Most coaches and general managers within the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League have been enjoying a bit of “down time” during the off-season.
Kevin Cain, on the other hand, has been making up for lost time.
Cain, who officially took over as general manager of the Soo Thunderbirds at the end of the 2009-10 NOJHL season, has been one busy fellow.
Wheeler-dealer Cain has made no less than eight trades since taking over as Thunderbirds GM, the latest being a multi-player deal with the Michigan Soo Eagles.
In a move just confirmed by both Cain and Eagles coach/general manager Bruno Bragagnolo, the Thunderbirds have acquired forward Kevin Michelcavage and defenceman Joe (Cannonball) Spitzer from their cross-border rivals for forward Travis Payne and future considerations.
As part of the deal, the Thunderbirds also retain the rights to forward Justin Scott. Scott was picked up by the Thunderbirds after being released by the Eagles midway through the ‘09-10 season. The Eagles had the option to re-acquire Scott but he’ll remain property of the Thunderbirds, at least for now.
Cain had been pursuing Michelavage and Spitzer as part of ongoing efforts to rebuild a Thunderbirds team that has lost several veteran players to graduation and relocation.
Playoffs included, Michelcavge had 25 goals in 55 games with the Eagles last season. He’s expected to be a top line forward with the Thunderbirds come the 2010-11 season.
Spitzer, who has a howitzer for a shot, tallied 15 goals in 52 games for the Eagles from his blueline position in ‘09-10.
A Chicago native, Spitzer has spent most of the off-season training in Soo, Ontario. I talked with him by phone shortly after his trade to the Thunderbirds was confirmed.
“I have been working on my skating and conditioning level,” said Spitzer, who added that he wants to become a better defensive defenceman in ‘10-11.
While ecstatic to obtain Michelcavage and Spitzer, Cain didn’t want to part with Payne, who he had signed at the Thunderbirds Spring Tryout Camp in May.
“But if you want quality you have to give up quality in return,” Cain said of Payne, who had 32 goals in 52 games with the Hudson Crusaders of the Minnesota Jr. Hockey League in ‘09-10.
Michelcavage, Spitzer and Payne are all 1991 birth year players.
Payne will play with his younger brother Robbie Payne with the Eagles. The younger Payne is a 1993 birth year forward who starred with the Ojibwe Eagles of the AAA midget Northern Lakes Hockey League last season.
Well RR has been pushing this trade for awhile now and my geuss is that this is good for the Birds – Michealcavage can score and so can Spitzzer with his “Cannon” from the point. I don’t know the Payne kid but he must be good for him to be worth 2 vets. Cain is putting his mark on this team and building it back up rather quickley – good work Kevin!
agreed, great work done by the G.M. … Doan, Jackson, McKaig, now these 2 Michealcavage & Spitzer who will all help. Petinaglo back and he should wear the “C”.
Agreed Bird Brain, wiith the editions, Cain has done a excellent job, especially with Mccaig and Michealcavage, two top line forwards, adding Spitzer and Jackson are two also excellent choices, and if Doan plays as well as he did in the playoffs, the Birds have done great.
IMO, since the depature of Schug, and with apparently Travaligini not returning and Evoy as well, and now with Payne gone, I can see the top line being Mccaig on the left, Michealcavage on the right (in the place Payne or Evoy would of been) on the Wing, with Petingalo at center obviously, as I hear Petingalo and Mccaig are good friends, and Petingalo and Mccaig are exciting players IMO, and Michealcavage would be a force in front of net and can put the puck in the net something the Birds will need this season, secondly with Romano, Grympa (as long as he returns) and even young Mccauley playing wing, unless Scott does play for the Thunderbirds this season, but I doubt that will happen, rounding the top six?, and I agree, I hear it is for sure Petingalo will have the “C”, but who can round out the A’s? with the depature of so many vets, Spitzer or Delayer for D?, because of Delayer being a returnee and Local boy, Grympa and Mccaig for the forwards probably? Grympa being 20 and a returnee, and Mccaig because of being a local boy and veteran? or if Evoy returns he would probably be choosen because of being 20 and a local boy?… just shooting out ideas. Thunderbird fans should be excited, and im pleased with Cain choosing a vareity of local talent, this should increase fan revenue for sure as well…
And like I have said Before, whats going on with Blind River or Sudbury even?… I hear McMillan is going to be traded down South or even to Sudbury?.
This coud be one of them trades which is good for both sides as Kevin M and Joe Spitz are pretty good plyers altho Big Joe needs to shed a few lbs but listen this kid can fire a puck! I have seen both of the Payne boy’s play and they can play without no doubt! Many fan’s looking forward to watching how Bruno B puts his stamp on the Eagles in in the Community.
Cain is so dum that he feel no Payne ahahahahahahahahaha
Junior Woofers are sine one player from Blind River says Verroult.
Yes AE a good deal for both the Eagles and the Birds and no surprize that these two gentlemen will trade as Kevin Caine has always been a class act over hear and Bruno has a great rep from being with CYA. Spitzer needs to push himself away from the Buffet IMO.
For certin the Birds are luck to have added a good hockey man such as Cain and w. the new guy across the River with the Eagles the Twin Soo rivlrey should be better than it has ever being.
I am reading RR’s many articles on the Birds and I am thinking now they have 3 solid lines already signed up…
A good 1st line should include Petingalo-Michealcavage who each had 25G last year. Lots of youth but good ones from the North Stars i.e. Nanni, Mccauley, Wright, Casola. Yes good work by Trader Cain now just get another D-man or 2 and by Spitzzer a gym member-ship.
Hi. new to this blog & want to give my “top 5 hot player list”
1 – Gerry Petingalo (Thunderbirds)
2 – Michael Doan (Thunderbirds)
3 – Bret Cambell (Blind River)
4 – Drew Mcmillan (Blind River)
5 – Anthony Raymond (Soo Michigan)
Does anybody out their know if Gripma is coming back to the Birds? What about Travallini, Evoy & Romano?
By my count the Birds have these forwards signed: Petingallo, Michealcavage, Mccaig, Mccauley, Nannie, Casola & Wright. Any others RR?
BF1,
The Birds have also signed rookie forward Gavin Burbach from the AAA midget Soo Indians.
Regards,
RR
Hey RR – any updates on the Beavers? I’ve heard rumblings that Finley, McMillan, McLeod, Hurley, Butorac, Zorzi may not be returning – any truth? Sure has been quiet – I know a few of the kids are looking at other options – sure would be nice for the young guys to all come back and give this a run!!
beaverwatcher,
To quote Beavers GM Jim Yardanoff: “We could have 16 players back next season…and we could have none back.”
Regards,
RR
article just posted on http://www.saultthisweek.com:
“Three new Soo Eagles”
The word on the Island is that none of the veteran’s want to back next year and that Reggie has pit all of them up for trade…
I wish that Reggie would just sign the Team over to Mayer Stringer & Tod Stensill or even Peachy!!!
Slo & sure “Coach Bruno” is billding up the Eagles. Its hot as hell today and this is a College Hockey Town but the old fats were tawking Eagles Hockey at the Bomber today. And now another artacle froim RR abouit the Eagles we Thank You Mr. R.R.
Kevan Cain served the Beavs well when he was with us and he will do good for the Soo as GM a good onest man he is.Beavs coulda had Cain when Todd left but insted we brouht Bozo and his Clown back again the more things change the more they stay the same!
alot of players will not be back with the Beavers in the Fall and it has nothing to do with playing in Blind River (hint hint). By and large the players cant stand Capy or Ganon and if Rob Ambault and the Board cant see that then they are friggin Blind!
CFT: that is what i hear too!
the whole Blind River coaching staff is a joke!
Kevin Cain is a good honest man. Also he is very open to people, doesn’t blow smoke. Wish him and the T-Birds well. Doan was hot in playoffs but…. he needs a solid season to go with his playoff season before one would place him in he top five. As far as goalies go I would still pick Johnny K. (Eagles). Interesting that there were two goalies at their first camp who had better stats and also did extremely well in the All-Star game…
RR any feed back from the Canton camp…Wasn’t able to make that one as I drove to Boston for rr (rest and relaxation) and the upcoming Chowder Cup. Also any word on a Matt Nowicki defenseman from St. Michaels buzzers being traded to the NO.
article posted on http://www.saultthisweek.com:
“Tradewinds of change”
brother99,
Doan wasn’t just hot in the playoffs…he led the team in the playoffs, as in Captain material…he was inspirational, didn’t back down…proved he can play at this level…tremendous character…
Stats don’t show stuff like this. I witnessed it first hand, as did the Beavers coach, who stated that if there was a D1 scout in the stands, he would not have left the arena until he had him signed.
The Eagles had the luxury of having two #1 goalies to choose from each game, all year. I felt bad for Kleinhans after he got jumped by a Bird player…it took some edge off his game after that…and rightfully so, cause it was brutal. The same players were skating around Doan cause they didn’t want anything to do with him…and rightfully so…
Money players are hard to scout…when the chips are all on the table, stats don’t always tell the story…
brother 99
Get it straight Kleinhans was not jumped Did you miss the punches he threw with his blocker before Thomas gave it to him ?
As for the same player skating around Doan and not having anything to do with him is far from the truth I think it was the other way around I’m quite sure Thomas wouldn’t skate away from any one in the league.
Good pick ups by the birds, the eagles have lost lots of goal scoring, michealcavages 24,spitzers 15 and mcaleeses 29 goals,after 2 years with the eagles mcaleese has committed to play college hockey.
upfront,
I am the one who stated those things. Let’s see…Kleinhans, 5′8″ or so and burdened with equipment, the Bird player 6′1″ and no doubt aggressive and probably 50 lbs. on him (Kleinhans). I don’t care what the prelude was, Kleinhans was jumped and manhandled.
As for Doan, he held his ground. The same Bird player had opportunity, but he was more interested in the smaller players for sure.
I’m thinking if you can’t get straight who it was that wrote the previous statement, how can you get straight what took place on the ice 6 months ago…
Going back to the Blind River “problems”…I hear that 2 nice young men, Zorzi and Barret, have asked to be traded to the Tbirds. Both are going to school in SSM and working too.Very hard-working, honest,future pillars of SSM.This year they couldn’t possibly consider travelling to Blind to play.All they’re asking is to do what they love-play hockey.They know they’re not going to the NHL but they want some good memories to look back on.They sure won’t have any good ones about playing in Blind last year but I won’t get into that(lots and lots of stuff happening that people don’t know about). Now guess what??? (no surprise here).Capy wants $5000 for each of them.TBirds won’t pay that for these boys.The TBirds certainly would like them but they’re not going to pay that for each. How ethical is it for Blind(Capy) to hold 45 cards(basically hold 45 young men’s futures)and then when 2 hard-working players ask to be traded, they get treated this way. Why can’t they be reasonable and bring the price down a bit?????These two boys worked hard for Capy and Gagnon and got treated like shit. The Blind coaches are ruining these boy’s futures. And the Blind River Board is washing their hands over Capy, Gagnon and the other cling-ons.
upfront:
well said.
geegolly:
It looks like buyer beware of Capy and company…kids/parents should do homework first and ask the right questions before signing. Capy should get value for them yes but based on player development. What JR hockey is supposed be about(hockey Canada) is player development and moving kids along to where they want to be..Shame on Capy! Maybe the outlaw league has its usefulness if coaches continue to hold players hostage…good luck Zorzi and Barett both quality young men…
Thanks Eaglefan but it really doesn’t matter. Everyone has an opinion. I am glad Doan got his request and the Eagles and Tbirds worked it out. I am trully glad Doan did well(great) in the playoffs. As for John he will do well, he is tough and he seemed to do all right at the try-outs no hold overs from what I can see. I also know he was fighting the flu at the end of last season. I don’t think that was made up as I seen him and it looked like some kind of flu. Your right Doan stepped up his game but D1’s want to see the whole season in and out. We have all heard the term he is a gamer. Well most coaches don’t buy that term anyways he will have a whole season to prove himself again and I am sure he will be watch. That is good for the NO as maybe others will get watched as the whole point is to move them up and out. At this point I just wouldn’t put him top five of the NOJHL and I definetly wouldn’t pick him as the number 1 goalie at least not just now (I hope he proves me wrong). Maybe but not until all the cards are out there and especially as you said the Eagles had two #1 goalies. Also this is not insult since he has all the tools to be D1 especially the size and possible the speed but I would hope a kid with his opportunities goes and gets some professional training from lower ON or the East coast and maybe he has. Not hitting on the goalie coaching here but there are some real intense well proven schools out there that really help goalies with puck control, decision making ect. It is not always just about speed ect. I am talking about professional programs with the best coaches. Where you learn to skate with c cuts, torque and other techniques. Anyways it is my opinion and as my dad would say no one is wrong they just have differing opinions. Except for peachy since I just can’t understand his opinions. I do get the jokes though sometimes.
as far as the beavers go ,if you are a player and still want to play there should be some professionalism on managements part and these pplayers in qeustion should be allowed to part with there team for a reasonable trade or cash.two players in question are truly passinate about hockey after everything that happened in blind last year says a lot for them(they got treated like crap).I,ll leave that part there and not expand.Capy is a goof ball,him and his flunkies come across with the same song and dance evertime they come back into the league and the outcome is alwaysthe same.(they end up getting canned).get ride of these bozos once and for all,surly there is some good young coaches out there that can add something to this league.
eagles fan
Sorry I misread who wrote it lol
Lets see Doan 6′4″ and aggressive Vernelli 5′8″ or so and 50lbs lighter burdened with equipment and he didn’t back down from Doan check youtube if you want to see it again
Size has nothing to do with it if he is so burdened with his equipment maybe he shouldn’t be trying fight. lol
I don’t care what the prelude was either he was manhandled but not jumped if your going to fight or throw punches well you take what you get
All Blind River Fans need to take a dep breath and relax. All their problems don’t come close to equating to the years of frustration on Manitoulin. Would they like to change places or maybe they want to go back to the days of the Blind River Barons?
Has anyone heard if Blind River still planning a fall showcase tournament with teams from the SIJHL and possibly the NAHL.
new Blog just posted here on OspreyBlogs.com:
“MID JULY IN THE NOJHL”