Abitibi Eskimos’ president Scott Marshall isn’t impressed with some of the initiatives of the fledgling Greater Metro Jr. Hockey League.
The GMJHL is not affiliated with Hockey Canada, thus wears the tag of an “Outlaw League.” It is the lack of being associated with Hockey Canada that Marshall finds intriguing.
“It is interesting to note that the (GMJHL) rejects Hockey Canada ideals yet insists on Hockey Canada accreditation for their coaches,” Marshall began.
“For them to suggest that this will be Junior A calibre hockey is a stretch at best and misleading, self-serving promotion at worst.”
Marshall also takes exception to the GMJHL boast that it will dress all players who are on team rosters.
“First off, dressing players and quality ice time are, as you know, two different kettles of fish,” Marshall continued. “What’s next? Using the two-minute buzzer so all players can get equal ice time?”
The GMJHL has also said it will have a no trade/no cut policy and Marshall calls that “questionable propaganda. First of all, no trades are permitted anywhere in Junior A hockey in Canada without the consent of the player. Period.”
Marshall added that he doesn’t consider the GMJHL much of a threat to the NOJHL but worries that it will have an adverse affect on midget leagues such as the Great North loop by “trying to take players out of the midget ranks when they are clearly not ready to be playing Junior A hockey with and against 20-year olds.”
AROUND THE NOJHL
Power forward Dustin McCrank, who made a name for himself as one of the NOJHL’s best fighters while patrolling the ice for the North Bay Skyhawks, is off to play for the University of Guelph Gryphons in the fall. One of McCrank’s teammates at Guelph will be slick centre Thomas Laplante, the NOJHL’s most valuable player while with Blind River in ‘04-05…Former North Bay goalie Chris Abbey has been involved in an Ontario Hockey League trade, going from the Sudbury Wolves to the London Knights…Blind River Beavers’ head coach Todd Stencill has confirmed the signing of rookie defenceman Jacob Chiblow, who was a 14th round pick of the Soo Greyhounds at this year’s OHL Draft. Chiblow, who is from Blind River, spent last winter in the Soo playing AAA midget hockey with the North Stars…Blind River has also signed some veteran talent including defenceman Shaun Siemers and forwards Jason Bird and Matt Irving…New Manitoulin Islanders’ assistant coach Eldon Cheechoo is a cousin to Jonathan Cheechoo, a scoring star with the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. The Cheechoos are from the isolated hockey capital of Moose Factory, Ontario…Manitoulin has signed two more veterans from last season’s team namely defenceman Tyler Corston-Moore and right winger Corey MacGillis…Three players with ties to the NOJHL made Canada’s National Summer Under-18 Team led by centre Yves Bastien, formerly of North Bay and now a standout with the OHL Kitchener Rangers. Meanwhile, forward Zack Torquato of the OHL Saginaw Spirit played briefly with the Soo Thunderbirds as a 14-year old call-up at the ‘04 Dudley Hewitt Cup playdowns and defenceman Mark Katic of the OHL Sarnia Sting was an affiliate player with the Abitibi Eskimos as a 15-year old.
FOR OPENERS
The NOJHL regular season begins on Sat. Sept. 9 when Abitibi plays host to defending champion Sudbury and Blind River is home to Manitoulin.
Both matchups have an extra bit of interest.
The Abitibi-Sudbury game will mark the return of favourite native son Paul Gagne as head coach of the Eskimos. And not only are the Beavers and Islanders fierce North Shore rivals but Blind River is now coached by Todd Stencill, who was fired as Manitoulin’s bench boss following the ‘05-06 season. And to take it a step further, Manitoulin is now coached and managed by Barry Parsons, who was Stencill’s assistant last season.
– RANDY RUSSON/Osprey Media
FYI,
New blog will be posted Saturday or Sunday. Another Italian family wedding tonight, third in last six weeks.
Ciao,
RR
BEST DEAL IN THE LEAGUE!
Soo Indians season tickets are now on sale for the \’06-07 season at a cost of just $100 for the 24 regular-season games. Pick yours up by visiting Angela at the Big Bear Arena Pro Shop or by calling her at 1-800-588-7465.
ATTENTION BUSINESSES IN SOO, MICHIGAN!
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS BY PUTTING YOUR NAME ON THE BACK OF A SOO INDIANS JERSEY. SPONSOR A JERSEY AND GET A FREE AD ON THE SOO INDIANS WEBSITE WITH IT!
FOR DETAILS CALL CARA AT 705-971-7512.
The Soo Indians are looking for housing families for a few players. Anyone interested can contact Tony Talentino at 906-632-2775 or 906-440-5134
Response to Zoltan Toots Kovacs: I think the Coaches and Teams should be promoting their players more. I think it is their responsibility to try and move their players to the next level with the best example of that in the NOJHL being Jim Capy……BY FAR. (Just my opinion!)
Jr. Wolves Tryout Schedule;
Friday, August 18, 2006 Copper Cliff Arena 7 -8:30 pm
Saturday, August 19, 2006 Copper Cliff Arena 7 -8:30 pm
Tuesday, August 22, 2006 Copper Cliff Arena 7 -8:30 pm
Thursday, August 24, 2006 Copper Cliff Arena 7 -8:30 pm
Friday, August 25, 2006 Copper Cliff Arena 7 -8:30 pm
1. I think Northern Junior Wolves season tickets are a good deal if you buy season tix for the OHL Wolves.
2. Is Brodie Wilson back with the Northern Junior Wolves or is heading out to school?
3. Any body hear of possible replacements for Mox? RR?
Just my Opinion why is it alwayz up the coach? half the reason Jim Capy has produced to many scholarships is because he uses american players, the american kids have to take their SAT’s anyway. The canadian kids on his team do so because they see their peers doin it and gettin reults. it’s the same with the Soo ON, it’s soo close to the border that the players have heard n know more of the importance of the SATs plus they too have friends on team doin it. Now i’m not tryin to take anything away from Capy, he’s a good coach and has good contacts but it’s not fair to put a player lack of effort or commitment on the shoulder’s of the coach. I doubt there is a team in the league that doesn’t talk to the kids about how to get a scholarship or move on in hockey, i guess the coach need to write the test for the players too right
Jr Wolves season tickets are $99 (for 2 adult season tickets) if your already a Sudbury Wolves season ticket holder. According to the flyer I got with my Wolves season ticket package that’s a savings of $285!
Now that’s a good deal!
Dudley
The process should not start after the player gets to the team. The coach should be looking at the quality of the individual that they are bringing to their team. If you are bringing a kid who has problems in his past or has serious problems with grades in school then you are going to have a great deal of trouble trying to move them on no matter what their skill level. In talking with several Jr coaches over the years I hear scouts very seldom ask about skills first, the first question is usually about character. How is he in shcool? What’s his attitude like? Is he involved in the community? Those are the types of things that Jr coaches should be looking at also.
and the blog goes dead again
I’ve an observation/question: why are there so few comments concerning the Thunderbirds? Is it mostly US, UP bloggers on this site? There are a lot of Islander and Abitibi comments as well, whereas the Skyhawks and Islanders don’t get much comment. Is it just an off-season phenomenon? Just curious as I’m new to the league and this blog.
For whatever reason, there’s never been a great deal of T-bird fans posting here. Even rarer used to be talk of the Black Bears, but since the sale and change to the Indians moniker they seem to be enjoying a higher profile. As far as Skyhawk fans go, rest assured they will be out in full force once the puck drops. I think it’s as you say, just off-season doldrums. It’s often tough for fans to get any info on their team throughout the summer, which leaves us with very little to talk about sometimes. Things will pick up once training camps start and fans can actually see what’s going on with their teams.
Mini-camp has some goodlooking players out,in the bay.
Some promising prospects for sure.
Peroff looked great ,after being signed by Brampton , this will probably be the last time we see him in the Bay, good luck.
Just posted here on Ospreyblogs.com:
“2 NOJHL COACHES PLAYED IN 1,025 NHL GAMES”
Regards,
RR