A group headed by longtime Chicago Young Americans (CYA) coach Bruno Bragagnolo has purchased the Soo Eagles from Paul Theriault.
The 54-year old Bragagnolo confirmed the sale this morning and said he will be moving to the Soo to take over as coach and general manager of the Eagles, a third-year Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League franchise.
Bragagnolo flew into the Michigan Soo from Chicago on a private jet and met with NOJHL governors on Saturday. The NOJHL held its annual general meeting in the Michigan Soo on the weekend.
“I’m anxious to get started and help the Eagles move forward,” said Bragagnolo, who has coached in the highly-regarded CYA organization for the past 10 years.
“I know the Soo area very well from my coaching and playing days and the fact that the Eagles play in the Pullar Stadium is a huge bonus. The Pullar is a shrine, a museum,” added Bragagnolo.
Bragagnolo said he was recently approached by Theriault who advised him that the Eagles were for sale.
“I’ve known Paul a long time and I have a lot of respect for him,” said Bragagnolo. “He told me why he was selling the team and that he wanted to make sure the Eagles would be properly taken care of.”
Theriault, who has a medical condition related to him having suffered a severe head injury while he was a player at Lake Superior State University more than 40 years ago, served as the Eagles coach, general manager and owner last season after the team was gifted to him by founder Greg Eagle.
Bragagnolo said he has asked the entire Eagles staff to remain involved with the team including Theriault and his trusted assistant coach Dennis Bolton.
“Paul is a coaching legend whose record speaks for itself,” Bragagnolo said of Theriault, who has coached with distinction at the junior and professional levels for 35 years.
Bragagnolo said Theriault will serve as an advisor to the Eagles hockey department.
Not only is Bragagnolo no stranger to Theriault, his hockey background goes back to his days as a goalie with the Elliot Lake Vikings of the erstwhile International Jr. B. Hockey League.
Interestingly, while Bragagnolo was tending goalie for Elliot Lake some 35 years ago, Theriault was getting his coaching start in the same league with the Jr. B Soo Indians.
Bragagnolo, now a career coach himself, helped develop 16-year old forward phenom Alex Galchenyuk while with the CYA under-18 team this past season.
Galchenyuk was the first overall pick at this year’s Ontario Hockey League Draft, going to the Sarnia Sting.
as followup too an previous post – Michaelcavvage, Spittzer & Morris would like to cross the river and play for the T-Birds – RR anything on this??
A reminder that the Soo Eagles will be holding their first tryout camp starting this Friday, June 18th at Lake Superior State University’s Taffy Abel Arena. The Eagles have 2 Canadian spots open on their team and First Nation players do not count as imports. Registration starts at 4 pm, you will need to be registered with USA Hockey.
All forms are available at http://www.sooeagles.net
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related article on the Soo Eagles tryouts is posted at http://www.saultthisweek.com.
The key players for the Thunderbirds to keep IMO are Petingalo, Travalini and Evoy. If Shugg is playing “hard to get” them let him go as far as me personaly is concerned. Cain and Gags should not have to kiss any ones ass to play for there hometown team!
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Hi all there seems to be concern’s etc. about certin vet’s not comming back to the “Bird Nest” for next season. For starters Kovacs, Connelly and Pye have already been traded (at there request I assume) and Kakegabbon has traded as well and I assume that Ryan Mac is also history and now we are hearing that maybe even Petingalo, Shug, Curtis Trav, Evoy and Romano wont be back and that would be brutal for sure. However lets hand it to Cain for picking up Jackson, Doan and McKaig and signing SO MANY GOOD LOCAL KIDS WHO WANT TO PLAY HERE! – Nannie, Wright, Mcauley, Casola theres 4 top forwards from the N. Stars minus Warmington of course but my point is and I agree if the other’s do not want to play here for what ever reason’s they have then don’t blame Cain or Gagnon if the Birds are “Young Birds” next year. A young team can always suprise you know!
BirdsFan1
I hope your not suggesting that those players who were traded are not GOOD LOCAL PLAYERS .
They all want to play at home but there comes a time when SCHOOL is more important than hockey.
There also is a time when playing at home may not get them to where they want to go in hockey .
Don’t assume things we all know what that does it make a …… well you fill in the rest lol
its to quiet.
upfront
-u r exactly right
-it is time for these kids to get noticed is only reason why they leave…watch how many get noticed now with new eagles mgmt…Coach is well connected–who are not charging to play hockey bye the way…
- if league better scouted and funded more kids would stay home
-when you play JR the parents/player should not have to pay to play
a couple of points to upfront and birdie22:
1. Brett Perlini didn’t have to leave town to get “noticed” as you say. He played 2 years with the Birds and then went D1 to Michigan State.
2. The Eagles DO charge to play and so do Sudbury, Temiscaming, Blind River and Manitoulin!
3. I didn’t realise that there was a university in Huntsville lol.
Brett may just be the exception Didn’t he play in the USHL also and came home because of lack ice time ?
I wonder how many more have done that can you help with that RR
upfront,
Perlini played one season with the Thunderbirds before getting his commitment from Michigan State. He started the following campaign with Ohio of the USHL but returned to the Birds that same season. He has now played two seasons at Michigan State.
Off the top of my head, “Soo boys” who opted to play in Southern Ontario the past few years only to return home to play for the Thunderbirds or Blind River include Trevor McNutt, Luke O’Brien, Kevin Smith, Brad Pascall et al.
RR
How Many Soo Boy’s played south and went on to better things any Idea
Like Torquato
I’m not knocking the Birds nor the League it is all good
but there is a time for other things
quiet quiet in Blind River – Beavers in town for Dragon Boat races this weekend! … maybe some scoops for you RR…
seem to have an issue with my posts…why are they not staying up?
soosporter,
Because one post contained inaccuracies. It’s the only one that was deleted.
Regards,
RR
FYI….
Pye did not asked to be traded. He asked for a release once he found out he was no longer in the Bird plans(under their new staff). He was told he had permission to try out for others teams. Once he found a team to play for a release would be negotiated at that time. Lindsay was interested and made a great offer. God looks after good people. He is looking forward to playing in Lindsay….Best of luck to the ‘Birds’ next season……
upfront are you talking about Major JR? i thought the subject surrounded tier II
RR this is a blog
its full of speculation..
Correct – Danny was drafted by Bismark in the 7th round. Danny didn’t make the cut at his Cedar Rapids tryout, must have been a lot of good forwards there. Even if I’m not his dad, I pick him. Hell, can you imagine him on a third or fourth line?
Bismark should be a good experience, wish Sacha was playing there too!
All the best to my Canadian buds out there.
Go Traps
Go Bobcats
DZ Sr.
article just posted on http://www.saultthisweek.com:
“Thunderbird forward flies the coop”
eskisfan
I am talking about tier II Torquato played for Stratford before the OHL
etodd, eric pye carried the birds through the last half of the year, he had the best stats in the league, he and Davey were neck and neck. The muskies will be a great fit, pye guy is talented, extremely intelligent and a gentleman. Eric Pye has the ability to go D1 and further, chirp if you like.
Article in the NB paper today about the frustration of the Royals in their recruiting limitations both in Quebec and in the Trappers zones. McCharles saying he will give it one more season to see if these various issues can be resolved and if not, he intends to pull the plug.
The North Bay Trappers have named one of their alumni as their new assistant coach. See more by going to http://www.northbaytrappers.com.
Wow Mike Schug to Kingston!, the Thunderbirds are losing some vets, they are really going to need vets like Petingalo, Romano, Mccaig and Doan to step up their games. The way it seems, the defence of the Soo Thunderbirds needs still a little fine tuning. To be honest Petingalo, Mccaig and Romano (if he is returning) I feel are going to lead the way this for the team up front, hopefully Andy Grympa and Chad Thibodeau will be back to help the team also.
How come there is so much silence on the Beaver Pond?
“neweagles”alias Richie Donahue is that you still hanging around this site lol! are you still telling people that you are the Eagles GM lol! does your new boss know that?! you are a website techie who tells parents that you are a GM – get real!
Birdsfan1,
You have lost a ton of credibility taking cheap shots at individuals and personalities. Whatever you may think of Ritchie, he puts it on the line for whichever team he is involved with and ultimately, for the league.
Under cover of a pseudonym, you take shots at people and it must make you feel powerful. How sad for you!
eaglesfan: what cheap shots did I take? Richie is the one who is passing himself off for something he is not. why is Richie telling parents of kids that he’s the Eagles GM when he’s actualy the web master!? sooner or later the Eagles new owner will find all about Richie and his nonsense and call him on it.
Birdfan,
I’m quite sure the Eagles owner/GM will be taking care of business. If what you say has validity, it will be taken care of in the course of business.
In the meantime, there is a likely possibility of over-lap of duties, due to the ongoing nature of the business,while the deal closes. Slamming someone publicly, when you don’t know the whole story is just wrong.
new blog just posted on OspreyBlogs.com:
“THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER IN THE NOJHL”
Regards,
RR