
…[read more]Bird house has a local look
The team that will sport the nifty orange, blue and white colours of the Soo Thunderbirds for the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season is only about half picked.
But of those who have signed up as confirmed skaters for the Thunderbirds for the hopefully anticipated NOJHL season, seven are local residents.
Add in a five member coaching staff with deep roots to the Sault Ste. Marie hockey scene and the Bird house will have a nice local look to it for the upcoming campaign.
…[read more]Incoming on the Express
Two seasoned scouts — both based in Sault Ste. Marie — and a coach with major junior experience represent a trio of newcomers who have hopped aboard the Espanola Express during the summer.
Brad Boyer and Chad Vresk have brought their scouting skills and command to the Express while Brent Hughes has taken over as the head coach in Espanola with proficiency gained from three straight winning seasons as an assistant coach with the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]Capy back with the Eagles
A good old coach is nosing his way back into the Eagles nest.
Jim Capy is returning to the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, this time as an assistant under head coach Doug Laprade.
Capy was the head coach of the Eagles for three full seasons from 2015 until 2018 before a mutual parting of ways with the team.
…[read more]Toms is for the T-Birds
One way or another, Connor Toms will be remaining at home to play junior hockey this season.
If the 16-year old defenseman does not make the roster of the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, he will man the blue line for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Thunderbirds general manager Trev Zachary has confirmed the signing of the medium sized defender, who was a third round pick, 44th overall, by the Greyhounds at the 2020 OHL priority selections draft.
…[read more]