Multiple sources are telling me that the Spanish River town of Espanola could once again be home to a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League franchise.
Espanola mayor Mike Lehoux and Colin Wilson of the town’s Economic Development department have been looking to attract an NOJHL team to the hardworking town of more than 5,300, which is located about 135 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie and approximately 45 miles west of Sudbury, at the junction of Highways 6 and 17.
Espanola is home to a 13-year old arena complex that comfortably seats about 700 people for hockey.
NOJHL commissioner Robert Mazzuca, when asked about the possibility of Espanola joining the seven-team league, said discussion of any matters as such are considered confidential. Mazzuca did note that Espanola “has a very nice facility that is suitable for junior hockey.”
Espanola has been home to previous, failed junior hockey franchises, both in the NOJHL and the non-sanctioned, Greater Metro Jr. Hockey League.
But Mayor Lehoux has been active in searching for a suitable, established owner to partner with the town in operating an NOJHL franchise.
Indeed, sources are saying that the very-reputable Tim Clayden, who owns the NOJHL’s North Bay Trappers, has had discussions with Lehoux, Wilson and Town of Espanola Manager of Leisure Services Dianne Polden about the possibility of moving his franchise to Espanola for the 2013-14 campaign.
Clayden offered a polite “no comment” when asked if he was considering moving his NOJHL franchise from North Bay to Espanola. Like Mazzuca however, Clayden did say that Espanola “has a nice arena that could be a nice fit for an NOJHL team.”
The NOJHL’s Trappers are facing an uncertain future with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League moving its franchise to North Bay effective the 2013-14 season.
North Bay is regarded as the NOJHL’s flagship franchise and has led the league in attendance for each of its previous 10 seasons.
Categories: General
latest RR column just posted on http://www.juniorhockey.com:
Sunday slapshots
I`m sure all those involved will make the right decision for the better of this league but with the possibilty of N-Bay out and Espanola in , that is one less opportunity of getting back an 8 teams league.
Very nice facility in Espanola. I believe the Islanders used to play a few games there a year.
If Tim Clayden is involved Espanola WILL succeed!!…otherwise “no” as it has failed numerous times in Espanola. Clayden is the man to make it happen.
deepwater are you from espanola by chance?? i lived there for 40+ years and i must have been sleeping if the nojhl failed there numerous times. i was involved with the last group that had the team there and it did not servive due to lack of fan support and the owner was losing too much money. the outlaw league was there for 1 year and that did not servive because of poor ownership and it never did really get off the ground. i do agree with you that Mr Clayden and a good support staff could make it work but it is not a slam dunk no brainer. with no college or university there it is not easy to find enough quality players that can play at that level .
nice weekend by the Eskies, Goalie seems like the real deal. Congrats. Seemed like sunday’s game was a little bit scrappy, anyone have any details?
Hockeyguy.The NOJHL folded in ESPAnola 3 times…it”s a fact….
For your info this includes the Nojha Eagles and does not include the GMHL.
deepwater are you talking when the franchise was sold to michigan????
To dear Mr. Mcfly, Eskies seem to be getting better as time goes by and has fewer ties with you. Now that we have a real goalie, at least that end of the ice is taken care of. FYI, there is always some partying going on with all teams and players, don’t be so naive. The type of partying that you seem to think went on here is nowhere near the truth and actually, the partying has been pretty much null ever since your son left IF. Maybe he was the bad apple? In terms of Jesseau, he’s the only player that I have ever known who has been banned from 3 different houses in the matter of 4wks for causing damage to homes, giving major attitude to billet families and racking up on-line charges and refusing to pay the bill at more than 1 house. You sure do represent a real good kid there!!! By the way Mr. Mcfly, are you actually a certified, registered advisor or have a license of some kind to be representing all these players? or are you just someone you knows a lot of people, thinks he know something about hockey and made up a business card? I would think that a man of your age would be mature enough to refrain from posting stuff like this on blogs and facebook. I really didn’t want to stoop to your level in writting this post, but it needed to be said. This will surely be my first and last post, hopefully we won’t hear any more crap from you!
HOCKEY NORTH SHOW ON ESPN RADIO
hi folks,
Guest list for tonight’s Hockey North Show that airs from 6-7 p.m. on ESPN Radio http://stream.1400espn.net is as follows:
1. Martin Gruse, forward, Michigan Warriors, NAHL
2. Paul Muio, forward, Blind River Beavers, NOJHL
3. Bruno Bragagnolo, coach, Soo Eagles, NAHL
4. Kevin Cain, general manager OR Albert Giommi, president, Soo Thunderbirds, NOJHL
Hope you give us a listen.
Regards,
Randy Russon
Host, Hockey North Show, ESPN Radio
What about a team in Hearst ??? would that work , its a city that loves hockey , lots of great kids come out of there.
In a perfect world we would keep the Trappers in the league and then hopefully add a team in Espanola !
Hearst would probably get same excuse they get from the GNML! Too far north and one wants the travel costs! Very right though great hockey town that has probably produced more JrA players than any community in northern onthario if not the province!
Congrats to Peter Poulin Roy for getting another call up with the Wolves. Go hard make the best out of this chance.
Eskis picked up a kid from Calgary Travis Wellman according to the NOJHL site, you know anything about it Mcfly?
I know the kid , he is a smaller forward. does have ok skills he is like a myles nolan .
Hearst would be a great place, would bring in good crowds. I bet they’d average some 550 per game. It’s some 6 hours from the Soo and 7 from Sudbury. Would make a good rivalry with the Eskies. They have the University and the College there also.
Scratch wellman! Two others arrived today tho, one from the AJHL and the other NAHL
Eskisfan, You know long Peter P Roy was called up the second time? He might be gone for a while.
he as been called up till sunday night 3 more games.
latest RR column (with 40 per cent NOJHL content) just posted on http://www.juniorhockey.com:
Between the lines…
Randy you miss one goalie with Oddesse , Etienne Roy as been there since sunday.
Goerge Mcfly,
Etienne Roy may be in Odessa but he is not on the Jackalopes roster nor is he on their USA Hockey protected list. So, in esssence, he is not Odessa property.
Regards,
RR
Congrats to Jake Patterson on Making team canada former Soo Eagle of the NOJHL, hmmmm maybe we are a better development league then we thought
Important weekend for the eskis, suddenly, they find themselves 9 points behind 4th place KL with still 3 games in hand on them. Should be a good one Sunday night in KL. I remember some KL fan saying it’s a long season in last place! I predict the eskis to be ahead of the miners before the end of the season.
Ahh another weekend of NOJHL Action coming up – the league is quite balanced this year to say the least , as for the north bay situation , has anyone and i put this question of to you as well Randy considered this – that the Trappers pull up and out from the NOJHL next season and apply to play in the GMHL , based out of the West Ferris Arena, financially its just not that bad of an idea as it is a play to play league – with north bay there would be 4 teams well under a hours drive, so travel wise its very economical and the natural rivalries are already in place with sturgeon and temang. Just a thought i was pondering this morning as i get ready to but my dudley seats , it would be quite ironic to see it happen for sure .
Which Soo Eagle tender is heading to Odessa?
Catching will be tough to do! KL has a good squad! I think the eskis will need another top 3 forward and help from the beavers and bobcats before thinking bout catchin the barons or miners!
Sell the team or put it in one of those GMHL centres like SF or Temiskaming.
I think it is now time that the asst. Coach of EL to step to the for front
of this team. Coach Ryan is way over his head with his abilities to coach at this level. With 9 to 10 player flat out quitting this team says it all. This coach has lost the dressing room and the respect of is players with his antics. These young men deserve better. Coaches like this have no place in hockey. His action are becoming embarrassing to watch and I feel for these players who have to play for this man. It’s time for the commissioner of the league to take a closer look. This coach is accountable to no one.
dcky33,there is already 4 teams with sturgeon ,temang, powassan, and mattawa.
I agree hockey guy – thats why it makes it an appealing proposal as the travel time and costs for playing half the teams in the league is minimal .
to Bruce Jackson:
You must be joking. Ryan Lenard is the man who brought Junior Hockey back to Elliot Lake first with the Greater Metro League and now with this major upgrade to the NOJHL. This is the guy who gave us Junior Hockey again and now he is no good! Why dont you put your money where your mouth is!
Beavers lose again last nite…what the hell is going on???!!! Perhaps the G.M. can find us some American kids who can play like Capy used to do when he was the G.M. hardly any kids from the Soo any more either! Come on Rusty….WAKE UP!
Just because Ryan Leonard brought hockey to your town does not mean he is a good coach. I am not picking sides but lets use some common sense on this issue.
Yes old Viking Ryan Lenard has to be credited for bringing jr. Hockey back to this town. I have to give him that. But coaching in the GMHL which is lucky to be at the Jr.C level and now at this NOJHL Jr.A level are two different ends of the spectrums. Old school coaching that was used in the 60′s and 70′s does not work in this day and age. It’s time for some real quality coaching to move this team forward. If you ask the players in that dressing room if they respect coach Ryan? If the answer is about 80 present NO, then he has lost the dressing room. It is time for Ryan Lenard to look in the mirror and say it’s time. Let the asst. Coaches have the room and let’s move forward. Yes it’s time. No other owner in this league thinks he can coach at this level.
Yelling and belittling these young men does not work to motivate them.
Sad, Embarrassed, and Frustrated Bobcat fan. ITS TIME
i see your point dcky33 but knowing tim clayden the way i do,this would not even be an option for him. he is commited to this league and will find a way to make it work here or whereever he decides to move his team.
Congrates to the Goldminers on their victory. Holding the Soo to 19 shots is quite a accomplishment. Now hopefully the Eskis can do the same night.
Lots of passengers last night for the eskis! Guys standing around the net untouched! Two or three rebounds or simply not picking up the open man! Birds are too good a team to play non contact hockey! Goal scoring is not the issue nor was the goaltending! No one seemed to finish their defensive assignments.m
Def has not been our strong points….A good portion of the games we won this year was the result of our goaltending…Also what’s the problem with the lack of interest this year (323 fans last night) seems that we are having a lot of little over 300 this year. Team must be scratching their heads…..league is well balance … so what’s the problem, you can’t beat the facilities ,teams doing OK etc…
Bruce Jackson you must be a disgruntled parent or player not a true fan of this team. If you were a true fan you would know how much Ryan has done for players and the crapp he puts up with daily running a Junior team and how much time he puts in with the boys. Our team has come a long way especially in the last 5 weeks. I have enjoyed watching the games and also hosting players and watching this first year team progress as they have been. We cant always win and we dont expect to. Ryan has brought us great hockey the last 5 years and wanted to make a change and I think it was the right one for Elliot Lake. I have player’s here that like our coach and respect the whole staff. They like the direction this team has gone. Not all player’s quit. Maybe 5 left an were not happy with coach Leonard due to ice time and sitting in the stands an other issues. Wanted to get that straight. Two were traded one who requested a trade out of the league and another who was not welcomed here not just by the coaches but also the fans. Another player had personal family issues and wanted to come back but was an import and coach Leonard filled his spot as there was no time line how long he would be out this player holding up an import spot. Yes I am in the know of the team cause we have players in our home. Then like every other team 3 or 4 players had to be released on Dec 1st deadline. Coach Leonard is hard? Yes and needs to be when u have 25 young men in one small community. He doesn’t put up with any crap and that is how it has to be and for that is one reason my wife and I keep doin what we do.
Our Bobcats are in good hands and we are not expecting much this year but we are already right there with the rest but lacking some maturity which we now are getting as of late with some older additions. I applaud our coach and the staff as it aint easy dealing with young men at this age. We have got to know them well personally and their families over the years. There is no one in this whole community that has the passion for the boys and the game of hockey like our coach does. Ryan works tiredlesly around the clock on top of that has another full time job to make sure we are able to have hockey and have a team. This guy in my eyes has alot heart and dedication and is what keeps my wife and I staying involved and help out. We dont need fans like you. Wishing the boys and the staff a Safe holiday season. Looking forward to seeing them back on the ice in January.
new Blog just posted:
NOJHL to Team Canada
To Bobcat fan/billet
No I am not a disgruntled parent or a player, I am fan of this team and players which I feel we have some fine young men on this team that are quite excellent players. I have been around this game my whole life and know when a coach has does all he can and is out of solutions just by watching the bench. I am sorry your opinions are bias and your entitled to it, but I am just telling people what I see and hear around town. You may want to recount your quit list. You can word it any way you want but 9 to 10 players have quit. This number is unheard of on any normal Jr.A team.
Just watch the body language of these players during a game and it’s will tell you a lot. Just watch this coach and it will tell you a lot. He has run out of answers and his action with the players tells it all. I just tells it how I see it. Nothing against the coach but it is time. The asst. Coach I believe would have the respect of the players and you would see a difference in this team. Its time for Ryan to take a step back and just run the team and I believe even he would be a lot happier.
Just a plain old bobcat fan that watches more than just the game.
Thank you
eski 01 and eski fans.
What’s this? Be in front of the KL Gminers by end of season you suggest? Gee after 107 shots and 17 goals in 2 games maybe you need to re-think that? At least KL keeps the good teams under 30 shots ( Sault only had 19 shots)
Bruins 4 I was told that you were a NB fan trying to stir s–t between other teams…lol…..still will nor forgive the Esq for having kick
your A– a couple of years ago….