NOJHL This Week

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA RELEASE

Release Date: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012

NOJHL NOTEBOOK: Nickel Barons, Trappers among CJHL elite early on 

SUDBURY -- The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is well represented in an early look at the top clubs in all of Canadian Jr. A hockey.

With over 100 teams comprising the Canadian Junior Hockey League this season, only three of them, among those who have played five of more games to date, have yet to taste defeat in regulation, overtime or a shootout.

Two of those sides are members of the NOJHL as the Sudbury Nickel Barons and North Bay Trappers are 5-0 and 4-0-1 respectively.

Joining them are the Yarmouth Mariners of the Maritime Hockey League. They are a perfect 5-0 after five outings.

CJHL TOP 20: By virtue of their solid starts both Sudbury and North Bay have garnered recognition from the Canadian Junior Hockey League in the initial Top 20 rankings of the 2012-13 season.

The Sudbury Nickel Barons were tabbed 9th overall while the Trappers earned honourable mention accolades.

The rankings, compiled in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting, are formulated upon a variety of factors.

This which includes the league in which the teams belong to, this season’s results in regular season, last season’s playoffs, as well as initial recruiting efforts for the 2012-13 campaign.

Both clubs are unbeaten early in the season with Sudbury registering a league-best 5-0-0 record while second place North Bay is close behind at 4-0-1.

The last time two NOJHL clubs received a top 20 ranking or honourable mention status was Feb. 20 of this year when both the Soo Thunderbirds and Soo Eagles earned recognition.

The defending Royal Bank Cup champion Penticton Vees of the BCHL were the top rated CJHL side in the initial rankings.

CJHL TOP 20:

1.    Penticton Vees (BCHL) 
2.    Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
3.    Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL)
4.    Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
5.    Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL)
6.    Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)
7.    Portage Terriers (MJHL)
8.    Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
9.   SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS (NOJHL)
10.  Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
11.  Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
12.  Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL) 
13.  Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL)
14.  Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL)
15.  Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
16.  Truro Bearcats (MHL)
17.  College Francais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ)
18.  Carlton Place Canadians (CCHL)
19.  Oakville Blades (OJHL)
20.  N/A

Honourable mention: NORTH BAY TRAPPERS (NOJHL), Canmore Eagles (AJHL), Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL), OCN Blizzard (MJHL) and Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL).

ON THE ICE: A total of seven games comprise the NOJHL docket this week.

Action gets underway this evening in Copper Cliff as the host Sudbury Nickel Barons looks to run their record to 6-0 as they welcome the first-year Elliot Lake Bobcats to McClelland Arena in a 7:30 p.m. start.

Two more tilts go Friday, including the top two clubs in the NOJHL standings squaring off at North Bay’s Memorial Gardens with the Trappers taking on Sudbury at 7 p.m.

Friday’s other game features Elliot Lake at home to Kirkland Lake with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. at Centennial Arena.

Three more contests go Saturday and will all get underway at 7:30 p.m. Those match-ups see Kirkland Lake paying a visit to Sault Ste. Marie to take on the Thunderbirds at Essar Centre, North Bay heading to Iroquois Falls to meet the Abitibi Eskimos and the Nickel Barons going up against the Blind River Beavers.

Wrapping up week 4 in the NOJHL will be a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday as the Beavers entertain the Gold Miners of Kirkland Lake at the Blind River Community Centre.

2013 DUDLEY-HEWITT CUP: The North Bay Trappers will serve as the host team for the 2013 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship tournament.

The five-day event will be held at North Bay Memorial Gardens April 30 through May 4. It will feature the Trappers along with the champions of the NOJHL, Ontario Junior Hockey League and Superior International Junior Hockey League taking part.

Should North Bay go on to capture the NOJHL championship, then the league finalist will round out the four-team field with a berth to the Royal Bank Cup national Jr. A championship in Summerside, P.E.I. in May on the line.

NOJHL THREE STARS: Goal scoring was down in week three of NOJHL action, but that didn’t stop a handful of players from solving a group of goaltenders who were very, very good and earning themselves the NOJHL Three Stars of the Week for the period ending Sept. 23, as chosen by the league’s selection committee.

RICHARD THERRIEN – ABITIBI ESKIMOS: With his team looking to break into the win column, the veteran scoring threat took it upon his shoulders by netting four goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Eskies surprised the Soo Thunderbirds 5-4 at the Jus Jordan Arena.

Therrien finished last year with 44 goals and 47 assists in his second season with Abitibi, making the jump from the very successful Hearst Elans Midget “AA” program. Carrying the captaincy for a second straight year with the Eskies, Therrien will be leaned upon heavily by long-time Abitibi coach Paul Gagne.

NICHOLAS TASSONE – ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS: Really coming into his own after returning for a final year of Midget AAA hockey with the Soo Michigan Indians last season, the 18-year old Nick Tassone is making a seamless transition to the ranks of the NOJHL.

Tassone scored twice and added an assist last week as the Bobcats split a weekend home and home series with the Blind River Beavers. A native of Sault Ste Marie, Ont., He currently leads Elliot Lake in scoring, averaging a point a game in the early going.

BRENNEN DUBCHAK – NORTH BAY TRAPPERS: With the North Bay Trappers hosting the 2013 Dudley-Hewitt Cup, team management did not hesitate when the opportunity arose to acquire a talented forward already blessed with DHC experience.

Kenora native Brennen Dubchak spent the 2011-12 season with the Thunder Bay North Stars of the Superior International Junior Hockey League, who hosted the 2012 Dudley-Hewitt in the Lakehead.

The 18-year-old forward scored twice in Cup play and has continued filling the net in North Bay this year, racking up eight points in his first five games with the Trappers. 

GOAL SCORER: Sudbury Nickel Barons snipers Darcy Haines continues to score at a good clip early on.

His eight tallies in five games leads all skaters in the NOJHL while also topping the league in overall points with 12.

Looking across the entire CJHL you’ll see only eight players have scored eight or more goals so far this season.

Every one of these goal scorers plays in either Ontario or Quebec.

Haines sits tied for fifth overall in the overall goals scored department, but has also played in fewer games than the others.

The following are the CJHL goal leaders as of Sept. 26: 

PLAYER  TEAM  LEAGUE GP G 
Benjamin Laliberté  Ste-Jerome LJRAAAQ 8 11 
Joakim Arsenault  Ste-Agathe LJRAAAQ 7 10
Matt Galati  Pickering OJHL  7 9
Sebastien Bergeron Ste-Agathe LJRAAAQ 7 9
Darcy Haines  Sudbury NOJHL  5 8
Marly Quince  Cornwall  CCHL  6 8
Patrick Chore  Oakville  OJHL  7 8
Alex Gagnon  Granby  LJRAAAQ 8 8

TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTEBOOK

ABITIBI ESKIMOS – After starting 0-4 to begin the season the Eskimos came up big to notch win No. 1 of the campaign Saturday as they rode the four-goal performance of Richard Therrien to upend the defending NOJHL champion Soo Thunderbirds 5-4 in overtime. … Therrien’s big night allowed him to take over the team scoring lead. He has six points, including five goals, in four games. … Abitibi only has one game scheduled this week as they welcome North Bay to Jus Jordan Arena on Saturday.

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – Having won two of the past three the Beavers host Sudbury Saturday and Kirkland Lake on Sunday at the Community Centre. … Scoring goals has not been a problem for the club so far this season. They are currently tied for the second most markers scored in the NOJHL with 26. … Tyler Brown leads the squad offensively with eight points on three tallies and five assists. He is knotted for fifth in league scoring. … Paul Muio is next on the team in points with seven, including six helpers, while Samuel Wilbur sits third with six points. 14 different skaters have already notched markers for Blind River so far this season.

ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS – The first-year Bobcats recorded their first NOJHL victory on Sept. 21 defeating Blind River 5-1 on home ice. … A Thomas Coty tally late in the first period stood up to be the initial game-winning goal in team history. … Cory Simic made 26 stops in his Bobcats debut to register the victory. … After Wednesday game in Sudbury Elliot Lake returns home for three straight at Centennial Arena, including Kirkland Lake paying a visit Friday. … Nicholas Tassone has goals in three straight outings. All of those markers come on the power play.

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS – The Gold Miners will look to snap a mini two-game losing streak this weekend as they hit the road for three games with stops in Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie and Blind River Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. …Steve Babin and Jordan Briand share the team point lead with five apiece. … The club has allowed the third fewest goals in the league to date at 15. … Chris Komma sits fifth in NOJHL goals-against average at 2.65 while also posting one shutout.

NORTH BAY TRAPPERS – The Trappers remain unbeaten at 4-0-1. … They are one of three clubs across the CJHL who have yet to lose after playing in five or more games. … North Bay has allowed the fewest goals in the NOJHL so far at 11. They are tied for second in goals scored with 26. … … Greg Dodds is fourth in the league in goals-against average at 2.13. He is also fourth in save percentage at .922 having played every minute in net for his team so far this season. … Newcomer Brennen Dubchak has taken over the team scoring lead with eight points in five games. He sits tied for fifth overall in NOJHL offensive production. … Brandon Janke is right behind with seven points on a pair of tallies and five assists. … Corbin Bean, Carter Horwitz and Trevor Hunt all have six points early on.

SOO THUNDERBIRDS – Rookie goaltender Joel Horodziejczyk leads all NOJHL netminders in both goals-against average and save percentage. He sits with a stingy 0.67 GAA along with an impressive .969 save mark. … With 11 points Adam Ritchie leads the T-Birds offensively. His numbers also rank him second overall in the league having scored six times while setting up five others. Ritchie already has three multiple-point games to his credit. … Greg Sartoretto joins Ritchie in the NOJHL top 10 in scoring with seven points. He sits second on the squad with two markers and five helpers. … Having dropped two in a row after starting the season at 3-0-1 the defending NOJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion Thunderbirds begin a stint of 10 of their next 12 at home Friday as Kirkland Lake pays a visit to Essar Centre.

SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS – Sudbury looks to extend their unbeaten run to start the 2012-13 campaign to six straight as they host Elliot Lake at McClelland Arena. They are only one of three teams in the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League who are unbeaten after five or more games. … The Nickel Barons pace the NOJHL and in goals scored with 30. … Offensively Sudbury continues to boast three of the NOJHL’s top four point producers early on. Darcy Haines leads the way with 12 points, including a league-best eight goals. … Sebastien Leroux and August Jarecki are knotted for third in league scoring with nine points apiece. Goaltender Alex Laino is 3-0 to start the season while Michael Muzyka is 2-0. Muzyka is third in goals-against average at 2.00 while Laino in sixth at 3.00. They are also second and sixth respectively in save percentage at .937 and .907. Three games in four nights see the Barons at home tonight before visiting North Bay Friday and Blind River Saturday. 
 

SIJHL This Week

By: Lucas Punkari

Lucas is the Sports Reporter for Fort Frances.

After an off-season that saw five head coaching changes, two teams change names, and the defending league champions moving to a different state, it’s been great to actually get back into the on-ice action in the SIJHL.

With a week of regular season play now officially in the record books, here’s a quick look at has transpired up to this point with all seven teams in the league.

1. Dryden Ice Dogs (3-0-0-0 - 6 Points)

With almost everyone coming back from last year’s semi-final squad, the Ice Dogs have quickly jumped out as one of the teams to beat in the SIJHL at this early stage, especially with a 5-2 win over the defending champion Minnesota Wilderness at home on Sunday.

While returning forwards Jesse Linner (2-4-6) and Chris Belhumer (3-3-6) have been key contributors for the Ice Dogs thus far, one of the top performers has been newly acquired forward Tyler Walsh. 

The 20-year-old from Mississauga, who spent time in Huntsville, Kingston, Woodstock and Truro last season, has three goals and four assists in three games this season, and was given the league’s first player of the week accolade of the campaign.

     

2. Thunder Bay North Stars (3-0-0-0 - 6 Points)

Heading into the season, no one had a clue who the North Stars’ head coach was actually going to be, as team owner Doug Gunsinger decided not to unveil the bench boss until their home opener on Tuesday night against Sioux Lookout, with Ear Falls mayor and long-time hockey man Kevin Kahoot taking the role behind the bench.

With that mystery now solved, the focus can actually turn to the play of the North Stars, who have scored the most amount of goals (20) and allowed the least amount (five) for any team that has played more than one game. 

On offence, returning forward Matt Kaarela has been a force with five goals thus far, while goaltender Jayme Brattengeier (who was acquired from Sioux Lookout in the summer) has been red-hot with a 1.67 GAA and three straight wins. 

3. Minnesota Wilderness (2-1-0-0 - 4 Points)

The winners of the last two Bill Salonen Cups, the Wilderness moved from Spooner, Wi. to Cloquet, Mn. during the off-season due to the impending sale and possible closure of their arena, leading to an obvious name change for the club.

As was the case last year, the majority of the players from the defending champions have moved on from the junior ranks (although 36-point forward Shane Topf moved on to Hawkesbury of the CCHL), leaving many holes to be filled.

But once again, the Wilderness have come out flying offensively, especially with returning 69-point man Mike Dietrich, who has seven points in three games.

4. Minnesota Iron Rangers (2-2-0-0 - 4 Points)

After struggling to just nine wins a year ago as the Iron Range Ironheads, the new look Iron Rangers seem to be much improved already, with two wins already under their belts.

With former Madison Capitols bench boss Chris Walby now leading the way in the coaching and general management department, the Iron Rangers have brought in a number of players from the Capitols system along with a few players from the Minnesota and Wisconsin high school ranks.

But at this point, former Chicago Hitmen forward Joey Haydock has been the player to watch as he’s scored three goals and picked up an assist to lead the way on offence, with former Chicago Fury forward Jonathon Losurdo potting two goals to help the squad out.

5. Duluth Clydesdales (0-2-0-1 - 1 Point)

Having lost three games already, the Clydesdales have a very tough road ahead of them over the next two weekends, as they will be taking on the Minnesota Wilderness on three straight occasions.

Although that task does look daunting, Duluth might have found a new marksman on their squad to replace Hunter Scott and Cody Stettin, who both left the team after last season.

The man is Anchorage, Ak. native Darrick Howard, who after putting up 33 points for Duluth Marshall last season, already has three goals and an assist to his name in his rookie SIJHL campaign.

6. Fort Frances Lakers (0-1-0-0 - 0 Points)

After falling a game short of winning the SIJHL crown, the Lakers lost a number of key contributors during the off-season, with the two most notable being league MVP Byron Katapaytuk (who is now playing for Nipissing University after completing his junior career) and rookie of the year Jordan Larson (who was traded to Pembroke in the CCHL).

However, the Lakers are returning some talented players from last year’s team (most notably forwards Jordan Christianson, Merritt Rysavy, Davis Smith and Colton Spicer, defender Jon Carlson, and goaltender Tanner Hamilton), in addition to a few newcomers from the Minnesota high school ranks.

One new face that you may want to keep an eye on is 18-year-old forward Kevin Kurm out of Thunder Bay. After putting up 45 points for the Fort William Hurricanes last season, Kurm impressed many with his speed and skill during the Lakers’ prospect camp in July and the main camp in August, and already has a goal to his name in their season opening loss to the Iron Rangers

7. Sioux Lookout Flyers (0-3-0-0 - 0 Points)

Even though the season is only a week old, the situation involving the Flyers right now is getting quite messy.

After dropping a 8-2 decision to the Thunder Bay North Stars on Tuesday, it was announced by the league on Wednesday that the rematch between both sides was cancelled due to the Flyers being unable to field a full squad due to a number of factors, such as injuries and player suspensions.

Then on Thursday afternoon, it was announced that a pair of games against the Minnesota Iron Rangers scheduled for this weekend had been postponed, but that the Flyers would be back in action on Friday, Oct. 12 when they host the Minnesota Wilderness.

While it remains to be seen what happens going forward, this is not a good sign for a club that nearly bit the dust in the summer of 2011 due to concerns with finances.

Big Thanks to Lucas for the Write-up!

NSRHL Fall meeting

Sept 24 2012 Meeting

9/25/2012

Here is the minutes from the Sept 24 meeting held in Edam

Edam, Maidstone, Meadow Lake, Paradise Hill, St Walburg, Turtleford, Wilkie and Nolan Wirth all present at meeting

- Spiritwood has joined the SPHL leaving the NSRHL with 7 teams

- Maidstone made a motion for Doug Larre to be President of the league

    Meadow Lake seconded, 7-0 vote, carried.

- Maidstone made a motion for Nolan Wirth to be an adviser for suspensions

    Meadow Lake seconded, 7-0 vote, carried

- Nolan Wirth gave a referee reports

- Maidstone makes a motion that any team postponing a game within 10 hrs of game time (weather exempt) or forfeits a game outright that they pay $1500.  $1000 goes to the team they cancelled with and $500 goes to the league

     St Walburg seconded, 7-0 vote, carried

-Maidstone make a motion that we do not pass the new Hockey Canada optional league rules until SHA adopts the rules

     Wilkie seconded, 7-0 vote, carried

- Maidstone makes motion that playoffs be as follows: Round 1- Best of 3

                                                                                                   Round 2- Best of 5

                                                                                                   Round 3- Best of 7

     Turtleford seconded, 7-0 vote, carried

- Next meeting is Mon Nov 5 7:30 in Edam

Notes:

- Schedule is 18 games.  Each team plays 3 games vs every team in the league.  Each team will play 2 home and 1 away vs 3 teams this year and 1 home and 2 away vs the other 3 teams.  The schedule will be flipped next year so whoever goes to a team 2 times this year will only have to go to that team 1 time next year.

- Regular season ends Feb 2

- All teams will make the playoffs

-At the next meeting it will be decided how the playoffs will be (who gets a buy etc.)

*Taken from the NSRHL website*

CCHL This Week

By: Jeffrey Maguire

You might think 12 points from eight games would have a coach feeling satisfied early in the junior hockey season.

That’s not how Carleton Place Canadians’ bench boss Jason Clarke views his team’s current situation. Instead of lauding his club for taking the overall points lead in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) with three straight wins last week, Clarke is concerned about his team’s poor penalty record.

“We’ve won some games lately. But I’m embarrassed that our lack of discipline also has us leading the league in penalty minutes.”

Clarke fears his players’ disciplinary failings are going to catch up with them.

“We can’t keep taking so many penalties – not in this league. If we’re going to be successful we have to learn to stay out of the penalty box,” he laments.

Carleton Place outscored visiting Kemptville 73’s 7-5 Sunday afternoon despite taking 45 minutes in penalties. That number boosted Canadians’ overall penalty count to 227 minutes in just eight games. The next highest total belongs to Robinson Division rival Brockville Braves who have accumulated 194 minutes in the sin bin in six outings. Brockville currently trails Carleton Place by eight points in the division.

While criticizing his players for lack of discipline, Clarke does find some positives to hang his hat on!

“Our goaltending and specialty teams have been strong. Obviously our PK (penalty kill) has had to be good,” he underlines.

Rookie goalie Matt Couvrette, who starred for Valley Division champion Arnprior Packers in Junior B hockey last season, comes in for praise from his head coach.

“Matt has played quite well for us so far.”

Couvrette struggled somewhat in the first period Sunday. He was replaced by second year man Justin Laforest, who also spent a lot of time in Junior B last season. Laforest gave up three goals in 40 minutes of work, but recorded his third win with 14 saves.

Clarke is looking forward to the return of No. 1 goaltender Tony Kujava who has yet to don the pads in a CCHL regular season contest. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the pre-season which has been slow to heal.

Kujava, a 19-year-old native of Green Bay, Wisconsin had an excellent campaign in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) last season. The junior hockey league has 24 teams across the United States.

“Tony was a superstar in the NAHL last year. He’s our No. 1 guy and we look forward to his return,” Clarke underlines.

Keefe optimistic

Pembroke head coach and general manager Sheldon Keefe is cautiously optimistic following a solid start by his team. With five titles in six seasons Pembroke is always a CCHL favourite and the highly respected Keefe is the architect of their success!

“We are happy with how the season has started but understand that we haven’t seen a number of the strongest teams yet,” he said Monday morning.

“We need to continue to get better every day in order to compete in this league where anyone can beat you on any given night.”

The veteran hockey man says that with just six players returning this season “we expected there would be some growing pains.

“There certainly have been some inconsistencies within each game. But we have managed to collect points while we go through the process of improving,” Keefe adds.

“Our goal this summer was to add some pieces that could make us competitive this season and beyond. From that end we are pleased with the group so far and look forward to seeing them progress throughout the season.”

SUNDAY IN THE CCHL

Carleton Place continued to hold first place overall, outscoring Kemptville in a Robinson Division showdown, while in the Yzerman Division perennial champions Pembroke are looking good early. Lumber Kings overturned a 3-1 deficit at home against Hawkesbury Sunday night for their fifth victory.

Carleton Place 7 – Kemptville 5: Four goals in a span of just over 12 minutes in the third period allowed Canadians to improve their early season mark to 6-2, the best record in the CCHL. They outshot a blossoming Kemptville side 32-26, but trailed 2-1 and 4-3 at the intervals before rallying in the final frame. Defenceman Michael Maciag had a big afternoon firing two goals and setting up two others to pace Canadians’ offence. Rookie left winger Kevin Dufour had a goal and two helpers to move into a four-way tie atop the Carleton Place scoring parade with nine points, including four markers in six outings. Left winger Nick Erb and centre Brandon Seatter helped out with a goal and an assist apiece. Lucas Gonu scored twice for Kemptville to give him a team leading four on the season. Jesse Lussier had a goal and one assist. Justin Laforest relieved starter Matt Couvrette in the Carleton Place cage and despite yielding three goals he won his third game against one setback. Carleton Place was three for six on the powerplay and Kemptville was two for six. Canadians’ forward Stephen Baylis and 73’s defenceman Matt Shackell picked up game misconducts for fighting late in the game.

Pembroke 5 – Hawkesbury 3: Four unanswered goals in the third period allowed Lumber Kings to come from behind and send struggling Hawkesbury to their fourth defeat in five starts. Hawks, who outscored Cornwall for their initial win of the campaign Friday, led 2-1 and 3-1 at the intervals. They looked to be in the driver’s seat more than seven minutes into the final frame. But the home team struck twice in seven minutes to tie it. And with just 56 seconds left in regulation it was former Hawks’ star Stephen Hrehoriak who rifled the game winner past Carmine Guerriero. Kings’ improved to 5-1-0-1 and have rung up 11 points to top the Yzerman Division. Ben Dalpe’s unassisted tally with one second left clinched the win in front of nearly 800 Pembroke faithful. Defenceman J. J. Hart had three assists for the winners. Carl Greco on a powerplay, Liam Baird and Owen McDade had singles for Pembroke. Stefano Momesso, Shane Topf and William Plamondon had staked Hawkesbury to the early lead. 

Smiths Falls 5 – Gloucester 3: Bears continued their strong start to the campaign with a win over the struggling Rangers. Gloucester led in shots on goals 35-32, but was stymied by Smiths Falls’ rookie goalie Jimmy Howe who won his first Junior A game, kicking out 32 shots. After a scoreless opening stanza the home team took charge, netting three of the four goals scored in the middle stanza. Veteran Chris Maniccia paced Bears’ attack with two second period goals giving him seven markers and a league leading 13 points. Defenceman Tyler Akeson set up four goals while left winger Michael Buonincontri had a goal and an assist for the winners. Travis Meyer, Chad Millett and Alexandre Boivin were Rangers’ goal-getters. Bears were three for nine with the man advantage.

Nepean 4 – Brockville 1: Braves were frustrated by the outstanding net minding of Raiders’ Matt Zawadzki.  The veteran puck stopper turned aside 41 shots as Brockville out chanced the home team 42-21 but could not put enough pucks past Zawadzki. The 19-year-old from Fort Mill, South Carolina holds second place in goals against average in the CCHL at 2.20 after five games. The first period was scoreless and after Braves took a short lived lead on David Ferreira’s goal, Michael Vered netted twice in 61 seconds as Raiders led 2-1 after 40 minutes. Veteran forwards Brent Norris and Dalen Hodges put it away with third period goals. Kenneth Neil contributed three important assists. The officials were kept busy in the second period when 17 penalties were called. There were no powerplay markers scored in the contest however!

Cumberland 5 – Cornwall 2: Grads recorded their second win in six starts thanks mainly to rookie goalie Devan Tremblay who made 45 saves. The visitors out shot Cumberland 47-38. Cornwall led 2-1 after one period on a shorthanded effort by Billy Ulrick and centre Marly Quince’s league leading eighth of the campaign. Justin Pelock replied for the Navan-based Grads. In the second the home team dominated on the scoreboard, outshooting Colts 19-16 and firing four markers. Eric Clitsome scored on a powerplay and he also added an unassisted tally. Zach Rodier and Nick Martin then took turns scoring and setting each other up. Cornwall starter Justin Piccolino yielded all five goals and was replaced by James Edwardson as the clubs played a scoreless third period.

  

FRIDAY

For the first time this season all six teams were in action on the same night Friday. Carleton Place claimed the overall league points lead with a win over Gloucester to move into double figures with 10. At the end of play Friday, Kanata and Pembroke were tied at the top of the Yzerman Division with nine points apiece. Stallions won in Smiths Falls while Lumber Kings fell in a shootout at Kemptville.

Carleton Place 5 – Gloucester 3:  Canadians continue to play entertaining hockey early in the campaign. They have been in every game! Friday they won their second straight and fifth overall, against two setbacks at the hands of Robinson rivals Smiths Falls the previous weekend. Goaltending kept Gloucester in this one early. Gianmarco De Meis was peppered with 14 shots in the first period alone but his excellent play allowed the home team to escape the period tied 1-1. Carleton Place continued to dominate, outscoring Rangers 2-1 in each of the second and third periods and outshooting them 40-29 on the night. Veteran forward Luke Martin led the visitors with a goal and two assists. Centre Alex Globke continues to shine for Canadians. He scored his fifth goal and was named the first star for a second consecutive match. Newcomers Kevin Dufour and Alex Frere also beat De Meis. Alexandre Boivin had a goal and one assist in a losing cause.

Kanata 5 – Smiths Falls 3: Three unanswered tallies in the third period gave Stallions (4-2-1-0) the win at Smiths Falls. It was an excellent game with the visitors holding a slight 39-37 shots advantage. There were just six minor penalties called, three to each team. Right winger Alex Stothart nailed the winner (his first of the campaign) midway through the final frame. Derian Plouffe’s fourth went into the empty Bears’ cage with three seconds showing on the clock. Rookie forward Nic LaBurn had a goal and an assist to lead Kanata’s offence. Jesse Blais, Ryan Eardley and Yannick Crete were the Smiths Falls scorers. Brandon Lane outdueled Patrick Martin in goal to even his record at 3-3.

Kemptville 3 – Pembroke 2 (SO): Billy Cooper made 28 stops to lead 73’s to a rare win over perennial CCHL champion Pembroke. Two Kemptville shooters out of four were successful in the shootout phase after overtime failed to settle the issue. Carp native Matt Rosebrook fired his second of the season during a powerplay, 23 seconds into the final regulation period, to tie the game and force OT. Veteran Blaine Byron scored the first 73’s marker in the second after Brian Hennessey and Jordan Larson had given the visitors the early lead with first period strikes. Tyler Gaudet set up both goals for Pembroke who led the shots parade 30-24. Kings’ defenceman Philippe Drouin was ejected with one second left in the first after a dust-up with Kemptville rearguard Cody Hendsbee. Drouin was the only one to be tagged for fighting and he also took an instigator penalty.

Brockville 3 – Nepean 0: Braves surprised Raiders behind the shutout goaltending of Matthew Jenkins who earned his second win of the season. Jenkins wasn’t overly busy however, turning aside 18 shots. Brockville rifled 33 at Matt Zawadzki, 11 in each period. The home team led 2-0 after one with Nathan Todd opening scoring on a powerplay, set up by David Ferreira at 1:56. With just 1:44 left in the stanza Ferreira triggered his second to pad Braves’ lead. Brandon Cole’s powerplay tally at 8:08 of the second proved to be the final goal of the night. It was an unfriendly match with Nepean picking up 19 penalties and Brockville 13. Many were rouging of inciting an opponent calls. The only player banished was Braves’ centre Taylor Henry late in period two. He was called for checking from behind which carries an automatic game misconduct. Braves were just two for 14 with the man advantage but that turned out to be more than enough. A crowd of 742 took in the action.

Ottawa 5 – Cumberland 4 (SO): At Navan Junior Senators were successful in the shootout phase, edging Yzerman Division rival Cumberland to move two points ahead of Grads in the early season standings. Cumberland fell despite scoring three times in the final three minutes, 46 seconds of regulation to tie the contest and force overtime. Nick Martin tied it with 37 seconds left and Grads’ goalie Reilly Turner on the bench in favour of a sixth attacker. The first period was scoreless but Ottawa grabbed a 2-0 second period lead on goals by Eric Witzel and Hunter Racine. After Colin Kruse scored shorthanded for Cumberland nine seconds into the third, Sens rallied for two more by Luc Deschamps and Ben Robillard to lead 4-1. Witzel and Robillard had three points apiece. Grads scoring leader Philippe Paquette set up a pair. Overtime was scoreless but in the shootout phase Ottawa outscored Cumberland 2-1. Senators outshot Grads 36-29 with Ryan McLaughlin the winning net minder.

Hawkesbury 8 – Cornwall 6: Hawks shook off their early season lethargy in a big way, putting eight pucks past Colts’ Matt Jenkins to send nearly 300 fans home happy. It was the first win of the campaign for Hawkesbury! Defence was abandoned in this one with 14 goals scored on a combined total of 49 shots. Hawks dominated in that department with 28! Hawkesbury wingers Brandon Bussey and Francis Landers led all scorers with six points each including hat tricks for both players. The veteran forwards each struck twice during a five goal third period for the home team. Carl Faucher had a goal and three assists for the winners who trailed 5-3 after 40 minutes following a five-goal explosion by the visitors in the second stanza. Dependable Trent Durocher led Cornwall with two goals and an assist. Khalid Alli and Sean King had a goal and one helper apiece for Colts. Carmine Guerriero, with relief from Brock Crossthwaite, picked up the first net minding win of the season for Hawkesbury.

EARLY LAST WEEK

Cornwall 5 – Gloucester 1: Colts continued their impressive start Thursday with a dominating home ice performance against Rangers. With the win Cornwall (4-1) joined Smiths Falls and Carleton Place atop the Robinson Division. Rangers, who finished in the CCHL cellar last season, have struggled out of the gate early in the new campaign. They stayed in the Yzerman Division basement with two points from five games. Colts’ centre Marly Quince claimed the league goal scoring lead with a hat trick, giving him seven tallies in just four appearances. Tanner Spink, younger brother of twin sensations Tyson and Tylor who graduated from Cornwall last season, netted his first in a Colts’ uniform. Sean King also struck for the winners who outshot Gloucester 38-25. Team captain Alexandre Boivin was the only Ranger to beat winning goalie James Edwardson.

Nepean 9 – Kemptville 3: The defending champion Raiders made short work of 73’s, pouring nine goals past veteran net minder Dylan BrindAmour who didn’t have a good night Wednesday. The shots totals were a deceiving 38-33. It was all Nepean in this one! They held period leads of 2-1 and 5-2 before putting the game away with four straight goals in a span of less than five minutes in period three. Rookie winger Maxim Cote recorded his first three points of the campaign, all of them goals. Cote’s hat trick earned him second star honours. Line mate Vincert Llorca was the first star with a goal and three assists. Veteran forward Brent Norris chipped in with two goals and two helpers. That gave him a team leading nine points including five tallies. Defenceman Derek Diaz helped out on three goals. Kemptville who fell to 1-3-0-1 got singles from Stevie Ray Adams, Mason Nowak and Matt Tugnutt, son of former NHL net minder Ron Tugnutt.

Carleton Place 4 – Ottawa 1: Canadians completely dominated Wednesday’s contest in Ottawa. If it hadn’t been for the stellar work of Junior Senators’ goalie Alexandre Savard-Belanger it would have been a total rout! Carleton Place out shot Sens by a wide margin, 49-16 on the night. Road wins against Ottawa have not come easily in Canadians’ short history. They failed to win at Jim Durrell for two seasons and lost their first game there last year before turning it around with a pair of victories in the second half of last season. Newcomer Alex Globke continued to hold a hot hand. He fired his fourth goal and added an assist and was named the game’s first star. Globke moved to seven points in six games. Kevin Dufour, Luke Kasteel and Evan Peterson, on a third period powerplay, had the others for the winners. Luke Martin and Luke Edwards set-up two goals each. Eric Witzel’s first period marker was the only score for Senators.

Pembroke 4 – Kanata 0: Stallions’ stay at the top of the Yzerman Division lasted less than 48 hours. Lumber Kings grabbed the early season mantle in the division, blanking Stallions at Kanata Recreation Complex Tuesday (Sept. 18). Andy Munroe earned the first shutout of the season for Pembroke with a 27 save performance. His record improved to 2-1. Kings dominated the game, firing 41 shots at an overworked Brandon Lane. Centre Jordan Larson triggered two goals, one in each of the second and third periods. That gave him four markers and six points in five outings. Defenceman Philippe Drouin had a big night assisting on all four goals. Cody Trowell’s first of the season at 3:43 of period one was the winner. Brendan McGuire also scored during a first period powerplay.

There are 16 league games scheduled this week with five each on Friday and Sunday!

Klippers/Stars Pictures - Sept 22nd

The 2012/13 Stars are ready for take-off

The Players ready for a face-off

Two Stars pass the puck down low while being harassed by the Klippers defenders

*Creecher thinking* Um... guys.... 

*Creecher still thinking* What the hell! Get over here and fist pound me already!

NOJHL This Week

Oh, by the way, I'm back! I'll be attempting to do this kinda stuff on a semi regular basis.

NOJHL NOTEBOOK

09/19/2012, 5:00pm EDT

By NOJHL Communications

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA RELEASE

Release Date: Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012

NOJHL Notebook: Unbeaten Sudbury hosts Abitibi to begin week 3 

SUDBURY -- McClelland Arena in Cooper Cliff will be site as Week 3 in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League begins this evening with one club looking to continue its winning ways while another searches for their initial victory of the season.

The host Sudbury Nickel Barons will look to run their season-opening winning streak to five in that contest, which features a 7:30 p.m. start, while the Abitibi Eskimos look to put an end to a 0-3 start.

Five other games make-up the NOJHL slate this week with a pair of contests going Friday as Blind River travels to Elliot Lake while the Soo Thunderbirds head to Kirkland Lake. Both games get underway at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday sees Blind River and Elliot Lake wrap-up their home-and-home weekend set with Abitibi hosting the Thunderbirds in another 7:30 p.m. start.

Week 3 concludes Sunday at North Bay’s Memorial Gardens as the Trappers entertain the Soo in a 2 p.m. matinee.

UNBEATEN: Looking across the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League you’ll find seven of its 10 member leagues have already started their respective regular seasons, with the other three all commencing this week.

Of those seven leagues and 99 teams currently competing, you’ll find only six of those clubs, who played three or more games, are sitting unbeaten, untied or defeated in overtime or a shootout.

In the early elite group are the Sudbury Nickel Barons who sit 4-0 heading into play tonight. 

The NOJHL leaders have also scored the most goals of any CJHL team to date with 26. That is an average of 6.5 tallies per game.

CJHL unbeaten/untied teams who have played three games or more.

TEAM                             LEAGUE  RECORD GF GACamrose Kodiaks                  AJHL          5-0             22 11
Coll. Francais Longueuil       LHJAAAQ   5-0             25 10
Sudbury Nickel Barons      NOJHL       4-0             26 12
Coquitlam Express               BCHL          3-0             7   2
Weeks Crushers                   MHL           3-0             18 11
Truro Bearcats                      MHL           3-0             14 3

HAINES IS HOT: While he has a considerable way to go before matching former Sudbury teammate Jordan Carroll’s 70 goals from last season, Darcy Haines is on an early pace to surpass that number.

In his club’s first four games the Sudbury forward has scored in each of them helping his squad win each of those contests.

With a league-best seven markers and adding in four assists he is also the NOJHL’s leading point-producer heading into week 3 of the season with 11.

Another interesting fact has Haines sharing the goal lead across the entire CJHL joining five others on the leader board.

The following are the CJHL goal leaders as of Sept. 19:  
PLAYER                  TEAM            LEAGUE     GP G 
Darcy Haines           Sudbury       NOJHL        4    7
Lars Hespo              Alberni Valley BCHL          4    7
Matt Gallati               Pickering       OJHL           5    7
Joakim Arsenault     Ste-Agathe     LHJAAAQ   6    7 
Benjamin Laliberte   Ste-Jerome    LHJAAAQ   6    7 
Sebastien Bergeron Ste-Agathe    LHJAAAQ    6   7 

2013 DUDLEY-HEWITT CUP: The North Bay Trappers will serve as the host team for the 2013 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship tournament.

The five-day event will be held at North Bay Memorial Gardens April 30 through May 4.

It will feature the Trappers along with the champions of the NOJHL, Ontario Junior Hockey League and Superior International Junior Hockey League taking part.

Should North Bay go on to capture the NOJHL championship, then the league finalist will round out the four-team field with a berth to the Royal Bank Cup national Jr. A championship in Summerside, P.E.I. in May on the line.

THREE STARS: A pair of three-goal performances caught the eye of the selection committee as the NOJHL doled out the Three Stars of the Week honours for the third week of September.

CONNOR MCNALLY - KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS: After dealing with the uncertainty of the change of ownership in Kirkland Lake one year ago, 20 year-old forward Connor McNally is pleased to have some stability under his feet this year. It’s showing in his play as the Val Caron native picked up four goals last week. McNally opened the week in fine fashion, netting a hat trick as the Gold Miners eventually succumbed to the Sudbury Nickel Barons by a final score of 7-5.

SEBASTIEN LEROUX – SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS: A checking forward throughout much of his first two years in the NOJHL, Sebastien Leroux is thrilled to be enjoying the chance to produce, night in and night out, in a top six slot.

Leroux sits in a three-way tie for second place in the league scoring race, adding a goal and four assists last week in a pair of games as Sudbury remains unbeaten in the early going with four straight wins. Having celebrated his 20th birthday last March, Leroux is in his final year of junior hockey eligibility.

ANTHONY MILLER – SOO THUNDERBIRDS: The youngest of this week’s recipients at just 18 years of age, Anthony Miller, made the jump from high school hockey (St Basil’s Saints) directly to the NOJHL this year. Based on his three-goal outburst against the Elliot Lake Bobcats at home last Saturday, Miller appears to be adjusting quickly. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Miller is one of several newcomers to a Thunderbirds roster that hopes to duplicate the success the team enjoyed one year ago en route to an appearance at the RBC Cup.

TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTEBOOK

ABITIBI ESKIMOS – The Eskimos will look snap their 0-3 winless funk to start the season with a victory tonight at unbeaten Sudbury. … Zach Innes holds down the team scoring lead with three points in as many games with a goal and two assists. … The club has only scored five times in total, which is the second lowest total in league so far. … The 17 goals they have allowed to date is the third highest in the league.

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS – The Beavers look to extend their modest one-game winning streak this weekend as they play a home-and-home against Elliot Lake. … Eight different scored in the club’s first win of the season, an 8-3 triumph at Abitibi, on Saturday. … Tyler Brown’s five goals are the second most in the league so far. His seven points pace the club offensively, while also sitting fifth overall in NOJHL offensive production. Teammate Paul Muio is knotted for second in league assists with five. His six points has him in a share for sixth overall.

ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS – The first-year Bobcats remain winless after three games. They look for win No. 1 Friday vs. Blind River. … They have scored a league-low three goals early on. … Nicholas Tassone is the team’s leading point producer with a goal and an assist. … Four of the club’s next six games are at home.

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS – The Gold Miners currently sit fourth in the NOJHL standings with a 2-2 record… The duo of Steven Babin and Jordan Briand share the team scoring lead with five points apiece. Babin has four goals and an assist while Briand has tallied once and doled out four helpers … Jordan Turbide and Connor McNally are next with four points each. … Netminder Chris Komma is fifth in league goals-against average at 3.12. … The Miners have one game in store this week, which is a 7:30 p.m. encounter with the Soo Friday at “The Joe.”

NORTH BAY TRAPPERS – The 2013 Dudley-Hewitt Cup host Trappers remain unbeaten early on a 3-0-1. …, North Bay has only allowed eight goals in four games including going 82 minutes and five seconds before allowing their first goal against on the season. … They have given up the second fewest goals in the NOJHL. … Greg Dodds has played all four games for the squad while registering a solid 1.92 goals-against average and .923 save mark. He sits second in the league in GAA and third in save percentage. … Forwards Carter Horwitz and Trevor Hunt pace the team offensively with six points apiece. They are also tied for sixth in league scoring. North Bay’s only game this week is Sunday afternoon at home to the Thunderbirds.

SOO THUNDERBIRDS – The Soo’s defensive prowess has been evident early on having only allowed a league-low five goals in three games. … Rookie goaltender Joel Horodziejczyk leads all NOJHL netminders in both goals-against average and save percentage at 1.00 and .949 respectively. … Adam Ritchie currently paces the club in offensive production with eight points on four tallies and as many assists. He is tied for second in league scoring. Greg Sartoretto joins him in the NOJHL top 10 in scoring with six points. He sits second on the squad with two markers and four helpers. … A three-game road trip this weekend has the Thunderbirds playing in Kirkland Lake Friday, at Abitibi Saturday before rounding out the week with a 2 p.m. matinee in North Bay Sunday. The T-Birds will play all their home games this season at Essar Centre.

SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS – Sudbury has been solid early on going a league-best 4-0 to sit atop the NOJHL standings. They are only one of six teams in the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League who are unbeaten or untied after four or more games. … The Nickel Barons pace both the NOJHL and CJHL in goals scored with 26. … 
Sudbury boasts three of the NOJHL’s top four point producers early on. Darcy Haines leads the way with 11 points, including a league-best seven goals. His goal total also ties him for the most in the CJHL so far this season. …Sebastien Leroux and August Jarecki are knotted for second in league scoring with eight points apiece. Michael Muzyka and Alex Laino both have 2-0 records in net. Muzyka is third in goals-against average at 2.00 and second in save percentage at .937. …The Nickel Barons lone game this week in tonight vs. Abitibi as they look to extend their four-game winning streak.