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]Mason Chitaroni has Plan B
It is the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League that Mason Chitaroni wants to play for this season.
That is because Chitaroni is a plum prospect of the Knights, who took the 5-foot-10, 150-pound defender in the fifth round, 99th overall, at this year’s OHL priority selections draft from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds of the Great North Midget Hockey League.
But if Chitaroni doesn’t make the Knights as a 16-year old, he has a Plan B in place with the Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
…[read more]RBC has head coach vacancy
The top team from the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League is in the market for a new bench boss.
Rayside Balfour Canadians, who set the pace on the West side of the NOJHL in 2019-2020, are looking at candidates to take over from Dan Cuomo, who has decided to remain with his family in the Holland region of the Netherlands.
With the 65-year old Cuomo at the helm, Rayside registered a record of 40-11-5 for 85 points during the 2019-2020 regular season before the COVID-19 pandemic halted play just before the start of the divisional semi-final playoffs.
…[read more]First T.J. Aceti award winner
Cash Rowswell has been selected as the first ever winner of the T.J. Aceti Goalie Award.
Young Rowswell was presented with the award today at an emotional, albeit informal backyard gathering.
A goalie who competed at the pee wee major AA level within the Sault Major Hockey Association during the 2019-2020 season, the 13-year old Rowswell was the unanimous choice by a four person committee as the winner of the T.J. Aceti Goalie Award from a group of eight other local puck stoppers.
…[read more]We have this from the NOJHL
We can only hope this works out at some point this season. Having said that, the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has confirmed its initial ‘return to play’ outline for the 2020-2021 season.
…[read more]New commander in Cochrane
Memorial Cup champion and National Hockey League draft pick Tom Nickolau is taking the reins of the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The 54-year old Nickolau has purchased the Cochrane franchise from previous owners Ryan Leonard and Katherine Leonard.
Nickolau, who was a member of the 1986 Ontario Hockey League and Memorial Cup champion Guelph Platers, also holds the distinction of being an NHL draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings.
…[read more]New coach on the Express
There will be a fresh face manning the bench for the Espanola Express come the 2020-2021 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
Well traveled and experienced as a coach and a player at high levels of the game, 38-year old Brent Hughes will take over from Dave Clancy as the new head coach in Espanola.
Among his coaching gigs, Hughes spent three seasons as an assistant with the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League from 2016 until 2019.
…[read more]Kingston on the cusp
An off season of change in leadership relative to the rebuilding of the Kingston Frontenacs has taken on a major contractor to do two jobs.
The Ontario Hockey League team has given coach Paul McFarland added responsibility as its new general manager. As the new GM, McFarland replaces Darren Keily, who was fired last month.
Just over two months before surprisingly releasing Keily, who had been with the organization for 12 years, the Frontenacs fired head coach Kurtis Foster after two seasons on the job to make way for the return of McFarland, who had been an assistant in the National Hockey League the past three years. Before leaving for the NHL, McFarland had three straight winning seasons as the bench boss in Kingston.
…[read more]New gig for John Parco
A successful three season run at the helm of the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has turned into a new challenge for high end coach John Parco.
The soon to be 49 year old Sault Ste. Marie product has signed a two-year contract with the Italian Ice Hockey Federation.
In his new role, Parco will be the director of hockey development for the Italian Federation.
…[read more]Birds have 10 in the nest
Soo Thunderbirds general manager Trevor Zachary has confirmed the signed commitments of 10 players ahead of the 2020-2021 season.
Included in the group of 10 are confirmations from six local skaters — four returnees and two newcomers — who intend to wear the blue, orange and white jerseys of the Thunderbirds for the next Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
The returning local veterans are forwards Avery Rebek, Cooper Smyl, Brock Santa Maria and Kurtis Rogers.
Local newcomers to the Bird house are forwards Michael Chaffay and Ty Zachary.
…[read more]Colts could be Barrie good
Horse power is poised to make some noise in and around Barrie.
And a couple of northern Ontario boys represent a faction of high end skaters who figure to make the Barrie Colts an Eastern Conference contender come the 2020-2021 Ontario Hockey League season.
Left winger Nick Porco, a Sault Ste. Marie product, and pride of Powassan defenseman Connor Punnett are two players who went to Barrie in separate exchanges with the Saginaw Spirit during the 2019-2020 season.
…[read more]Family advisors of choice
They are known as family advisors and/or player agents. And when I am asked by parents of hockey players — which is rather often — as to who I would recommend as a family advisor, I give them the names of three management groups that I have had good and lengthy dealings with.
…[read more]What’s with the handshakes?
I fully expected the Toronto Maple Leafs to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fifth-and-deciding game of their preliminary round, National Hockey League playoff series.
After all, the Leafs had stunned Columbus in Game 4 with an improbable 4-3 overtime win after rallying from a 3-0 deficit with less than four minutes to play in the third period.
But what I didn’t expect — aside from the Leafs coming up flat in a 3-0 loss in Game 5 — was that players from both teams would remove their gloves and shake hands following the decisive match.
…[read more]Eagles change camp dates
From one week to another and from once facility to another.
Originally slated for August 12-14 at Big Bear Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have moved their main training camp dates and location.
Instead, the Eagles will now hold their main camp a week later, from August 21-23, at Lake Superior State University’s Norris Center facility.
…[read more]Fronts zero in on new GM
Kingston Frontenacs figure to have a new general manager in place towards the end of August.
Frontenacs president Doug Springer told the Kingston Whig Standard that the Ontario Hockey League team has narrowed down a list of candidates to take over from Darren Keily as GM.
Springer said he hopes to have a new GM in place within three weeks.
Keily was surprisingly fired by Springer earlier this month after having helped to guide the Frontenacs through two rebuilding seasons.
…[read more]New Liskeard to Powassan
On to the next level for this dandy duo.
A pair of top performers from the New Liskeard Cubs of the Great North Midget Hockey League have signed with the Powassan Voodoos of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
They are forwards Ben White and Jackson Buffam.
White and Buffam were New Liskeard’s top two point producers during the 2019-2020 season. They were also sixth and seventh, respectively, on the Great North scoring chart.
…[read more]Rayside signs rookie goalie
Rayside Balfour Canadians of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have stayed local with the signing of 2003 birth year goalie Jake Marois.
As a member of the fourth place Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves, the 6-foot, 175 pound Marois was the top goalie in the Great North Midget Hockey League in 2019-2020 with a 2.16 goals against average in 1,280 minutes of action.
Marois also played in the Great North in 2018-2019.
His work in the Great North loop was enough for Marois to earn an invitation to attend the upcoming Ontario Hockey League camp of the London Knights as a free agent.
…[read more]OHL return to play reaction
It spells cautious optimism and hope, albeit with some lingering uncertainty.
It is a date that players, coaches, fans — and anyone with any sort of association to the Ontario Hockey League — can focus on and look forward to.
And while there is still so much to do as the COVID-19 pandemic remains in our midst, the recent announcement by the OHL that it plans to begin the 2020-2021 regular season on December 1 has at least partially pulled the major junior league from the state of relative dormancy it has been in since the 2019-2020 season was shut down in mid March of this year.
For players like 19-year old forward Nick Porco, a Sault Ste. Marie native and member of the OHL’s Barrie Colts, it is something to work towards.
…[read more]