Blind River Beavers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League are sending yet-another player to the major junior ranks.
Jon Lavigne, a 6-foot-3, 220 pound defenceman, has signed with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League after spending the first half of the 2012-13 season in the NOJHL with Blind River.
Lavigne, a 1995 birth date who hails from the Sudbury area, had moved up to the NOJHL this season after spending the 2011-12 campaign at the Gilmore Academy in Ohio.
In going from the NOJHL and Blind River to Hull and the QMJHL, he becomes the third player in as many years to graduate the Beavers for a major junior team.
The first was 1992 birth year winger Brett Findlay, who is now in his first season with the Peterborough Petes after spending the previous two Ontario Hockey League campaigns with the Soo Greyhounds.
The other is 1994 birth year defenceman Andrew Tessier, who now plays for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL after spending the 2011-12 season in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs.
As for Lavigne, his departure from Blind River for Hull is somewhat bittersweet, according to Beavers general manager Rusty Joncas.
“We know how skilled he is and he was a huge part of our team this season, however opportunities to play at the major junior level don’t come along every day and we were not going to stand in the way of Jon’s goals,” said Joncas.
Joncas added that “Jon is a great mixture of size, skill and determination and that will help him excell at the next level. Off the ice he’s a great kid, dedicated student and very popular with teammates and fans.”
In 24 games with the Beavers this season, Lavigne had three assists while taking a regular shift for rookie head coach Doug McEwen.
“Jon is a very intense, hardworking young defenseman,” noted McEwen. “His size and strength are great assets and will make any team very happy to have him playing for them. It was a pleasure to be able to help him along in his playing career.”
Pierre Boisvert, who is the director of player personnel for the Hull team of the QMJHL, has had his eyes on Lavigne for some time.
“Two years ago, I was in Mississauga at the OHL Showcase Tournament, watching potential players and I saw this this big d-man moving the puck like there was no tomorrow. What I saw in Jonathan then were his quality decisions in key moments, having the patience to wait the extra second and make a good play instead of having a knee jerk reaction to a situation. Because Jonathan was still eligible for the OHL Draft and being an Ontario kid, I couldn’t talk to him. Now as a free agent, we welcome him to Hull and the QMJHL.”
Lavigne had a shot at playing in the OHL this season but was a late cut by the Oshawa Generals before signing with Blind River. Now, it’s off to the QMJHL and Hull.
One door closes, another one opens.
We had Jonathan live with us for three months, he was a delight to have around, helpful and always a smile.
He is very passionate about his hockey and a excellent student. He takes pride in all he does.
He will accomplish anything he puts his mind to.
Jack and I wish you all the best in this next journey of your life.
We hope that we were able to support you enough to make you stronger for this new step.
Congradulations again and we look forward to hearing good
things from you in the future.
Gatineau is lucky to have you.
Just wondering why nojhl would approve t-birds to play exhibition series in Wisconsin, but will not let t-birds and Soo Eagles play exhibition game in Soo Mich, for charity, seems awful fishy???
Golden Bear I was thinking the same thing. Congrats to Jonathan Lavigne on signing with the Olympiques.
@Golden Bear; The Thunderbirds are playing in a Canadian Junior Hockey Showcase against the SIJHL. Both are governed by Hockey Canada. I agree that Mazzuca should find a way to allow them to play the Eagles, but it is easily understandable to see why they are playing in Wisconsin without any issues.
The City of North Bay is beginning to make some potentially very upsetting overtures – “We have no contract with the Trappers to provide for the hosting of the DHC.” – (words to that effect). With no real Junior hockey fans in positions of authority (bandwagon jumpers-on don’t count), it looks for all the world as if they are laying the groundwork for denying the Trappers the use of Memorial Gardens.
I think that would leave two options – have another team pick up the ball and run with it, or play the DHC at West Ferris Arena.
It’s pretty late in the game for the former to be feasible. The latter would be an insult to the NOJHL and its fans, leaving our fine league looking like a bunch of backwoods hicks, and the city looking like a backward Mickey Mouse village.
The whole situation is beginning to take on frightening proportions. We can only hope that suitable ‘classy’ arrangements can be worked out, and the sooner the better.
If anyone can shed more light on this subject, we would welcome any further information or suggestions.
Otherwise, we hope all our NOJHL teams and fans have enjoyed a good Christmas, and we wish you all the best in 2013.
Yours in Junior hockey – LeJib and family.
happy New Year to RR and the many fans of the NOJHL!
Go Bobcats Go! Beat them Beaver bums from Blind River!
To all bloggers, and RR:
Best wishes for Health, Prosperity and Happiness in 2013
Le Jib , i have co-workers that are on the organizing committee and they have been told that the tourney would be played at Memorial Gardens even if there are tarps hangin during a construction phase – from all accounts the tourney will be held there . To RR thank you for your continued coverage of this leage and its happenings – i havent been as active this year but continue to be a loyal follower of the blog . Happy Holidays to all the contributors to this blog and here’s to looking forward to an exciting conclusion to the 2012-13 season , the playoffs as well as the Dudley Hewitt Cup
Dcky33 – I had heard much the same, before the present overtures began to circulate. We can only hope you are right!
Thanks for the input.
Likewise, my thanks to RR for his fine work for the NOJHL.
Thanks for the nice words.
And Happy New Year to all.
Regards,
RR
Happy new year !! my prediction for 2013 , Kl adds a big dman and a top 3 forward , Soo needs a change . Eskies ,RT gets moved to a contender and eskies rebuild for next year, Br adds a goalie and tries to compete plays 500 for the last half, NB adds a top 2 dman and a top 3 forward .EL adds a top forward and get more win in second half then first.suds up and down stays the same.
North bay on top
Soo
Kirkland lake
sudbury
Blind river
Iroquoi falls
Elliot lake
Good luck to all
latest RR column just posted at http://www.juniorhockey.com:
First column of 2013
Kirkland Lake Goldminers aquire Daniel Morin from dryden Ice dogs
well said LeJib. how can they just turn there backs on a team that has brought close to 500,000 fans to memorial gardens over the past 10 years. if im not mistaken the host team is responsible for paying all motel rooms for the 4 other teams. all of this plus the other things that are the host teams responsiblilty. if the ohl wasnt coming here,the contract signing would just be a formality for the DHC but because Mr Chirico and company know there backs are against the wall to complete the reno,s at the gardens, it is Tim Clayden(trappers owner) that is paying the price. in my opinion there was absolutely zero preperation in getting an ohl team here as far as council goes and they are trying to do it overnite. Mr Chirico is basically saying that a mans word is no good, so im wondering since he said the reno,s will not go over 12 million and it wont cost the taxpayers a dime, if he is willing to put that in writing and sign it???
This KL team is getting deep! Morin not a flashy or smooth player by any stretch but is a big body and if he decides to play the system lafleur has put in, hes just the type of player the miners need! They’re still missing a quaterback D and one more offensive forward tho!
If the eskis dont get 2 two high end forwards and a stud on D, i suppose its possible they move therrien in a cash deal! Since hes in school in timmins, i cant see him going anywhere but KL!
If the gminers get those 2 top enders, the jesseau experiment works out, and the trappers or tbirds dont make any further acquisitions, this kl team might just be able to get to the DHC! I wouldnt predict front or back door but they got a shot! You can see they’ve pretty much got the systems down pat now and looked impressive last time they played the Schmoes in KL. Lots of ‘IF’s” i know but this KL club could be within sniffing distance!
I agree eskifan, about kl. A Therrien trade would mean they’ve given up on the season and that would be hard to swallow for some of the fans. Time will tell i guess.
new blog just posted:
Hurrah for North Bay
Well i can tell you that RT is not in school and waiting for is new team.
lets get the second half of the season going,should be very interesting. lets not forget that the trappers automatically get a boost if and when there captain comes back guys. he has been out with a broken leg for awhile now and they have still been able to keep right up there. i also wouldnt wanna count the sudbury team out of it quite yet, pretty talented team if they get some consistancy going and currently tied with soo in wins and they are the only team who really havent changed there roster since the season started.
It looks like RT want to go south were he thinks he will get more exposure for a scholarship , I am sure that the self proclaim agent of the north has something to do with this and brainwash the poor kid, he already had a offer from Rochester for a full ride. the”agent” has screwed quite a few player before from what I have been told. Blanchard wanted his head on a platter, Paul is just waiting for the right moment.
but I hope the kid does all right because he is a good player and a nice kid ,but the grass is not always greener on the other side
All the best to him
dont talk out of your butt again , i never talk to him , he is the one that told me that he asked for a trade.wrong on rochester full ride hehe Blanchard is a good friend of mine. so 3 out of 3 wrong. nice
oh and name me one player that i have screwed ??????? 1 plz
Therrien is definitly a good player and will get a scholarship no problem anywhere he plays, teams just need to promote their players.
North Bay has promoted their players all season so far real well and 5-7 of their players have already gone for school visits in the usa and a couple more who have received calls from coaches.
Sacha Guimond echl jon aubertin rbc cup Davey d-3 wilson d-3 lizzy d-3 kascsak acha laportes both went chl park d-3 thats just a couple from nojhl that are still playing . eskimos when u dont know the facts , u dont post
Goerge, be careful what you ask for. Everyone has skeletons in their closet. A smart or shrewd business person would think twice about posting on open blogs like this. If you go looking for trouble hard and long enough, it might find you.
so you say
mcfly
I sure do eskmoe
rt to nepeon good move
oooopssssss
I forgot whom I was talking to .
learn how to spell buddy
my spelling is fine and so are my players. hehe. I’m gonna get blamed for desrosier walking off the team too right. so I should mention that I had nothing to do with that.eskies should focus more on the stuff that matters then the spelling.
Spoke with a very well known and well respected player agent this weekend.
A couple of quotes:
“Be very careful regarding people you meet in this profession – if they have official credentials, you still need to check them out – if they don’t, stay far away”
“840 clients? that’s absurd – I keep my numbers around 150, this way I can give them the attention they deserve. I speak with my clients a few times a week, and not just when the poop hits the fan.”
Just some food for thought.
What’s going as far as numbers go for Abitibi, Blind River, and Elliot Lake? If I am not mistaken I have seen all three teams dress less than 18 players for multiple games recently. Are these teams having trouble filling their rosters? From what I have heard, rosters are going to freeze here in the next couple of days. Should NOJHL fans be concerned?
if your clients are place on teams. you should never speak to them. coach has full access. the only time a player should talk to you is when he has a problem. u can promote them without distracting them.