NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Sept. 18, 2015
NOJHL announces management team for Eastern Canada all-star Jr. A Challenge
SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Friday its management team for the upcoming Eastern Canada all-star Jr. A Challenge, which goes Nov. 16-18, in Cornwall, Ont.
Serving as director of operations for Team NOJHL will be Mike Mooney of the Rayside-Balfour Canadians and he’ll be assisted by Kevin Cain of the Soo Thunderbirds.
Back for a second year as head coach for the squad is Jordan Smith of the defending NOJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion Soo Thunderbirds.
Joining Smith behind the bench as assistant coaches will be Scott Wray of the Powassan Voodoos and Nathan Hewitt of the Elliot Lake Wildcats, who are head coaches of their respective NOJHL clubs.
Rounding out the staff will be trainer Lisa Parise and equipment manager Brian Workman, who are both with the Rayside-Balfour Canadians.
“We feel we once again have a tremendous management team in place to guide Team NOJHL at the Eastern Canada all-star Jr. A Challenge,” offered league commissioner Robert Mazzuca.
“Coming off our best-ever finish at the event last year, I know the management group and coaches are dedicated to selecting our best possible roster as we to attempt to duplicate our success from 2014,” added Mazzuca.
The tournament, formally called the Central Canada Cup Challenge, will be hosted by the Central Canada Hockey League, at the Benson Centre in Cornwall.
This year, for the first time, all five Eastern Canadian Junior Hockey League member leagues will participate in the event.
Joining the NOJHL in Cornwall will be all-star squads from the CCHL, the Ontario Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey League and the Maritime Hockey League, who will be making their inaugural appearance.
Last season Team NOJHL had their best-ever finish at the five-year tourney advancing all the way to the semifinals before falling to the eventual champion OJHL Oates.
The players that will comprise the NOJHL roster for the three-day event will be selected by the team director of operations along with the coaching staff.
The announcement on the Team NOJHL roster is expected to be made by the end of October while the Eastern Canada all-star Jr. A Challenge game schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
TEAM NOJHL EASTERN CANADA ALL-STAR JR. A CHALLENGE STAFF
Commissioner: Robert Mazzuca (NOJHL)
Executive Director: Ted Magee (NOJHL)
Director of Operations: Mike Mooney (Rayside-Balfour Canadians)
Operations Assistant: Kevin Cain (Soo Thunderbirds)
Head Coach: Jordan Smith (Soo Thunderbirds)
Assistant Coach: Scott Wray (Powassan Voodoos)
Assistant Coach: Nathan Hewitt (Elliot Lake Wildcats)
Athletic Trainer: Lisa Parise (Rayside-Balfour Canadians)
Equipment Manager: Brian Workman (Rayside-Balfour Canadians)
