We begin by saying that the 2013 Dudley Hewitt Cup, Central Canada Jr. Hockey Championships will be held at Memorial Gardens in North Bay from April 30 to May 4.
Do we know this for sure given media reports stating that the North Bay Trappers of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League actually don’t have a signed agreement with the City of North Bay to play host to this year’s DHC at Memorial Gardens?
Well, we suspect that the DHC will go on as scheduled at Memorial Gardens in North Bay if only because of a media release just sent out by NOJHL Communications which states:
“It is 110 days away until the start of the 2013 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Jr. A Championship, which will be hosted by the NOJHL’s Trappers at North Bay’s venerable Memorial Gardens. The five-day event will feature the host Trappers welcoming the respective champions of the NOJHL, Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the Superior International Jr. Hockey League vying for the right to represent the region at the 2013 Royal Bank Cup, May 11-19 in Summerside, P.E.I. Should North Bay go on to capture the NOJHL crown then the league finalist will also be among the four competing teams.”
End of story?
For the sake of the the Trappers, the NOJHL and the City of North Bay, we can only hope so.
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So, will the NOJHL return to Espanola for the 2013-2014 season after an absence of several years?
And if so, will it be as an expansion team or the relocation of the North Bay Trappers to Espanola?
And should Espanola find a junior hockey owner willing to set up shop in the Spanish River town will the Sudbury Nickel Barons waive their territorial rights?
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What’s going on with the Abitibi Eskimos?
The usually-competitive Eskimos are struggling with a record of 11-17-1 and in fifth place in the seven-team NOJHL, just a point ahead of the sixth-place Blind River Beavers.
But are the Eskimos poised to stage one of their patented late-season turnarounds under veteran coach Paul Gagne?
We don’t have the answer to that but we will opine that Gagne is one of the most-effective coaches within the Canadian Jr. Hockey League.
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So, which is the most-underated team in the NOJHL?
Kirkland Lake Gold Miners? Sudbury Nickel Barons? Blind River Beavers?
We say watch out for that sly old wolf who coaches the Nickel Barons, our old friend Dave Clancy.
Categories: General
Great article RR! This is vintage RR stirring it up and asking the questions which are on the minds of so many of us N.O.J.H.L. fan’s.
I agree to watch out for the “Old Wolf” Clancy and the Nickel Barons!!
I certanly hope that after all of this that we aint getting the runaround and that the NOJHA is definatly coming back to Espy???!!! We will support this new Team without any question!!!
The rest of the way I’m sure the eskis will battle and make every win against them hard earned but I don’t anticipate any major turn around. Looks like they we unable to sign anybody after the departure of Therrien which didn’t leave much time. I will continue to support them ti’ll the end of the season and hope they can make it interesting.
consistancy is the only thing that has separated the soo and northbay from sudbury. the 7 or 8 game losing streak sudbury had hurt them in the standings and there is no dought they have a talented team . i certanly wouldnt think teams underestimate there capabilities and that would go for any team. every team is capable on any given nite. there are some great rivalries brewing in the league and it makes for some good hockey games for sure. discipline plays a major part of it, and that usually plays a part between winning and losing in the tight games. it was nice to see northbay,s captain back on the ice for a lite skate after suffering a broken leg in november. thats a major boost to them when he can get back to playing. good job with the updates RR.
Attention Rusty
Your comments on the acceptance of the current North Bay Trappers front office organization by the Town of Espanola are totally untrue. There has been nothing but good comments and acceptance of the group. I am sure if things weren’t going smoothly for the Trappers they would not accept an invite to skate at the Complex next Friday. The Trappers are a first class organization and will be very welcome to our community. Its up to the people of Espanola and area to show their support.
TONIGHT’S GAME, SOO T-BIRDS vs ESKIS (in Timmins at the Archie Dillon Sporstplex) has been cancelled due to inclement weather and road conditions. A make up has not been scheduled yet. Game will be rescheduled in the near future.
Dave – don’t see it posted online just yet but page 1 of the Nugget sports section has an article entitled “Clayden confident agreement close”. Near the end of the story he is quoted as saying the Trappers will definitely not be relocating to Espanola for the 2013-14 season.
Congratulation to my boy Sacha Guimond ex Nojhl player , get’s a call up with Worcester Sharks of the Ahl , first pracky tonight . first game tomorow night at 730 . Good luck Sacha
Congrats To Trappers Alumni Sacha Guimond on the call up to the AHL.
Nice to see former Eskimo Erik Robichaud playing such a big roll with his PEI ROCKETS. Erik is the second line centre and the top plus-minus player on the team. Way to go Erik.
The Bobcats came out flying tonight on all cylinders and came away with a 6-4 win over the Beavers. We have to let all fans know we apologize for no fasthockey or live stats the internet and all phone lines are down and have been all day due to a fibre optic line being cut in Sudbury!!! Bobcats new players they received at dealine were great impact pysically and offesively.
Attention Dave this is what i was told by someone we both know well that is very involved in hockey. Also i know minor hockey would love to have this group here.
Espinola is getting Tim Claydon and McCarthy some new guy is buying the trappers…..
Either the CCHL’s caliber is quite higher than the NOJHL or our ex- captain is not seeing much ice but he’s pointless in 3 games with the Raiders. Hope he gets a chance over there otherwise his move may prove to have been the wrong choice.
I’d argue that the CCHL is a much higher calibre of junior hockey, at least based on what I’ve seen in the stats…
Therrien, Snow, Melanson… all put up points in the NOJHL, and have been relatively unproductive since moving out to the CCHL.
I’m sure there are more, these are just some of the recent crossovers I’ve tracked…
Eski01 – you might remember the times the Trappers played interlocking games with the Central league and never won a game. The action always seemed to be in the Trapper’s end and they struggled to match the pace of the visitors.
I am hoping that an NOJHL team comes here to Espanola as this would also be great for our minor hockey kids. Ice time might be hard to get but i am sure we can get around that.
I faield to mention that it’s probably also fair to say that there have been some players who have moved to the NOJHL from the CCHL and have had significant impacts on their respective clubs.
a strong reliable source to me sunday at the trappers game tells me that a new ownership group has stepped forward to purchase the trappers. Mr Clayden would be a good fit in espanola and if they are serious about wanting a team there,they have the perfect chance to show Mr Clayden this as the trappers practice there 1230 -130 this coming friday. maybe have some sort of committee to start a ticket drive or something like that would help in my opinion.
RR said in one of his articles a while back that he thought TIM CLAYDEN might be behind the Espanola franchise and others from NB would take over the Trappers.
What I know for sure is that fans here really want an NOJHL team – it is the TALK OF THE TOWN right now!
thats great, Espanola Eagle fan. we will see what happens on friday. i still think a committee or group set up would go a long way to show how serious the town is about the nojhl,s return.
UPDATE ON THE NORTH BAY TRAPPERS SITUATION:
Sources are telling me that there will be a joint Press Release later this week with the City of North Bay and the Trappers announcing that all is well with each other and that the Dudley-Hewitt Cup will be held as scheduled at Memorial Gardens with no interruptions.
Also, expect a long-term agreement to be announced shortly thereafter that the City and the Trappers have come to an agreement that will keep and see an NOJHL franchise in North Bay playing out of West Ferris Arena.
Long live Trapper Hockey!!!
Peachy spend nite in Blind River on Saturday & watch Beaver loose to Nickel Baron but romp & roll in hay with old hag from James Bay ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
To EL Bobcats
Yes Friday nights game in EL was a good one for the Bobcats and yes the new guys played well. But the B H G line (Big Hockey Guys line) LOL still carries this team for the most part when coach decides to leave them together! The B H G line looked great again and accounted for half the goals again. Good game for all the Bobcats and keep up the hard work.
Thanks Bruce jackson
crazy goerge – you haven’t watch one game in this league or the cchl. looking at stats and talking on blogs where no one knows you and will figure out soon that hockey his not your strong subject.I think that therrien just needs a bit of adjustment.he will be fine.cchl is faster pace but therrien can definitly be top 3 in that league.
i heard today that this years dudley hewitt executive director Bruce Cazabon could very well be a part of a new ownership of the northbay trappers?
Therrien has been there less than 2weeks! By playoffs he’ll have found his way and be a dangerous impact player. They have a very good team already, hell work to prove himself before he gets any big time minutes. Boutin had a slow start when got there too but came around in the end!
CCHL is a well rounded and respected league and have had success moving players on. I dont think you’ll see another RBC champion come out of there any time soon tho especially with the start keefe is having in the Soo!
Cazabon is a long-time contributer to AAA hockey in North Bay.With him involved it would be a viable hockey operation perhaps associatted with the Battalion.
Excitement building in Espanola about the NOJHL returning…..Please dont let us down Mr. Mazzuca!
McFly – regarding Therrien: so far, not good.
I can only assume that Nepean was expecting offensive production from this guy. He scored 2.07pts per game in the NOJHL.
This has not been the case with his new team.
Top 3 in the CCHL? You’re on drugs, really good drugs!
Randy, I assume that at least one time in your travels you have visited the West Ferris arena. If you have, or even if you haven’t, it’s hard to imagine NOJHL hockey being played there as it is. The main problem is the 80×180 pad, which is too small for the midget Trappers let alone the juniors.
As for creature comforts for either the players or spectators, they don’t exist. The city is totally committed to the Battalion effort and will not spend money on it but perhaps there are some private plans we don’t know about yet.
A reminder that the weekly Hockey North Show with Randy Russon on ESPN 1400 Radio — http://stream.1400espn.net — returns to the airwaves tonight at 6 p.m. EST. Scheduled guests include management personnel (Carlo DiCandia and Donnie Bruni) from the Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL and Moe Mantha, coach-general manager of the Michigan Warriors of the NAHL. I hope you will join us for a listen tonight or in person at Service Grill Pizza on Korah Road in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Canada.
Peachy go Espanola this weekend & check out “Spanish River Callie” for mesurement ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
I doubt it that Bruce Cazabon will be new owner of the Trappers.
Sec2RowP,
Well, let’s just say that the Ontario Hockey League’s Toronto St. Michael’s Majors, not that long ago, played out of St. Mike’s Arena which has those same 180 X 80 dimensions that West Ferris has. The Majors played out of that rink for four years with few problems. And we’re talking the OHL here, not the NOJHL.
Regards,
RR
latest RR column just posted on http://www.juniorhockey.com:
NA3HL is looking north
On West Ferris Arena:
I have been to AAA midget and ringuette games in that arena
The seating for fans is worse than the John Rhodes in the Sault.
If the Trappers stay in NB their fan support will be very limited unless they City improves the arena.
I think any improvements to arena will only be the
main arena.
Trappers have kept hockey going in NB.
City Council should really think their plans over.
Just my opinion of that arena situation
Aren’t the dimensions of the McLelland in Copper Cliff (home of the Barons) the same as the Sam Jacks (West Ferris Arena)?
West Ferris Arena is a dump… I don’t think the NOJ will stick around outta that barn… but like RR said, the Majors did it in the O out of T/O so anything’s possible. Wouldn’t catch me at games in Ferris freezing my @ss off out there.
The arena was the Township of West Ferris’s Centennial project back in the 60′s. It was a nice arena for a small township in those days and over the years thousands of kids learned to skate and play hockey there and the late Sam Jacks invented ringette there as well. That said, without improvements, it’s hard to imagine it as a suitable home arena for junior A level. There’s only a few rows of plain bench seats and the lack of heating means most adults wouldn’t be comfortable enough to endure a whole game.
hockeyjockey I would say yes that sounds about right, the Mclelland in the Cliff is a small barn but it seems to work for the Barons ! hopefully the Trappers can have similar success in the West Ferris if that’s were they eventually land next season ! here’s hoping the Trappers are still a big part of our league next season and for many years to come !
the size of the ice is small at west ferris but the bigger concerns i would have is the one end is like hitting a brick wall and also the players benches are just too small and of course the seating or lack there of.
I recall watchin a great Cubs vs Trappers AAA Midget championship series there and it was a lot of fun! Doesnt take much to get it rocking! Im thinking the trapps will average about 300 next and the WF will be packed and entertaining. Tight quaters for JR hockey but its done in more rinks than people think and can make for intense games! I agree with Armand that it needs the heat and seats to at least make it comfortable enuf to watch 3 periods!
For long time nojhl followers and fans of a good old haymaker exchange, former Michigan black bear tough guy Joel “The wrecker” Rechlicz gets in beauty vs a very familiar foe during a recent AHL game, this is about as good as it gets! google joel rechlicz vs brent gallant jan 12 2013 hockeyfightsdotcom link
nice little tilt sure miss the days of wilson hawes bertrand McCrank ! fun times in the nojhl baby !
You are right re the ice size at West Ferris, RR, and I saw some Centennials games at the old St. Mike’s Majors arena. But the big difference was the overall venue. St. Mike’s had pretty decent seating, was heated, had a good lounge complete with TV monitors, etc. All told, it was a fairly superior venue to W.F., which remains a ‘Quonset hut’ type of building.
There’s also a common misconception I’d like to clear up (trusting my memory), namely that the West Ferris arena was not built in 1967, as is often stated, but in 1964. It had only natural ice for the first three rather shortened seasons. I seem to recall that an artificial ice plant was installed as the Centennial project in 1967. At that time it was named the West Ferris Centennial Arena. At about the same time, Don Pecore was hired as the arena manager, and went on to become a very prominent and highly-respected figure in North Bay sports, especially hockey and ringette.
Just some trivia for you.
What happened at Trappers Espanola practice. It has been talked about
for days but now did it happen or did everybody forget to go.
i think it went quite well Joe Pro. it seem to be well recieved considering it was on a weekday at 1230. lots of buzz around the rink that day. didnt see a whole lot of advertising in area businesses but lots of “welcome trappers” at the complex.
I think everything went very well on Friday. The municipality hosted a luncheon for the players after the practice and the crowd in attendance approximately 100 as estimates go were quite surprised at the speed that Tom made his players skate at. We’ll just have to wait and see now. I believe the local Council is very enthused, something not known in the past.
Likely the new home of the Eskimos
My prediction, in my humble opinion
make a note of this, all
Blueliner??????are you talking Espanola
new blog just posted:
Beavertown Brown
LeagueFan
That would be my guess, yes.
LeagueFan
Yes
Agree with your comments Armand5 on the West Ferris Arena…not condusive to Junior A hockey…FYI…ringette not invented there…the West Ferris arena was built in 1967 and ringette invented in 1963 (four years earlier) in Espanola…hope this helps..