Heading into the final month of the regular season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League there is one certainty and several probables.
What we know is that the Manitoulin Islanders will again finish last in the West Division and with the worst record in the NOJHL.
What is probable is that the East Division will finish as is with the Abitibi Eskimos in first place followed by the North Bay Trappers, Sudbury Jr. Wolves and Temiscaming Royals.
What is also probable is that the Soo Thunderbirds will finish atop the West.
Then there are the Soo Eagles and Blind River Beavers.
Going into play this week, the second-place Eagles lead the third-place Beavers by 2 points in the battle for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Eagles have 3 big games in hand on the Beavers but the Michiganders have a tougher schedule remaining.
The 2 teams do meet one another 3 more times — twice in the Michigan Soo — and those games could well determine who finishes higher.
Who do I like, the Eagles or the Beavers?
Personally, I think the Eagles have been the overachievers thus far.
Personally, I think the Beavers have more talent and depth than the Eagles.
Outside of Ryan McAleese, Brian Depp and Aaron Leonard, I don’t know if the Eagles have another impact forward.
The Beavers, on the other hand, have players galore among the NOJHL scoring leaders and Matt Dozois, Chad Richard, Brandon Ominika, Drew MacMillan, Nathan MacLeod and rookie Brett Finday are all forwards who I would call impact guys.
Plus, I like Blind River’s defensive corps a lot more.
Josh McCully, Grant Paulson, Duncan Green, Kyle Paat, Corey Jackson, Kelly Barrett and Gabe West represent the 7-man Beavers blueline brigade and I know that coach Jim Capy has a tough decision to make in trying to decide who the odd man out is on a given night.
From the Eagles, Anthony Raymond is their best defenceman and after him, the others are average.
If the Eagles do have an advantage it’s between the pipes and if the Soo tandem of John Kleinhans and Michael Doan is better than the Blind River duo of Sam Foley and Bobby Raine, it’s not by much.
Coaching?
Paul Theriault of the Eagles is a career coach who has had success — lots of it — in the Ontario Hockey League, National Hockey League and in various Euopean outposts. Theriault is capably assisted by Dennis Bolton and the Eagles staff could further be strengthened depending on Kevin Cain.
Cain, who coached the erstwhile Soo Indians to the ‘06-07 NOJHL championship, is rumoured to be poised to join the Eagles as an assistant to Theriault in either the managerial or coaching end of things.
Then again, Cain just may decide to stay where he is as a scout for North Bay. Or the Eagles may decide to maintain the status quo.
As for Blind River’s Capy, he may not possess the coaching tenure of Theriault. But I don’t think there’s a coach in the NOJHL who Capy takes a back seat to.
Buckle up.
POST SCRIPT
I have had a few folks who aren’t registered to post on this Blog ask me how to go about doing so. Right now, the “Register” button does not appear on the OspreyBlogs.com home page. I have brought it to the attention of the folks at Sun Media and hopefully it’s not long before the matter is resolved.
Bayer
All the talk about Pedicaio didn’t RR report that he going to be in NB on or around the 4th of Feb after speaking to his father Did the trade even happen last month ????
Now I read he is maybe going to Sask ?
When Pedicaro shows up in a rink in Canada to play then talk about it.He gets Way to much press on this blog and he doesn’t even play in the league
Money talks BS walks
Boy some things tick people off, This is what makes this blog interesting people report what they have heard and through here its thrown about and discussed. Others put in their opinion and knowledge. If no one had anything to say it wouldn’t be much of a blog would it. Sit easy in the saddle and ask questions relating to what you want to know, others in here are just out to help and aid in the clarification of topics. I think it’s great that we talk about trades even if they may not materialize.
WE LOVE YOU PEACHY! I think he especially loves birdwatch. You’ll be reading along and then all of a sudden you start reading his post without knowing it is him and you can’t help but grin. Go Peachy Go Peachy Go Peachy the world is always better in color!
upfront,
North Bay DID acquire Perdicaro’s rights from Cowichan Valley of the BCHL.
Other than that, thanks for reading. And say hi next time you see me at the game.
Regards,
RR
hey RR
when are you coming up to IF for a game ??
we may not have the bomb shelter butwe do have the curling club for favourite beverage
eskimo,
Alexander Keith’s?
this year has been quite entertaining to say the least for at the start I had hoped for a 3rd place to secand finish at best then we picked up some players had two good golaies and the addition of DIX was a welcome addition, pedicaro looked like he would add gritt and scoring, now at seaosn end we have
No goalie
short staffed D
hurt forwards
and we have a 20 year old who was traded but somehow gets to play out of the SJHL… if its not dauphin who is hostiong the RBC i cant see that being even smart, looks like we are in tuff come the playoffs.
hey RR
whatever your poison !!!!!!
One has to understand that every season can’t be a winning one, teams have to rebuild, players must mature. If every team had a winning season it would be a heck of a league. As long as each teams players put 100% and even more into each and every game what more can one ask for. Then come the playoff’s, it the start of a new season, each and everyone of us has seen an upset, so who knows, as long as the kids get to show their talent and it entertains us in the north country, I/m pleased.
This year is truly a year when no team is safe of a sure win any team on any given night can win a game.Very entertaining.
Or lose you have to fight hard.
Nukker,
You’re right. Tanner probable could hold his own at the junior level. He originally made the team in training camp but decided to play with the Midget Trappers in order to focus on school. Good kid, was named captain (unofficially Like Roberto Luongo) of the midget team and has had several 40- and 50-save performances this season.
RR,
Would be pleased to have you up in IF. email me and maybe we can work something out …
would be nice to have you sit in with our color crew for a fasthockey broadcast…
and I know that the blueline club stocks Keith’s! what’s your pref? Red?IPA?White?Dark?
sig
I remind everyone that, what goes around, comes around.
I think that we’re astute enough to perceive that you can’t have a #1 team all the time. It’s a rare thing when all thepieces of the puzzle come together to realize a potential championship team!
Teams like NB and the Soo have been at or near the top of the regular season standings and post-season finalists a good number of times in past …oh let’s say 6 or 7 years? Statsman Dave?
and most other clubs have had their chances and done quite well for themselve…AB, BR, SUD…….the U.S. teams…
just the Isles who’ve had a hard time, and the Royals if they could address their recruiting/access to players issues (that’s another discussion).
The bigger markets will, usually and logically, have the more success. Greater population base = greater talent pool, due to many factors (universities, colleges, ….higher levels of competition, etc)
back to my point……..every club is bound to have a bad season now and again. This year it seems to be that NB is having a tough go, for example; but compare that to their overall record of past few years! Next year it could be any other team going thru a “rebuilding” phase. This happens, it’s part of the process of rejuvenation and “going with the flow” of demographics+economics+luck.
So, fans, of those teams having a “hard luck” season: chin up, it aint’t the end of the world! And to those having a greater degree of success (so far): be graceful in defeat, humble in victory and honor your opponent without whom your team’s success could not be realized. The tables can be turned very quickly.
The game Bind River at the Trappers should be a good one, One has to think that both teams want to prove a point, Hope it will be a great game, there are certainly a great core of players on both teams. Lets hope both teams show up to play.
RR if i am you I wood stay away from Iraqwas Falls they drink moose piss up there ahahahahahahahahahahaha
Jr Wolves have 3 games in 3 nights. This will show if they are going anywhere in the playoffs.
Like Hockey North I have been reading these blogs for a while – just got a new computer and thought I would give it a try. Been following the T_Birds, Beavers, and Eagles and have enjoyed the competition. Enjoyed the game in Soo Mich – agree with NBF that Capy plays Nystedt and Pascall too much – not sure what’s going on there – the games I’ve seen Zorzi play he is a heads up player with great defensive skills- fast too! Campbell is having a great year and both he and Hurley would be better off with a stronger linemate IMO – glad to see the Findlay line clicking again!! Will be great to see the Beavers vs the Eagles & TBirds this weekend! A change in the standings perhaps?
Peachy, it’s not moose pee…. but it might be MooseHead beer, lol.
And that’s “moose head” as in “tete d’orignale”….not……oh, …never mind….
LUV – nicely said!
I think Capy should put Krueger on a line with Campbell and Zorzi now that would be a nice line to compliment the top 2 lines – Fourth line of Trecoce – Hurley – (Butorac / Pascall / Nystedt) IMO
Hey guys I agree with Pascall BUT its hard to second guess a coach that is winning.Capy has pretty well done what he started out to do, stay as local as he could and still be competitive and he is.It is a very hard job in BR.with all the travel I think a little slack would fit good at this time of the year.
i disagree with newbeaverfan hes looking at the glass as half empty. The beavers are a hot team right now and from what i know about coach and being evolved with hockey when your winning its going right. There is anything wrong with the beavers team from all the players to the coaches. Pascall from the looks of it right now is a player trying to get his confidance back as well with Nysted. There is a business side of hockey that a lot of fans don’t understand.
Quick Question….Part of the job of junior hockey leagues is to move their players to the next level. Does the NOJHL have a link or page somewhere on their site (like other JR leagues) that shows player commitments to NCAA, Major Junior & professional? Also wondering how many NCAA Div 3 and Div 1 commits so far this year?
Bill – Jamie – I agree! This team has too improve just a bit to really make a run come playoff time – but you guys are absolutely right Capy and the coaching staff have definitely put together a team that is very competitive and talented – not to mention the home grown talent – no real complaints here just some minor tweaking! I’ve seen a number of games and as this blog allows just sharing my thoughts as a fan – I’m a Zorzi fan because of the effort the kid shows – part of the “Business Side” is motivating the kids and showing some loyalty to those guys that have put in the time and brutual travel schedule – hey we are not in the dressing room and we as fans don’t know these young men just an unbiased opinion from the outside looking it!!! This is a very exciting team that is fun to watch and with a few bounces can go a long way come playoff time – they should play the Eagles – T-Birds and Eskis and they have played these 3 teams very close this season…
Fill me in on the Business side of hockey that most of us don’t understand Jamie…
Trappers loose Laporte for 10 games,
No Goalie, and a few hurt forwards…
I wonder if we will see Tanner Davis or Markuss Lekurri tonight in nets.
just posted on OspreyBlogs.com:
KEVIN CAIN IS FOR THE BIRDS