U-15 Panthers prep for NOHA showdown!
The Manitoulin Panthers U15 hockey team has been awarded the opportunity to host this year’s Northern Ontario Hockey Association’s Tournament of Champions. This event will take place on March 22-24th at the NEMI Rec Centre. This is an exciting opportunity for our young players to showcase how hard they have worked all season and proudly play on their home ice in front of their family and friends, as this team plays a lot of their games off-Island in Sudbury.
The Manitoulin Panthers last hosted this tournament in 2017. This U15 group of players, in particular, has always had to travel to Iroquois Falls, Sturgeon Falls or Temiskaming Shores to participate in this tournament so the Panther Association is very thankful for the opportunity to host this event again for these kids. On the squad this season is Alex Bourcier, Anders Watson, Brayden Armstrong, Bryden Romaniuk, Charmaine Webkamigad, Chase Taylor, Cohen Rajotte, Colten Holmes, Colten Martin, Cooper Farquhar, Declan McGonegal, Liam Stephens, Lincoln Rancourt, Max McLeod, Memphis Shawanda, Roen Deschenes, Ryan Carter and Spencer Cortes.
This year we are lucky to have five teams in total participating from across the North, bringing over a hundred hockey players with their staff, parents and additional family members to the township. Teams will be travelling from North Bay, Powassan, Temiskaming Shores and Iroquois Falls. The tournament schedule will be posted on the Manitoulin Panthers website. Please get on out and cheer on the hometown Panthers in what is promising to be a very exciting weekend of hockey.
Off his Rock, hockey!
Congratulations to Greyson Case who plays defense for U16 AA Wolves on their recent win as the 2024 Canadian Cup! The Wolves faced the U-16 Sarnia Sting in the finals by a score of 4 – 1. Greyson previously played for the Nickel City Sons organization for seven years until this season and has obviously settled in nicely!
In the NOJHL, the Sudbury Cubs’, Aundek Omni Kaning product, Samuel Assinewai has had another impactful season despite not playing as many of the other players. In his 36 games played Samuel had 21 goals and 43 assists! His points-per-game production of 1.78 is fifth overall in the whole league!
Carter George by the Numbers
Carter George, with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack who lumber around 0.500 hockey is putting up stats that exceed his team’s! In comparing all of the 20-teams, OHL goaltenders, Carter is currently the leader of: Shots – 1857, Saves – 1690, Shut-outs (tied) – 4 and Goals against average with 0.910! Another first can be seen on the NHL site’s draft prospects where he is listed as the number 1, North American goaltender! Good luck in the playoffs, Carter!
Elliot Lake needs our help!
Every community on Manitoulin has had difficulties with their arenas over the years, yet thankfully we all have a nearby community that will graciously allow sharing of their ice time. Elliot Lake is not so lucky. The city has certainly experienced tragedy with public buildings in the recent past so when the Centennial Arena didn’t pass a structural evaluation this past fall, the City took no chances and shuttered the building. Suddenly, every skate-related activity and community organization was left scrambling.
One team was no more adversely affected than the NOJHL’s Vikings Jr. “A” team. Teams in the largely pay-to-play league depend on imports to ice a team. When your ‘home ice’ is in Massey, which adds a good hour and a half commute time just for practices and home games! The Vikes lost a couple of players who asked to be traded. Also essential to a NOJHL team are billet families and in Elliot Lake’s case, two billet Moms decided to do something. They started the long process of nominating the City of Elliot Lake into this season’s Kraft Hockeyville. Each submission must compete with hundreds of communities across Canada to try and win the grand prize of a $250,000 pot for arena upgrades in addition to an NHL exhibition game in your home rink.
The pair would not have been sure the Centennial could even be ready for that game but it could definitely use at least the 250K! The competition is at the short-list stage with four communities vying in the final voting on March 29-30th! Elliot Lake is up against Cochrane Alberta, Wolsely Saskatchewan and Enderby British Columbia. On the 29th at 9 am the unlimited-entry, voting begins until the 30th at 5PM just before the winner is announced. After a quick sign-up at the Hockeyville site, you are all set for the 29th when Elliot Lake plans on a voting party. We should join in and help out our friendly North Shore neighbour!
Interestingly, one player’s free-time fortunes improved. Mindemoya’s Liam Bridgeman whose commute was reduced by the same amount everyone else gained! The trustworthy veteran forward only played 33 of the 58 league games but picked up 11 points in the frustrating campaign that earned the team only 15 points! Congratulations on all your efforts, Liam!
Visit the Kraft Hockeyville site players to vote, and vote for Elliot Lake as often as you want.
