By Sam Laskaris /
ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Not only does the Ontario Junior Hockey League (formerly Provincial Junior A Hockey League) have a new name. But all 37 of the league’s entrants are also competing in renamed divisions this season.
For starters, there’s the eight clubs participating in the Central Division, a pilot project in which all organizations are supposed to be thinking of not only bettering themselves but the division as a whole.
As for the league’s three other divisions, they have been renamed to honour former Ontario Hockey Association executive members and long-time dedicated volunteers. The divisions are called Ruddock, MacKinnon and Phillips.
The East Division moniker has been replaced by the Ruddock Division, in honour of William Ruddock, who was the OHA’s first chairman of the board, serving in that capacity from 1974 to 1976.
The former West Division is now dubbed the MacKinnon Division. That’s to recognize Bob MacKinnon, who was the OHA’s chairman of the board from 1984 to 1986.
And the North Division is now called the Phillips Division, a tribute to former OHA president Cliffe Phillips, who held his post from 1974 to 1976.
CENTRAL JUNIOR A HOCKEY LEAGUE
Nepean Raiders’ goaltender Wyatt Galley could not have picked a better way to impress his new coach – who is also ?his father.
Nepean’s new bench boss is former NHLer Garry Galley.
The younger Galley kicked off the regular season in fine fashion as he recorded his first shutout of his Junior career. He made 25 saves helping the Raiders blank the Brockville Braves 7-0 in their season opener on Sept. 13.
That game was held in Kemptville, as part of the league’s season-opening Showcase Weekend.
Wyatt Galley, 17, is in his second season with the Nepean club. He joined the squad in mid-season a year ago posting a 3-6-1 record and a 3.76 goals against average in ?12 appearances.
The Raiders’ roster also includes Darren MacDonald, their starting goaltender from last season. A day after Galley’s shutout, MacDonald led Nepean to a 4-2 victory over the Smiths Falls Bears, a game that was also part of the Showcase ?Weekend.
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR A HOCKEY LEAGUE
The North Bay Skyhawks have been getting the job done in the early portions of this season.
North Bay managed to win its first three regular season starts this season, albeit by slim margins.
The Skyhawks began their regular season with a 2-0 victory over the visiting Temiscaming Royals on Sept. 7. After netting a first-period goal, North Bay didn’t get its insurance marker until the game’s final minute.
The Skyhawks then eked out a 3-2 overtime triumph (a game decided with a shootout) versus host Temiscaming on Sept. 12.
North Bay then edged the Abitibi Eskimos 6-5 on Sept. 14. The Skyhawks scored the game winner with less than five minutes remaining in the match.
Just a little more than a week into the regular season schedule, North Bay was one of just two clubs in the eight-squad league still undefeated.
The Soo Thunderbirds were a perfect 2-0, after registering a convincing 7-0 win over the Blind River Beavers and a 6-4 victory over the Michigan-based Soo Eagles.
SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
One of Thunder Bay’s most respected hockey figures will become a Hall of Famer posthumously.
Gary Cook, the Fort William North Stars’ late general manager, will be inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Cook, who died this past January at age 66, is being inducted via the builder’s category.
Induction ceremonies are scheduled for Sept. 27 in ?Thunder Bay.
Cook, who helped the North Stars capture three SIJHL championships, was not just involved with Junior hockey in Thunder Bay.
Over the years, he held positions with the Thunder Bay Twins’ organization, a senior men’s club that won five Allan Cup (Canadian) championships.
And he was also one of the founding members of the professional Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks, who participated in the Colonial Hockey League. That league, which later became known as the
United Hockey League, is now dubbed the International Hockey League.
Cook was involved with three of the Thunder Bay pro teams that won their league championship. |