There is an unmistakable buzz back about hockey in North Bay.
People are interested to see about the new Nipissing Lakers hockey team.
And the Lakers winning a weekend tournament at York University sparked the buzz.
Everywhere I go in town, people are asking or talking about the Lakers and OUA hockey.
Im not one who hangs out at coffee shops or malls, but the places I do frequent beer-league dressing rooms, the sidelines at local football games, the stands at local hockey games people are talking Nipissing Lakers hockey.
But not many people know whats going on with the team just yet.
In my opinion, the buzz is warranted, because the OUA is regarded as the best-kept secret in Canadian hockey. Whether the Lakers are able to sustain the excitement remains to be seen their first half schedule is tough and theres no bigger momentum-killer than losing games. But I think the law of supply-and-demand might work in their favour with a 14-game home schedule, creating a demand to be at the games.
So far, so good 3,693 fans at Memorial Gardens for a hockey game hasnt been seen in North Bay for years. (not including the Hockeyville game and it seems there are more and more empty seats at East-West every year).
When the OHLs North Bay Centennials closed up shop, there were 2,048 on hand for the final game. When the North Bay Skyhawks hosted the Dudley-Hewitt Cup final in 2004, there were 3,041 on hand.
Anyway, about that Nipissing Lakers team people keep asking about. These are the guys still preparing for Fridays season-opener against the Queens Gaels:
Forward
Matt Lahey (Ottawa 67s, Moncton Wildcats)
Andrew Marcoux (Georgetown Raiders, Mississauga Ice Dogs)
Dan Watt (Winnipeg Saints, Tri-City Americans)
Brandon Happeney (Aurora Tigers)
Leiland Gauley (Couchiching Terriers)
Sam Hopewell (Kemptville 73s)
Ryan Maunu (Soo Thunderbirds, Lakehead U)
Marcus Pryde (Georgetown Raiders)
Nathan Hewitt (North Bay Skyhawks)
Mike Vezina (Carleton Place Kings)
David Cappadocia (North Bay Skyhawks)
Trevor McNutt (Soo Thunderbirds)
Justin Dicks (Sudbury Wolves, Huntsville Otters)
Justin Villeneuve (North Bay Skyhawks)
Tyler Riel (Winnipeg South Blues, MJHL)
Matt Lathem (North Country College)
Chad McQuaid (Port Hope Predators)
Adam Simms (Oakville Blades)
Defence
*Brodie Beard (Ottawa 67s) *ineligible until Oct. 24
John Quarrie (Oshawa Generals)
Josh McKinnon (St. Johns Fog Devils, Summerside Capitals)
Sean Ryan (Ottawa 67s)
Jordan Gallea (Powell River Kings, Ottawa 67s)
David Jarick (Markham Waxers)
Jason Gray (SAIT College)
Ernie Currie (Cornwall Colts; also a local boy whos been playing in town the last couple years)
Carl Wilson (Strathroy/St. Thomas Jr. B)
Goalers
Matt Hache (Oakville Blades/Sarnia Sting)
Kyle Cantlon (Couchiching Terriers)
Josselin St. Pierre (Embrun Panthers, Richmond Renegades)
Billy Stone (Blind River Beavers)
My hockey memory stretches back to when North Bay had a team in the old EPHL. There was quite a bit of local excitement about that team but the league had a short life. Bright spots followed when the Trapper juniors were strong on the mid-60s and in the 70s in the Provincial league after the NOJHL ceased operating for awhile. There is, as this article says, strong interest today in the Lakers team, but in my opinion, nothing comes close to that day back in 94 when the Centennials won the OHL title. This town lived and died Centennials at that time and it was topic #1 everywhere in town. That level of excitement and national attention has not been experienced since then and may never return as long as we stay out of the league that deep down every junior hockey fan hopes will return.
I agree with Ken’s “best-kept secret” in Canadian hockey comment.
So many players within the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League spend years chasing a U.S. college hockey dream that often ends at the Division 3 NCAA level — and paying exhorbitant tuition fees. Why isn’t the the OUA route more of an aspiration for more Jr. A players?
At any rate, good to see former NOJHLers Ryan Maunu, Trevor McNutt, Billy Stone et al at Nipissing and ‘08-09 championship goalie Ryan Dube (Soo Thunderbirds) at Carleton.
And good to see Darren Turcotte coaching again.
Ah college hockey.
The list should also include players who are skating with the team, but ineligible until the second semester:
F Ryan Loach (Skyhawks)
F Andre Landry (Canadore)
and (I think) D-man Trevor Solomon (Sarnia Sting/Soo Greyhounds)
D man Jarick play for Blindriver for a season.
Trivia questions:
1) Which Laker has played in the Memorial Cup tournament?
2) Which Laker played in the Royal Bank Cup tournament last season?
3) Which Laker played a solid right field for Boston Pizza in the North Bay Senior Baseball League?
4) Which Laker was my teammate in the Powassan league last season?
First one to answer all four correctly wins a nine-year-old box of Kraft Dinner with a Wayne Gretzky hockey card on the back and the macaroni still inside the box. (Estimated e-bay value: 99 cents)
my answers
1- Matt Lahey – Brodie Beard
2- Josh McKinnon
3- Mike Vezina
4- David Cappadocia
Brodie Beard also played against the North Bay Skyhawks in 2003 Dudley Hewitt Cup and his team advanced to play in the Royal Bank Cup Beating the skyhawks in the finals.
Jordo’s hungry for Kraft Dinner and curried lamb.
Bayer,
1.5 out of 4 ain’t bad.
answer #1, 1/2 a point;
answer # 2 correct).
answer # 3 Vezina is built more like a smooth-fielding shortstop than a right-fielder. You gotta think, someone playing right field would be a lanky guy with a strong throwing arm, like Alex Rios or Jesse Barfield.
answer #4 Cappadocia was more of an Astorville league guy, not so much the Powassan league
But you get a bonus for the Brodie Beard/Wellington Dukes info.
So 2 out of 4.
ok so maybe its
3- Ernie Currie
4- Mike Vezina
i dont know im stumped
Bayer,
Congratulations.
#1) Brodie Beard, 2005 Memorial Cup in London
#2) Josh McKinnon, 2009 Royal Bank Cup in Victoria
#3) Ernie Currie, a consistent line-drive hitter with a Vladimir Guerrerro-like gun from right field in senior baseball
4) Mike Vezina, skated like the wind and added a physical dimension for East Side Mario’s. Solid in the room.
Bayer, you’ve won a box of Y2K Kraft Dinner with a hockey card of Wayne Gretzky on the back and the macaroni still in the box, one in an exclusive set of four special-issue KD boxes. The Commish is going to be so happy that I’m getting rid of what she deems “junk” from my vast collection of awesome stuff.
I’ll have the box of KD Friday, maybe you can cook it up at the tailgate party . . . Yum Yum.
maybe ill share it with Jordo lol
Mike Vezina has the best hairline in the OUA, havent seen a hairline like that since Sheldon Webber up in Suds. I saw Mike training this summer with the old assistant coach for the Skyhawks down at the local Goodlife (undergoing renos). i havent seen the old coach since….. rumour has it hes putting up aluminum sidding back home. If you have any old boxes of Pro Stars cereal that are un opened let me know…….aaaahhhhhh! stale cereal!!!!!
I new the old coach guy – not Guy. He has not bean a round this year cause he got falling in love with a lady! I seen them out buy Jocko Point walking the dog and holding hands.