Eagles land in NAHL nest at peak time |
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| Thursday, 22 March 2012 00:00 |
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By: Randy Russon - Junior Hockey News/Mika Media Soo Eagles are in good company.
After four seasons
in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in which they were 2010-11
champions, the Eagles are leaving for the North American Hockey League
effective the 2012-13 campaign.
The Eagles will continue to play their home games at venerable Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Bruno Bragaganolo,
who will lead the Eagles into the NAHL, where they will compete in the
North Division, is looking forward to the new challenge, though he said
he will miss the NOJHL.
"Leaving the
NOJHL for the NAHL is bittersweet," said Bragagnolo, who was the Eagles
coach and general manager during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 NOJHL seasons.
"The NOJHL is a good league and I have made some good friendships there.
We just think the NAHL offers more opportunities for our players at
the (National Collegiate Athletic Association) level."
Currently a
28-team, five-division league spanning 14 American states (including
Michigan) more than 100 NAHL players have received commitments from NCAA
schools during the current 2011-12 season.
As well, the NAHL
is reporting that it set a new record during the 2011-12 regular season
with a league-average attendance of 1,342.
NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld is of the notion that the players who are developing within the league are a key to growing the junior hockey game.
"Our teams have
done a tremendous job of promoting our game and the players play with an
exuberance and passion that translates into a competitive atmosphere on
the ice," said Frankenfeld. "Not only does the NAHL provide players
with an opportunity to develop their hockey careers and advance to the
next level, but it also provides fans in the respective NAHL communities
an entertaining product to watch."
While the
California-based Fresno Monsters led the NAHL during the 2011-12 regular
season with an average attendance per game of 3,557, two second-year
franchises that are based in Michigan are going through some mild
growing pains.
The Port Huron
Fighting Falcons averaged 715 fans and the Flint-based Michigan Warriors
drew an average of 669. While respectable, those numbers have room for
improvement.
It should be noted
that fans in Port Huron and Flint are used to the minor pro game from
years in the International Hockey League and getting used to the junior
level may take a while.
Port Huron coach-general manager Bill Warren told me that "Our numbers have improved from last season to this. We are definitely attracting more of a following."
Warren added that
he and the Fighting Falcons are "certainly looking forward to
establishing a rivalry with the Soo Eagles next season."
Moe Mantha,
coach-general manager of the Flint-based Warriors, told me that now
that his team has committed to a new lease at Perani Arena and Event
Centre, "We hope to increase our fan base now that we have indicated
that we are going to be here for the foreseeable future."
The Warriors briefly declared dormancy for the 2012-13 season only to recently secure a new lease with Perani Arena.
The 51-year old
Mantha, who grew up in Sturgeon Falls, Ont. (just outside North Bay)
before becoming a first-round Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the
erstwhile Toronto Marlboros and then going on to play close to 700
National Hockey League games as a journeyman defenceman, is also looking
forward to the Eagles joining the NAHL.
"I hear nothing
but good about Bruno, the Soo Eagles and the hockey community up
there," said Mantha. "We're looking forward to establishing a strong
rivalry with the Eagles, that is for sure."
Mantha said he
hopes to take advantage of an NAHL rule that allows all teams two
Canadian-born players on their roster. He added that he is looking to
Sault Ste. Marie for possible additions to the Warriors for the 2012-13
season.
Likewise are Bragagnolo and the Eagles keeping tabs on players from the Canadian side of the St. Mary's River.
Defenceman Tyler Sehovic,
formerly of the AAA midget Soo North Stars and a 2011 Ontario Hockey
League draft pick of the Soo Greyhounds, played in the NOJHL with the
Eagles during the 2011-12 campaign. If he doesn't end up with the
Greyhounds come the 2012-13 season, Sehovic could well remain with the
Eagles now that they are in the NAHL.
As a person of
First Nation descent, Sehovic is not classified as an import player as
far as the NAHL is concerned. Thus, the Eagles, for example, could sign
Sehovic and still have room for two other Canadian-born players.
NAHL NORTH
As of now, the
Eagles will be part of a five-team NAHL North Division for the 2011-12
season. Pending any division re-alignment, the Eagles will compete in
the NAHL North with Port Huron Fighting Falcons, Michigan Warriors,
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings and Jamestown Ironmen. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 16 April 2012 19:47 |
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