Soo Eagles announce plans Soo Eagles Off To A Flying Start With Two Shutout Victories
Sunday, August 29, 2010, Big Bear Arena, Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
Sault area hockey fans got a glimpse of the new Soo Eagles Junior Hockey team this past weekend, and fans should be excited. The new Soo Eagles showed a nice combination of speed and skill, as they dominated the Flint Junior Generals of the CJHL with two 10-0 shutout victories.
The opening game of the two game series, Saturday, August 28 saw the Eagles take an early 5-0 first period lead. An impressive display of speed and passing saw Matt Ragains, Vinny Cafone, Robbie Payne, Mike Orosey and veteran Brian Depp notch single markers for the Eagles.
Four other Eagles added single goals in the second period to put the score at 10-0 to close out the period. Aaron Leonard, Clayton Brackett, Brett Sutton and T.J. Karavos scored, with Matt Ragains adding his second goal of the game.
A scoreless third period saw the final game end in 10-0 shutout.
In the second game of the exhibition series, Sunday, Aug. 29, the Eagles again skated off with a 10-0 shutout. Another impressive scoring effort saw nine players add goals in the effort. Newcomer Anthony Wolfe had two goals, while single markers went to Mike Orosey, Brian Depp, Vinny Cafone, Adam Newkirk, Travis Payne, Joe Duoba, Brett Sutton and Nate Glass.
The Soo Eagles thank all fans who came out to see the new squad, and they thank the Flint Junior Generals for making the trek to the Sault. Although the Junior Generals suffered two losses, they are young team and GM Kelly Kronk has some young talent that should develop nicely.
The Soo Eagles travel to Trenton, Sept. 3, 4 to face the Motor City Metal Jackets of the NAHL. The Motor Jackets have a strong team, with a number of quality veterans returning.
Soo Eagles Will Host Flint Junior Generals At The Big Bear,
August 28th and 29th...ADMISSION IS FREE!!!
Sault area hockey fans can get a glimpse of the new Soo Eagles, when they host the Flint Junior Generals of the CSHL, Saturday, August 28th at 7:30pm and Sunday, August 29th at 12:00pm at the Big Bear 
Arena in Sault, Michigan.
There will be three games played throughout the weekend. Cross border rivals, the Soo Thunderbirds will play the Junior Generals on Saturday, August 28th at 1:30 pm. This should be a nice start to the 2010/11 season and admission to all games is FREE!!!
The Flint Junior Generals are members of the Central States Hockey League, which includes a total of 13 teams, Interesting to note that two former members of the Flint Junior Generals, Brad Scurfield and Tom McKenna played for the Soo Eagles in 2008-2009.
Soo Eagles Travel To Trenton, MichiganTo Face The Motor City Metal Jackets of the NAHL
The Eagles will continue their exhibition schedule when they travel to Trenton, Michigan to face the Motor City Metal Jackets of the NAHL, September 3rd and 4th. Times to be announced
Soo Eagles Change Hands, Get Ready To Take Flight For 2010-2011
Staff Writer, June 6, 2010, Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
Soo area hockey fans can look forward to more great hockey at the venerable Pullar Stadium this coming season.The Soo Eagles, Junior A hockey team of the NOJHL are pleased to announce the transfer of the team to a new owner.
As well as having new owners the Soo Eagles have a new Coach and GM. Bruno Bragagnolo will lead the Eagles into the new season.
The transfer of the team met unanimous approval this past weekend, when the annual general meeting of the NOJHL was held in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
Bragagnolo is a seasoned coaching veteran with the Chicago Young Americans of the MWEHL (Mid West Elite Hockey League), where he has coached at various levels including the U18 major squad with the Young American organization. Interesting to note that former Soo Greyhound, Dave Maciuk is the director of the Young Americans organization.
Bragagnolo has been instrumental in the development of numerous hockey players, most recently he coached Alex Galchenyk, who was the #1 draft in the OHL this year, going to the Sarnia Sting. The Young Americans also sent Nathan Glass to the Erie Otters and Jared Rutledge to the Saginaw Spirit, Rutledge will playing this year for the National Development team in Ann Arbor.
The humble Bragagnolo has received praise from countless players that have moved on to all ranks of hockey, including the USHL, CHL, NCAA and NHL ranks. He is very well respected by his players, both as a coach and a mentor.
Eagle coach Paul Theriault is very happy with the new look to the Eagles. “We wanted to bring junior hockey back to Sault, Michigan and the Pullar. We are confident the Eagles will now move forward with a solid foundation.” He states and added, “the people of Sault Michigan have been very supportive of the Eagles and we hand over the team with a clean slate. Sault hockey fans should be extremely excited”
Bragagnolo has known Theriault for some time and when he heard of the Eagles possibly changing hands, he was excited by the possibility. Bragagnolo is no stranger to the Sault and area. He played for the Elliot Lake Vikings of the old International Junior league against the Soo Indians, when Paul Theriault was the coach. Bragagnolo’s nephew Rock Einersen also played for the Eagles in the 2008-2009 season, and Einersen speaks very highly of his time in the Sault.
”Sault Ste Marie has a great hockey tradition, the Pullar Stadium is as much a shrine and museum for hockey as it is a great arena. The Eagles have a strong core in place and we will build on that. We want to help players to develop, and offer the fans of the Eagles some entertaining hockey. We are here for the players, fans and the community”, states Bragagnolo.
Bragagnolo will take up residence in Sault, Michigan for the coming season, with the support of a very strong organization. The new coach and GM will begin to put the pieces together for the upcoming season, combining local talent with dedicated players from across North America.
Bragagnolo is also excited about becoming part of the Sault Ste Marie community, “We are here for the fine people of Sault Ste Marie, we also wish Paul Theriault all the best, and we look forward to seeing him around the rink, he is truly a hockey legend”
Eagles Assistant Coach Dennis Bolton will stay on with the new team, “Dennis has a great passion for the game and will be an invaluable resource”, adds Bragagnolo.
The Soo Eagles will hold their first tryout camp June 18-20, 2010 at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. A second camp is set for Canton Michigan, July 9-11 at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena.
Soo Eagles Plan To Restructure
Staff Writer, May 3, 2010, Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
With the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League 2009-2010 season finished, the Soo Eagles are making plans for next season.
Eagles team owner/coach Paul Theriault said that the team plans to "restructure" as the organization prepares to move ahead into its third year of operation. Theriault says he has some personal medical conditions which require his attention, and he may need to play a lesser role with the Eagles.
"Either way, we are moving forward for next season," Theriault said. "We already have our summer tryout camps set, starting June 18th at the Taffy Abel arena, and things are very positive"
A tryout camp will be held in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, at the Taffy Abel on June 18, 19, 20. Another tryout camp is scheduled in Canton, Michigan on July 9, 10, 11.
The Eagles completed their second year in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Eagles finished third in the NOJHL Western Division, but upset the No. 2-seeded Blind River Beavers four games to one in a quarterfinal playoff series. It was a big improvement from their first season, and they hope to build on that improvement heading into the 2010-2011 season..
In the Western Division playoff finals, the Eagles' season ended with a 4-game series sweep against the Soo Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds outscored the Eagles 26-5 in the series.
"We played well against Blind River, and were happy to get through the first round," Theriault said. "Then we went right into the series against Soo Thunderbirds and got off to a slow start.
"I have to give the Thunderbirds credit," Theriault said. "They kept the pressure on us and never gave us a chance to regroup. They (Thunderbirds) played very well. There were also some terrific games in the finals between them and the Abitibi Eskimos."
Both The Thunderbirds and the Eskimos represented the NOJHL in the 2010 Dudley Hewitt Cup. The Dudley Hewitt Cup is the Central Canada Jr A championship, which was held at the Essar Centre, April 20-24, in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Canada. (See story below)
Theriault said he is commited to bring the Eagles back to Pullar Stadium for the 2010-11 season.
"We had a young team, and may have 10 to 15 players back for next year," Theriault said. "We're still commited to bring in as many Sault, Michigan, players as we can. I think there are several upcoming Sault players who can play at this level."
Soo Eagles Tall and Talented Alumni Adam Phillips Adjusts To The USHL
In Many Ways
The first player to ever sign with the Soo Eagles has had a long and winding road in his junior hockey career. At his first junior training camp with the Soo Eagles, back in August of 2008, the talented Adam Phillips suffered an injury while going off the ice. The always personable Phillips missed the first 12 games of the season.
When he returned to the Eagles line-up, the lanky Phillips went on to score 20 goals and add 29 assists in 37 games as a very crafty center man. His efforts did not go un-noticed and he attracted the attention of many major scouts, including the Detroit Red Wings.
Phillips would move on and up to the ranks of the USHL, where he not only broke into a very tough roster, but also went through the transformation to becoming a defenceman. The 19 year old now stands at the cross-roads of his hockey career, with some important decisions to make.
Tauted by numerous NCAA offers, Phillips faces the tough decision of moving into the college ranks or spending another year honing his defensive skills in the highly competitive USHL ranks.
The ever humble Phillips looks back on his time as an Eagle and reflects quietly, "It was a pivotal year for me and the Eagles gave me the opportunity to play at a higher level and prepare for the game I love"
Whatever the future holds, the talented Phillips will adapt and continue to improve his game.
His father Dave Phillips will be scouting for the Eagles and the Eagles are certain he will land some other diamonds in the rough, Dave has been in involved with hockey at many levels in the Detroit area for many years.
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Soo Thunderbirds, Abitibi Eskimos Do NOJHL Proud At The Recent Dudley Hewitt Cup
Ben Leeson, April 29, 2010. Sault Star, Sault Ste Marie On. Canada
While the Oakville Blades stole the show at the Dudley Hewitt Cup, the tournament's two Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League representatives still showed well at the central Canadian junior A championship, held at Essar Centre last week.
The Abitibi Eskimos, who entered the event as champions of the NOJHL, stumbled early, losing 6-0 to the powerhouse Blades, winners in the Ontario Hockey Association junior A loop.
But other than that, both the Eskimos and host Soo Thunderbirds were in every game, to the benefit of the all-too-small crowds which took in the five-day provincial championship. Each went 1-2 at the tournament, with the Soo edging Abitibi 4-3 in a head-to-head battle to qualify for the three-team playoff round.
The T-Birds came up short of the title game, losing 3-0 in semifinal action against the Fort William North Stars of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
But this past Monday, when the team gathered one last time for its year-end awards banquet, head coach Pat Carricato was still brimming with pride in his players. "I've had a little extra time to think about it," Carricato said. "And I'm extremely happy with what we achieved this year.
"We got to the semis of the Dudley, and sure, we wanted that win, but in the end they had to respect us. The guys battled hard, every one of them, and at the end of the day, that's all you can ask for.
"I'm very proud them, every single one of them, and I always will be." A good showing was good not only for Carricato's pride, but for that of all NOJHL teams, who have now experienced an eight-year drought at the Dudley Hewitt.
No team from the league has won a Dudley Hewitt title since 2002, when the now-defunct Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats were finishing up a run of three central Canadian championships in six years.
Last year, the T-Birds made the tournament as NOJHL champions, but went winless -- and goal-less -- in three round-robin games. Seeing Abitibi and the Soo compete well should buoy the confidence of their rivals, and may also serve to silence a few of their critics.
Oakville, winner of its second Dudley Hewitt title in three years, will play in the RBC Cup national championship, which runs May 1-9 at Credit Union Place in Dauphin, Man.
They'll be joined there by the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, hosts and winners of the Anavet Cup, the La Ronge Ice Wolves, finalists in the Anavet Cup, the Brockville Braves of the Central Hockey League, winners of the Fred Page Cup, and the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League, winners of the Doyle Cup.
