St. Patrick's Day cheer and jeer - Junior Hockey News

Published: Saturday, 17 Mar 2012

By: Randy Russon

I'm not Irish.

But I've been known to frequent the odd Irish pub and drink a beer or two.

This being St. Patrick's Day, I don't have any plans to head out on the town and have a few green beers. But in honour of good old St. Paddy, the idea is to quaff a few this afternoon while I putter around the yard on what is a gorgeous spring day where I live.

First things first, though.

Before I indulge myself in a cold one or two, I need to get this Juniorhockey.com column written. So let me toast St. Paddy with a little cheer and a bit of jeer.

...There was no Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League or Ontario Hockey League game to attend last night, so I settled in with my wife and our dog to watch the March Madness version of college basketball on our big screen TV. But I was in need of an 'ice' time so I went to fasthockey.com to watch the North American Hockey League game between the Michigan Warriors and Port Huron Fighting Falcons. The game was played rather evenly but the Fighting Falcons managed a decisive 6-2 win over the visiting Warriors. Most-impressive to me was Michigan forward A.J. White, a good-sized kid from the Dearborn area. And I didn't catch the name of the Port Huron play-by-play announcer but his excitement and professional approach to calling the game was duly noted.

...Soo Eagles coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo has a pleasant problem to try to solve as his team prepares for its Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League semi-final series with the Soo Thunderbirds. Bragagnolo has two good goalies to choose from to start Monday's series opener in 20-year old Luis Puig and 18-year old Chris Truehl. Puig has been piping hot between the pipes as of late but Truehl has played some of his best hockey this season against the Thunderbirds, who finished atop the NOJHL regular-season standings, just ahead of the Michigan-based Eagles.

...USA Hockey earlier this week turned down a request from the Great Lakes Jr. Hockey League to put a team in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for the 2012-13 season. The thinking behind the decision was that the Michigan Soo is already well-served by junior hockey with the NOJHL Eagles, who will move to the NAHL effective the 2012-13 campaign. But USAH did approve a GLJHL franchise for St. Ignace, Michigan, which is a mere 50 miles down I-75 from the Soo. However, we get word that team owner Doug Goudreau still does not have a lease to play at Little Bear Arena in St. Ignace and that he and GLJHL commissioner Gerry Lullove are planning a sneaky end-around which would see the new hockey club play 10-15 home games at Big Bear Arena in the Michigan Soo as well as practice there. I wonder if USAH knows about this clandestine plan.

...There are many junior hockey leagues in Canada and the United States, with classifications such as Major Junior, Junior A, Junior B, Junior C, Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3. Where I live and from what I see and hear, my familiarity lies mostly with the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, the North American Hockey League and the Great Lakes Jr. Hockey League. And on a scale of 1-10, I would rate the OHL a '10'', the NAHL an '8', the NOJHL a '7.5' and the GLJHL a '1'.

Cheers. Almost time for beers.

Author: Randy Russon

Russon brings a a lifetime of media experience to the JuniorHockey.com staff.

View all articles by Randy Russon

Email Randy Russon

Discuss:

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 12:21pm

Tony Prito says:

great article Randy, very interesting!
I believe the name of the Port Huron announcer is Dennis Stucky.

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 12:31pm

Jack Dodd says:

The Warriors as well have a real pro who does Play By Play on Fast Hockey . . . his name is Joey Battaino and I beleive that the NAHL chose him to broadcst some big event this year.

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 12:36pm

Jack Dodd says:

Also . . . I agree with Randy Russon about Alex 'AJ' White of the Warriors who is an awsome player. He must have a D1 offer to play somewheres.

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 1:13pm

Stephen Heisler says:

Randy,
You know what I think about having two #1's between the pipes. Eventually it all comes down to the day where a choice has to be made.

I said before but... goalies are like puck bunnies. You have to have the really good one, the really fun one, and a third just because you can.

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 1:55pm

Randy Russon says:

Stephen,

Better to have two no. 1 goalies to choose from than having no reliable backup plan if the first choice falters. Besides, in the case of Luis Puig and Chris Truehl of the Soo Eagles, they are best friends and supportive of one another. If you read one of my earlier Juniorhockey.com columns that dealt with Puig and Truehl, you would already know that. When one starts, the other one literally cheers from the bench.

As for puck bunnies, I have no personal knowledge of what they might have to offer. I played and coached basketball, not hockey.

Regards,

Randy

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 4:14pm

John Trenchard says:

"Saint Patrick" MacEahren LOL from the Michigan Warriors was corect when he stated that Randy Russen was a "breath of Fresh Air" for the Warriors as well as the NAHL. Note to Randy: These Column's of yours provide some keen insihte into Junior Hockey. The Soo Eagles and the Northern League are lucky to have you.
"Hi" to "Saint Pat" and Coach Mantha && am very happy that this team will still be a member of the N.A.H.L.

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 9:10pm

Tony Prito says:

Puck bunnies have ruined the careers of more than 1 young hockey star. Beware!!!

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 9:15pm

Tony Prito says:

Warriors losed to Kzoo this afternoon which means they still have not clinched # 4 playoff spot in the North. Moe needs to get better players in for next season. Tom Boileau needs to expand scouting beyond his own back yard IMHO.

posted Mar. 17th, 2012 - 9:20pm

Tony Prito says:

I ask the same question as Jack - does A.j. White have a deal to play ..Division 1...????

posted Mar. 18th, 2012 - 4:15pm

Mike White says:

Thanks for the nice comments about my son. He does not have a signed committment as of yet,you got any puill? lol. U-Mass lowell has been recruiting him and he did retake his ACT test so that the score is acceptable to most schools. But no committ yet. Thanks again for the kind words he really apreciates it.

posted Mar. 19th, 2012 - 6:47am

Tony Prito says:

Thanks Mike and best of luck to A.J. He still has another year of Juniors and I will bet that same Division 1 school will committ to him.

Don't have a Facebook account?

Log in with your JuniorHockey.com account »

New visitors: Click here to create your JuniorHockey.com account »

( we'll bring you back here when you're finished! )

Back to Junior Hockey News

* Article disclaimer: This site may contain advice, opinions and statements from various authors and information providers. Views expressed in this article reflect the personal opinion of the author, Randy Russon, and not necessarily the views of JuniorHockey.com. JuniorHockey.com does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other info provided in the article, or from any other member of this site.