NOJHL Powers Rankings 2015

As the NOJHL season comes closer, teams start to come together. Pre-season is underway, teams have fought through training camps, and roster spots have been battled for. Before the season begins, questions always start to emerge coming from everybody, from the fans to the owners. Who will have a breakthrough year? What can we expect from this team? Who are the early favourites? Which team is still far from contending?  Ask no more, the 2015 Junior Puck King rankings will give you all of the answers. 

Number 9: Blind River Beavers

 Why they're here: The Beavers have struggled for a long time, actually a really long time. Since being founded in 1999, the Beavers have never finished higher than 4th, and never advanced past the quarter-finals in postseason play.  Last season the Beavers finished with 127 goals for and 281 goals against. Scoring the least amount of goals in the league and allowing the most. 

Key to improvement: A young core of high-potential players may be the only chance to take this franchise out of its misery. Offence, defence, and goaltending all need a new look to turn things around. A major step backwards with a roster demolition and rebuild may come with a great future. The Tyson MacLeod and Scott Marshall days are over Blind River fans. 

Number 8: Mattawa Blackhawks

Why they're here: The North Bay Trappers used to be a top tier team in the NOJHL and financially stable. Yeah, used to be. The Trappers finished also as a bottom feeder last season, recording the second most losses, GF, GA, and points, only being better than the cursed Beavers. Despite winning the league title in 2012-2013, the Trappers have fallen off, and now fallen back to Mattawa in desperation to save the franchise. It'll be a rocky start, and we got a preview of it with back-to-back losses against the Crunch, 5-3 and an embarrassing 12-2.  

Key to improvement: Given the chance of a fresh new start as the Blackhawks, use it. Staying close to North Bay area in Mattawa, it provides the opportunity to bring back the faces that did well for the team. This team will need its veteran leaders to get through the season. As well as bring in new talent to give the team a fresh spark. Mattawa will also have a new fan-base in their home city, and probably some returning North Bay fans. 

Number 7: Powassan Voodoos

Why they're here:  Powassan is one of few teams this year that could win the league title, or finish dead last, but either way nobody would be surprised. This is because nobody knows what to expect this year from the new 2014-2015 expansion team. Being affiliated with OHL franchise North Bay Batallion may play in thei favour, but won't be enough to push towards a winning season. Why rank them number seven then? Powassan is located very close to Mattawa, causing great competition for player signings. Also, Powassan is in the strong East division for the 2014-2015 season, where well built teams will go up against the new wildcard known as the Voodoos. Lastly, Powassan was also crunched by the Crunch in pre-season play, 9-1. 

Key to improvement: This first year could be a trial run for the team, but even if it is, make an impact. Powassan needs to make a splash in the league and let players know that this franchise is up and coming and that a young core of 95-98 born players could start this hockey team out on the right foot. Oh, and try and get out of the East division, sorry Voodoos but you really don't wanna be there.

Number 6: Elliot Lake Wildcats

Why they're here: The other 2014-2015 expansion team this year starting from "scratch", the Wildcats. The Wildcats may have a better chance of winning this year than they are thought to for one reason, they are in the not as powerful West division. This division still has its threats, but is more forgiving on a team starting with literally nothing. The Wildcats also have their share of player signing competition, but did sign players from around the continent. Including a few Quebecois and a handful or Americans. One of these Americans being goaltender AJ Smith from Wisconsin. Smith's performance may earn the team a few extra wins this season. 

Key to improvement: As a new team without any record, the Wildcats will need to stand their ground in the West, and build their core chemistry throughout the season as the top teams roll into town. Going forward, the Wildcats need to make the best of their three sixteen year old player signings each year, building the future of the team.

Number 5: Sudbury Nickel Barons

Why they're here: Sudbury, being one of the bigger cities in the NOJHL, is a bigger market for player signings. Going into the 2014-2015 season, the Barons have bolstered the roster. Bringing back OHL Sudbury Wolves prospect, Khadyn Butterfly, recruiting 96 born talent Dylan Callaghan, and signings of two high-potential sixteen year old defence-man Whitehead and Mooney. The Barons are setting up for the future, while also being a strong competitor this season.


Key to improvement: With new goalie Jessie Morin acquired from Blind River and two sixteen year olds on the blue line,  more depth on defence will be needed to support this team. The Barons will also have to battle hard to knock off division rival Soo Thunderbirds for top spot in the West.

Number 4: Abitibi Eskimos

Why they're here: Abitibi finished last season 4th in the league but only a single point back of 3rd. They moved on to the semi-finals of the postseason before being eliminated. The Eskimos go into the 2014-2015 season as an experienced team, offensive minded team and with league top-ten scorer Brady Clouthier to help lead the way. The Eskimos are a team that will make you fight for every inch of ice behind five-time NOJHL coach of the year Paul Gagne.


Key to improvement: Despite scoring 212 goals last season, most first period goals and having a league top scorer on your roster, the team also allowed 212 goals against and 2049 shots. Defensively the Eskimos need to lockdown and play smarter in their own end to stay on in it with the top teams.

Numer 3: Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Why they're here: Defending champions, Gold Miners expect to stay on top of this league. Bringing back top players such as Steven Babin and league top-five goaltender Kenny Fitzgerald. The Gold Miners finished the 2013-2014 regular season with 46 wins and 92 points in only 56, while also only recording two losses in a playoff domination. The Gold Miners also managed to handle the Eskimos in a four-game pre-season series, winning the series 3-1. With the championship roster, top goaltender, and former NOJHL coach of the year and Canadian junior hockey assistant coach Marc Lafleur, the Gold Miners aren't ready to take any steps backwards.


Key to improvement: Though Kirkland Lake seems to be in a good situation,  time is ticking and the championship roster is slowly going. Kirkland Lake will lose its championship core within the next couple years, and now have to compete for player signing with Abitibi as well as Cochrane.

Number 2: Cochrane Crunch

Why they're here: When the Crunch left Elliot Lake and the Bobcats name, they left the struggles behind with them. Since establishing the Cochrane Crunch, owner and manager Ryan Leonard's work has been nothing short of spectacular. Leonard managed to bring Bobcat offensive threat Cordeiro, defensive cornerstone and captain Max Glashauser, and others to the city of Cochrane. The Crunch are undefeated in their preseason so far, scoring a whopping twenty-six goals in three games, and allowing only six. Leonard has put together a team to be reckoned with. "The Beast of the East" is approaching.


Key to improvement: Goaltending. Even with the new-look big and strong defence, the Crunch cant afford to have bad goaltending this year in the NOJHL. Last season in Elliot Lake the team allowed 3.62 goals against per game, and three goalies with a GAA above 3.40. Without a change in goaltending performance, the Crunch could end up back in the bottom half of the league, where they left off in Elliot Lake.

Number 1: Soo Thunderbirds

Why they're here: Last season the Thunderbirds lead the league in points with 99, goals for with 245, and fewest goals against with 102. The Thunderbirds dominated the regular season leader-boards as well, with captain Gavin Burbach leading in points and goals. Also topping the leader-boards on the back end was Thunderbirds goalie Joel Horodziejczyk, who actually swept the boards. He lead the league in GAA, save percentage, wins, and shutouts. To be blunt, this team is stacked offensively and on its back end. The Thunderbirds are constantly brining in top end talent from all over North America, and never taking a year off to rebuilt. This is a team that plays its best hockey and re-tools at once. The Thunderbirds should dominate the West division this season, and looks to seek redemption on Kirkland Lake in the playoffs.

Key to improvement: The Thunderbirds have only finished below 3rd twice since being established in 1999, and have won two league titles and one Dudley-Hewitt Cup victory.  Are they a dynasty? No.

The team has appeared in the finals six times since 1999, and hasn't finished the job 66% of the time. A team that dominated the regular season need to be able to finish off a season with a championship, and thats what the Thunderbirds need improvement on. Clutch.  You could finish with the best scorer, goalie, and most points, but guess what, Kirkland Lakes one championship at the end of the season will always be sweeter.