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.

STA Steel situation almost done

It appears the the St Albert Steel, barring the AJHL BOG's not approving the Steel relocation request, will be in Whitecourt for the 2012-13 season.

Ft Sask Traders (1976-2007)

I spoke via e-mail with the St Albert Gazette Sports reporter, Jeff Hansen. He said that while Leduc and Dawson Creek were in the running for the franchise, Whitecourt is the destination.

"It is pretty much a done deal" said Hansen, and when asked if Leduc and DC has any chance, he gave me the short answer of "Nope."

The Steel moved to St Albert in 2007 from Fort Saskatchewan, then the Ft Sask Traders. At that time, the Traders was the second longest tenured team in the AJHL (founded in 1976). Only the Calgary Canucks had a longer tenure in their original city (the Canucks still are in Calgary).

St. Albert Steen (2007-Present?)

St. Albert was getting their 2nd Jr A team after the Saints moved to Spruce Grove in 2004 (they are still called the Saints). In 1977, the Saints franchise had moved from Spruce Grove (then called the Mets) to STA.

The whole relocation thing began in early March when it became clear that the lease agreement between the City of St. Albert and the franchise was not going to be renewed.

This raises the question now that when the franchise moves to Whitecourt, what happenes to the Jr B Wolverines?

The Whitecourt Wolverines recently competed in the Keystone Cup, the Jr B western Canadian championship, taking home a bronze medal, and also won or been finalists in Alberta for the last four years.

I'm sure there are towns/cities willing to land a very successful Jr B franchise.


For more info, follow me @sportsheilman, or stay tuned to the blog.

Dudley Hewitt Cup Champ to be named soon; Other league champs quickly after

The Central Canadian Cup, known as the Dudley Hewitt Cup, began April 17th in Thunder Bay, Ontario, home of the T-Bay North Stars.

In the DHC were the Host Stars, SIJHL Champs Wisconsin Wilderness, OJHL winners Stouffville Spirit and NOJHL's Soo Thunderbirds.

The dust has settled after the round robin, and the Standings are as follows:

Spirit: 2-1
T'birds: 2-1
Wilderness: 1-2
Stars: 1-2

As it shakes out, the Spirit get the bye to the final, due to beating the Soo in the RR game. The Stars actually will play the semi final game tomorrow evening at 5:30 SK time vs the T'birds because Thunder Bay beat Wisconsin in OT to claim 3rd spot. The winner of the 2/3 game will play Stouffville in Saturday evenings final (5:30pm SK time)

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In Fred Page Cup again, which will begin APR 24th to 29th, the only two known teams are the host Kanata Stallions (CCHL) and Titan de Princeville (LHJAAAQ). Both the CCHL game 6 and MHL game 7 run tomorrow night. Cornwall (CCHL, lead 3-2) and Woodstock (MHL, tied at 3) will look to win their leagues. If the Nepean Raiders, (Cornwalls opponent) wins, that game 7 will be Sunday at 2:30pm in Nepean.

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Doyle Cup action is as follows for the BCHL's Penticton Vee's and AJHL's Brooks Bandits:


2012 DOYLE CUP SCHEDULE
(IF GAMES 1 AND 2 ARE SPLIT BY BOTH TEAMS: SERIES TIED 1-1)

Game 1 - Friday, April 20th, 2012 in Alberta

Game 2 - Saturday, April 21st, 2012 in Alberta

Game 3 - Sunday April 22nd, 2012 in Alberta

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC

Game 5 - Thursday, April 26th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC

Game 6 - Saturday, April 28th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY

Game 7 - Sunday, April 29th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY


(IF GAMES 1 AND 2 ARE WON BY THE SAME TEAM: 2-0 SERIES LEAD)

Game 1 - Friday, April 20th, 2012 in Alberta

Game 2 - Saturday, April 21st, 2012 in Alberta

Game 3 - Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 @7PM at SOEC

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 @7PM at SOEC

Game 5 - Friday, April 27th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY

Game 6 - Saturday, April 28th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY

Game 7 - Sunday, April 29th, 2012 @ 7PM at SOEC
*IF NECESSARY


Please note ** The SOEC is in Penticton, BC


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Anavet Cup also begins tomorrow, as the RBC Host and SJHL Champs Humboldt Broncos and MJHL Portage Terriers face off. The sched goes as follows: in HUM April 20/21, in POR April 24/25/26, in HUM April 28/29




Thats it for now! As always, follow me at @sportsheilman on twitter for more news and updates for every part of the JR A landscape.

Chat with Cold Lake Mayor; STA Steel situation

Following in what Daniel Fink did the other day (You can read the SJHL side to things in his interview here), I contacted Cold Lake mayor Craig Copeland to find out more about what the Investor Group, led by former Jr A players Derek Prue and Matt Brown.

Prue's Skyrider Developments introduced the idea to Copeland and the city in a public meeting a couple days ago, according to Robb Hunter, voice of the AJHL's Bonnyville Pontiacs. Mayor Copeland, when asked how long this was in the works, said that he "wasn't aware of this until, about, 2 weeks ago"

Copeland, when asked about saying the St. Albert Steel franchise moving there, said that was up to the AJHL, and that he has not been contacted by anyone associated with that situation. He also mentioned that Prue, although based out of Edmonton, has developments in Prince Albert, hence why he wanted a team in the SJHL.

According to Copeland, Prue felt that travel to such places as La Ronge, Estevan and Yorkton was not a concern. In fact, it was fully planned into the model presented to Cold Lake council.

Mayor Copeland re-iterated the City's surprise and excitement for a Jr A franchise, saying that the competitiveness in both the AJHL and SJHL were right up there.

Overall (just how Copeland sounded), the idea of Jr A, specifilically SJHL hockey would be embraced by the City with open arms.

At that travel time mentioned, here's some travel mileage: CL to B'ford: 306km, CL to Estevan: 900km, CL to LAR: 659 km, CL to Flin Flon: 825, CL to Yorkton: 770 km.
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As for the St. Albert situation, requests to President Cripps and to the Steel brass has not been answered yet. Stay tuned for more into.

BCHL Playoff Previews

INTERIOR CONFERENCE

(1) PENTICTON VEES (47-3-0-2) VS. (4) CHILLIWACK CHIEFS (28-21-1-3)

HEAD-TO-HEAD (so far): Penticton 5-1. Chiefs handed Vees one of three regulation losses (7-1) back on Sept. 24. Teams meet one last time on Saturday, March 3.

MATCHUP: Vees have recorded three straight 38+ win regular seasons ... Penticton has been in the BCHL playoffs for eight straight years ... First BCHL playoff appearance for Chilliwack since 2006, but third straight for Quesnel Millionaires/Chiefs franchise.

STARS: Penticton forward Connor Reilly (35-50-85) is one of five 30-goal scorers during record-breaking season ... Six different Vees average more than 1.5 points-per-game ... Penticton netminder Michael Garteig leads BCHL in wins, shutouts and GAA at 1.98, is second in save percentage ... As Malcolm Gould (25-34-59), Derek Huisman (27-28-56) and David Bondra (22-31-53) go, so goes the scoring for the Chiefs ... Chilliwack forward Trevor Hills (14-16-30) is the fourth leading scorer on the team, 23 points separate him and Bondra.

PREDICTION: Penticton is without a doubt the team to beat. Vees in four.

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(2) MERRITT CENTENNIALS (30-17-2-5) VS. (3) PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS (29-18-2-4)

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Merritt 5-1-0-1 ... Five of the seven games decided by one goal.

MATCHUP: Cents have recorded three straight 22+ win regular seasons ... 2012 is Merritt's third straight post-season appearance ... First BCHL playoff appearance for Prince George since 2009, but seventh in nine seasons for the Spruce Kings. 

STARS: Centennials are led by their top line of Regan Soquila, Evan Stack and Chad Brears ... Soquila (15-49-64) is tied for third most assists in the BCHL ... Brears, with (26-24-50), has nearly three times as many points as a year ago ... Stack (27-28-55) has more than doubled his goal total from 2010-11 ... Merritt goaltenders Lino Chimienti and Tyler Steel are both in the BCHL top ten in GAA and shutouts ... PG forward Paul DeJersey (40-51-91) currently leads entire BCHL in scoring ... Forward Jarryd Ten Vaanholt has 21 points (11-10-21) in 16 games since joining Spruce Kings from Victoria at Jan. 10 trade deadline ... PG forward Jujhar Khaira leads all U18 BCHLers with 67 points (27-40-67) in 47 games.

PREDICTION: Should be a tight series with travel affecting both teams adversely. Centennials in seven.

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COASTAL CONFERENCE

(1) SURREY EAGLES (33-11-2-7) VS. (4) COQUITLAM EXPRESS (32-18-2-2)

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Coquitlam 3-2-1-1. Three of seven games decided by one goal and three of seven also went to overtime.

MATCHUP: Eagles have qualified for BCHL post-season for six straight years and 12 of the last 13 ... Second straight BCHL playoff appearance for the Express and 9th time in the last 11 years that Coquitlam/Burnaby franchise has qualified.

STARS: Surrey is deep, with 12 players at 0.5 points-per-game or better, led by forward Tyler Morley (26-33-59) ... Steve Koshey is a force from the blueline for the Eagles with (14-27-41) ... Surrey netminder Andrew Hunt is tied for fifth in GAA in the BCHL at 2.76 and is second in the league in wins with 28 ... Express forward Alex Petan is sixth in BCHL scoring (32-46-78) and linemate Alex Kerfoot is second in U18 scoring (22-39-61) ... Coquitlam d-man Clinton Atkinson leads all Coastal Conference blueliners in scoring (7-46-53) ... Express goaltender Cole Huggins started the season unbeaten in 13 and is fourth in GAA at 2.65.

PREDICTION: Just seven points separate these teams in the standings, should be a great series. Express in seven.

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(2) POWELL RIVER KINGS (34-15-2-2) VS. (3) COWICHAN VALLEY CAPITALS (32-16-1-6)

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Powell River 5-0 ... Three of the five games decided by one goal, including two in overtime ... Teams meet one last time on Friday, March 2.

MATCHUP: Kings have recorded 25+ wins in 10 of the last 11 seasons ... 2012 is Powell River's 11th straight post-season appearance and the Kings have played in the Fred Page Cup Final three straight years ... The Kings are the stingiest team in the Coastal Conference and have allowed the second fewest (118) goals in the BCHL ... Capitals have missed the post-season in two of the last four years, but have made in nine of the last 11 years.

STARS: Powell River only has three players averaging a point per game or better, including the dynamic Cohen Adair ... Craig Dalrymple is second among all BCHL defencemen in scoring (20-29-49) for the Kings ... Powell River goaltender Sean Maguire is second in the BCHL in GAA (2.35) ... Cowichan Valley forward Devin Gannon is eighth in BCHL scoring (26-47-73) ... First year Capital Matt Brown has (31-26-57) after joining CV from the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts during the off-season ... Cowichan forward Jacob Charles with (19-28-47) has quadrupled his point total from 2010-11.

PREDICTION: Season series has been tight in terms of scores, but Powell River owns Cowichan Valley this season. Kings in six.

Big Thanks to Brian Wiebe for writing this

NOJHL weekly report

NOJHL sports five scorers in CJHL's 90-point club

SUDBURY, ON – As the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League winds down its regular season a number of their players continue to put up some big numbers offensively.

The NOJHL currently features five of their own in the Canadian Jr. Hockey League’s 90-point club.

So far in the 2011-12 campaign only 13 skaters among the 133 teams that comprise the CJHL have amassed 90 or more points on the season.

Jordan Carroll of the Sudbury Cubs is the highest NOJHL point getter to date entering Wednesday evening’s contest vs. Blind River.

His totals have him second overall in the CJHL trailing only Yannick Geoffrey’s 136 recorded with Longueuil of the Quebec Jr. AAA loop.

Carroll’s 66 tallies are the most scored in all of Canadian Jr. A hockey.

Having recorded the most assists in the nation with 84 is Marc-Alain Begin of the Abitibi Eskimos. He is third in the CJHL in total points with 115 in just 36 games averaging 3.19 points per contest.

Sitting tied for the sixth-best total in the country is Sudbury’s Jamie Haines with 104. His Cubs’ teammate, Nick Esposto, is knotted for ninth with 94 points while Micky Sartoretto of the NOJHL-leading Soo Thunderbirds rounds out the players from the league in this exclusive group. He shares 12th overall with 90 points, including 41 goals.

The following are the CJHL’s 90-point producers as February 22.

PLAYER	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS
Yannick Geoffrey	Longueuil	QJRAAA	47	61	76	136
Jordan Carroll	Sudbury	NOJHL	47	66	55	131
Marc-Alain Begin	Abitibi	NOJHL	36	31	84	115
Maxime Charette	Longueuil	QJRAAA	46	46	66	112
Craig Cowie	Nepean	CCHL	56	37	74	111
Jamie Haines	Sudbury	NOJHL	40	39	65	104
Christian Finch	Stouffville	OJHL	48	37	67	104
Julien Corriveau	Valleyfield	QJRAAA	47	50	51	101
Vincent Blanchette	Longueuil	QJRAAA	35	34	60	94
Nick Esposto	Sudbury	NOJHL	35	34	60	94
Jesse Ross	Weyburn	SJHL	56	46	45	91
Micky Sartoretto	Soo Thunderbirds	NOJHL	43	41	49	90
Paul De Jersey	Prince George	BCHL	51	40	50	90

GAME TIME: The second to last week of regular season play in the NOJHL features a total of 10 games.

Two of them have already been played with the North Bay Trappers coming away victorious in both of them sweeping a home-and-home against Kirkland Lake Monday and Tuesday.

The opener saw Mitchell Knight turn aside 28 of 29 shots he faced in a 3-1 triumph.

Bryce Lipinski, Eric Samtleben and Justin Schneeberger were the marksmen in that contest. Travis Jones replied for the Miners.

In the finale, Brad Gehl tallied twice while Brad Edwards and Lipinski supplied solo markers. Schneeberger chipped in with a pair of assists. Joey Ftoma had the lone Kirkland Lake effort.

Action resumes tonight as Sudbury hosts Blind River at McClelland Arena and features a 7:30 p.m. opening face-off.

North Bay Memorial Gardens will serve as the venue for Thursday’s lone encounter as the Trappers host the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. Game time in that one is 7 p.m.

Three more tilts are on the slate Friday with North Bay taking on Abitibi in Timmins, Kirkland Lake entertains the Soo Thunderbirds while the Soo Eagles welcome Blind River. All three match-ups get underway at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday will see the Thunderbirds on the road at Abitibi while the Eagles are at home to Sudbury in a pair of 7:30 p.m. starts.

The week will then conclude Sunday as Trappers take on the Thunderbirds in North Bay at 7 p.m.

WEEK-IN-REVIEW: The week that was in the NOJHL saw eight games contested. Here is a brief re-cap on each of them.

Feb. 15: Blind River 3 @ Soo Eagles 4—The Eagles got goals from Aaron Leach, Dallas McLaughlin, Shane Totten and Matthew Wiggemansen while Tyler Brown, David McCaig and Paul Muio countered for the Beavers.

Feb. 15: North Bay 9 @ Sudbury 8—A wild one in Sudbury saw Matthew Salituro fire the game-winner with just 25 seconds remaining as the Trappers rallied for the victory. Brad Gehl led North Bay offensively with a goal and four helpers. Jayce Douskey scored four times and set-up another for the Cubs while Jordan Carroll had a marker and four assists.

Feb. 17: North Bay 2 @ Kirkland Lake 5—The Gold Miners recorded their first win in franchise history as they surprised the Trappers in Englehart. Jordan Turbide and Cody Block both tallied and added an assist in the victory.

Feb. 17: Abitibi 4 @ Soo Eagles 7—The Soo got three points apiece from Brian Depp and Wiggemanson in the triumph over the Eskis. Marc-Alain Begin had similar numbers for Abitibi. Chris Truehl picked up the win making 30 stops.

Feb. 18: Soo Eagles 5 @ Soo Thunderbirds 6—Corey Jackson scored the winner with 21 seconds to go as the T-Birds pulled out the win. Micky Sartoretto had two tallies and a helper for the winners and Derek Diaz set-up three for the Eagles.

Feb. 18: Abitibi 5 @ Blind River 3—Three points for Begin paced the Eskimos with Delmer Moses adding a goal and an assist. J.P. Fecteau picked up the win in net. Michael Berens, Scott Marshall and Dan Pyymaki scored for the Beavers.

Feb. 19: Abitibi 4 @ Soo Thunderbirds 3—Richard Therrien and Begin both had three-point nights in the victory while Fecteau won for a second straight game. Kurtis Barberie, Kevin Michelcavage and Greg Sartoretto scored for the Soo.

Feb. 19: Sudbury 7 @ Kirkland Lake 4—Sudbury stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to pull out the road win. Jordan Carroll and Brett Dusick both had three points for the Cubs. Turbide and Connor McNally had two points apiece for the Miners.

ANOTHER RECORD: With six assists last week, Sudbury’s Jordan Carroll etched his name in his team’s record book once again.

The Cubs’ standout set a new club mark for assists in a season, which now stands at 65 and counting having surpassed the old team record of 62 set by Brian McGarry during the 2005-06 campaign.

Carroll has maintained his knack for racking up the numbers all season long as he is currently riding a 38-game point streak while only being held off the score sheet once in 47 games played.

The veteran Sudbury forward had previously shattered the team record for points and goals in a season. His 66 tallies not only lead the NOJHL, but also top the entire 133-team Canadian Jr. Hockey League. He is also second overall in the CJHL in total points with 131.

DUDLEY-HEWITT CUP: At the conclusion of the league playoffs, the NOJHL champion will advance to represent the league at the 2012 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Jr. A Championship, April 17-21 in Thunder Bay.

The Thunder Bay North Stars of the Superior International Junior Hockey League will host the five-day tournament at the Fort William Gardens.

Joining the NOJHL and the North Stars in the Lakehead will be champions of the OJHL and SIJHL.

They are already guaranteed to have a new Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion this year as the reigning title holders, the Wellington Dukes, were upset in the first round of the OJHL playoffs by the Kingston Voyageurs.

They are now down to 16 teams remaining in the race for the Buckland Cup as quarter final action already underway. The OJHL has won the last five Dudley-Hewitt Cups and eight of the last 10.

In the SIJHL, the defending champion Wisconsin Wilderness have already clinched first place in the regular season. They have a 46-6-1 overall record with three games remaining.

The Dudley-Hewitt Cup host North Stars are also starting to heat up, having won seven straight games, all of which were played on the road.

They have raised their overall record to 30-18-5 have gone 8-3 since former NHLer Lonny Bohonos took over the reins as head coach of the club in late January.

The last time the DHC tournament was held in Thunder Bay was back in 2006 when the North Stars were victorious defeating Sudbury 7-6, in overtime, in the final.

The Dudley-Hewitt Cup winner will move on to represent the central region at the Royal Bank Cup Canadian Jr. A championship in Humboldt, Sask., this May.

Now up and running is the 2012 Dudley-Hewitt Cup website, which can be found online at www.thedudleyhewittcup.com.

ON TAP: Upcoming NOJHL games

Tuesday, Feb. 28: Abitibi @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac)

Wednesday, Feb. 29: North Bay @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. (McClelland)

End of regular season

CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS: The NOJHL-leading Soo Thunderbirds have maintained their hold in the top 10 in the latest Canadian Jr. Hockey League rankings, which were released on Monday.

They earned an eighth-place nod for a second consecutive week in the listings that are compiled in consultation with NHL Central Scouting and presented by PlayingUpHockey.com.

Back for another week earning honourable mention status are the Soo Eagles, who sit second overall in the NOJHL standings.

Winners of 34 consecutive games, the BCHL-leading Penticton Vees continue their well-deserved position as the top ranked club in the CJHL. The Spruce Grove Saints of Alberta were tabbed No. 2 overall.

The Royal Bank Cup host Humboldt Broncos dipped to third this week while the leaders of the SIJHL, the Wisconsin Wilderness, moved back into fourth overall while the Fort McMurray Oil Barons slid into the fifth slot.

NOJHL TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES

ABITIBI ESKIMOS: Abitibi remains one of the hottest clubs in the NOJHL having gone 7-3 in their past 10. Marc-Alain Begin has run his consecutive game point streak to 14 on the go picking up 10 tallies and 38 assists during that time. He remains second in league scoring with 115 points and tops the NOJHL in point-per-game average at 3.19. His 14 power play markers are the third most in the league. Richard Therrien is still sixth in NOJHL scoring on 86 points. He has points in 13 of his past 15 games and is tied for fifth in power play goals with 11. 11 of Corey Hamel’s 17 goals this season have been scored on the power play, which ties his with Therrien for league PPG.

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS: The Beavers wrap-up regular season play with games at Sudbury tonight and the Soo Eagles Friday. Blind River remains in the cellar of the NOJHL western division with a 7-39-2 record. Tyler Brown’s 29 points lead the team. He has points in three straight and seven of eight. Paul Muio is next with 26 points. The squad has scored only 111 times so far this season while allowing a league-high 271.

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS: Tim Zafiris was a winner in his NOJHL coaching debut as the Miners upended North Bay on Friday. Joey Ftoma is credited with the first game-winning goal in team history while Ken Appleby earned the first win in net. Jordan Turbide has 13 points in 10 games to pace the club. Travis Jones leads the club in goals with seven and has points in five of seven. They play three straight on the road this week.

NORTH BAY TRAPPERS: North Bay has gone 6-1 in their past seven games. They look to win their third in a row Thursday as they host Kirkland Lake. Matt Salituro has points in 11 of his last 12 games and paces the Traps in scoring with 52 points. Brad Gehl has 32 points in 21 games since being acquired by the club. Bryce Lipinski has a modest three-game point streak on the go. Mitchell Knight leads all NOJHL netminders in goals-against average at 2.91. He is second in shutouts with four. North Bay has allowed the third fewest goals in the league at 174.

SOO EAGLES: In their past 10 games the Eagles are a solid 7-2-1. They have won five straight at home as they conclude the regular season with match-ups vs. Blind River and Sudbury on Pullar Stadium ice. The Eagles have five skaters among the top 11 in the league. Brian Depp is seventh with 83 points. Shane Totten (65pts) sits ninth, Dallas McLaughlin (61pts) holds down 10th while Travis Payne and Gavin Burbach (57pts) share 11th. Chris Truehl boasts the second best save percentage among NOJHL netminders at .910. He is third in goals-against average at 3.22. Luis Puig has moved to fourth in GAA at 3.92. The Eagles are second-best on home ice at 19-2-2.

SOO THUNDERBIRDS: Ranked eighth overall in the latest CJHL rankings the Thunderbirds lead the NOJHL standings with a 36-10-1 record and a .777 winning percentage. They need one more win to capture their second consecutive regular season title. The Thunderbirds boast the best home ice in the league at 20-5. The Soo boast 10 players with 30 or more points so far this season. Team leading scorer Micky Sartoretto has points in 30 of his past 33 contests. He is fifth in NOJHL scoring with 90 points and knotted for second in ame-winners with seven. Teammate Matt Amadio sits eighth in the league in offensive production with 73 points. John Kleinhans leads all NOJHL goalkeepers in wins (25), save percentage (.911), shutouts (5), and minutes played (2.099). He is second in goals-against average at 2.92. Kleinhans is 8-3 record in his past 11 appearances. Three on the road wraps up the regular season.

SUDBURY CUBS: Sudbury continues to leads the NOJHL in goals with 273. Jordan Carroll continues to lead the NOJHL in scoring. He also has the second highest point total in the entire CJHL at 131. He currently paces the CJHL in goals with 66. He is also riding an impressive 38-game point streak and leads the league in shorthanded goals with seven. Jamie Haines leads the league in game-winning goals with nine and is third in overall scoring with 104 points. Nick Esposto needs six points to become the third member of team to reach the 100-point plateau. He has notched 28 multiple-point nights so far this season. Jayce Douskey has 13 points in his past five games. Goaltender Jeremy Pominville is 12-2-1 in his last 15 decisions. Netminder Alex Laino is 10-5-2 in his last 17 outings. The Cubs are one of three NOJHL clubs with a winning record at home and as the visiting team. The Cubs wrap-up the regular season with a home game vs. Blind River this evening, at the Soo Eagles Saturday before closing out the campaign next Wednesday as they host North Bay prior to the start of the 2012 NOJHL playoffs.

*TAKEN OFF NOJHL WEBSITE*

SJHL previews

Flin Flon v La Ronge
http://www.sjhl.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=2371

Estevan v ND Hounds
http://www.sjhl.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=2370

Also look out for an MJHL, AJHL and BCHL playoff previews