(NOJHL) A Look To The Week Ahead......

Wed Sep 9 Abitibi Eskimos vs Kal Tire Sudbury Jr. Wolves 7.30 PM

This game to open the 2009-2010 NOJHL season will mark the return to the McLelland Arena in Copper Cliff for the Jr. Wolves after a fire in the building forced them out for the entire 2008-09 season.

This will be the tenth season for this rivalry which has grown more intense with every season and the Jr. Wolves will be looking to improve on last years stats at home against the Eskimos having lost three times and winning just twice including once in a shootout.

In the previous nine seasons the Jr. Wolves have won the series six times, lost twice and tied once. The Jr. Wolves have an overall home record against the Eskimos of 22 wins, 13 losses and two overtime losses.

Three of the ten games played between the two teams went to a shootout last season with the Jr. Wolves winning a pair and the Eskimos one.

Season Schedule
Sep 9 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Sep 12 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Oct 10 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Oct 14 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Nov 11 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Nov 28 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Dec 16 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Dec 22 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Jan 6 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Jan 10 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Feb 12 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Feb 17 – Abitibi at Sudbury

Fri Sep 11 Blind River Beavers vs Manitoulin Islanders 7.30 PM

The Islanders will be looking to improve on their performances over the past couple of seasons against the Blind River Beavers at the Little Current-Howland Complex having won only twice in the past ten meetings at home.

The Islanders were successful in winning their first home game against the Beavers last season 6-5 in overtime but then suffered four straight losses the rest of the way including a 7-0 shutout in the return of former Islanders netminder Billy Stone in his first game for the Beavers.

The Islanders only victory at home the previous season was also an overtime win, this time 5-4.

The Islanders have a home record against the Beavers in their previous six seasons of six wins, ten losses, two overtime losses and a pair of shootout losses.

Season Schedule
Sep 11 – Blind River at Manitoulin
Sep 12 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Nov 7 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Nov 22 – Blind River at Manitoulin
Dec 4 – Blind River at Manitoulin
Dec 20 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Jan 8 – Blind River at Manitoulin
Feb 6 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Feb 27 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Feb 28 – Blind River at Manitoulin

Fri Sep 11 North Bay Trappers vs Temiscaming Royals 8.00 PM

This rivalry did not take too long to heat up and this year will see more exciting battles between the two clubs.

The Skyhawks won the season series last year losing only one game 4-3 in a shootout but the Royals battled the Skyhawks all winter sending a pair of games in Temiscaming to shootouts before a Skyhawks victory and other close battles throughout the year.

Season Schedule
Sep 11 – North Bay at Temiscaming
Sep 27 – Temiscaming at North Bay
Nov 1 – Temiscaming at North Bay
Nov 6 – North Bay at Temiscaming
Dec 4 – North Bay at Temiscaming
Dec 6 – Temiscaming at North Bay
Jan 2 – North Bay at Temiscaming
Jan 3 – Temiscaming at North Bay
Jan 21 – North Bay at Temiscaming
Jan 31 – Temiscaming at North Bay
Feb 12 – North Bay at Temiscaming
Feb 14 – Temiscaming at North Bay

Sat Sep 12 Soo Thunderbirds vs Temiscaming Royals 7.30 PM

The league champion Thunderbirds make their first of only two visits to the Quebec province and will be looking to extend a pair of wins to their record over the Royals.

The Thunderbirds also won both contests in the Soo.

The Thunderbirds restricted the Royals to just three goals in the two games in Quebec and also the pair of games the Royals played in the West.

Season Schedule
Sep 12 – Soo Thunderbirds at Temiscaming
Oct 11 – Temiscaming at Soo Thunderbirds
Nov 29 – Temiscaming at Soo Thunderbirds
Jan 9 – Soo Thunderbirds at Temiscaming

Sat Sep 12 Kal Tire Sudbury Jr. Wolves vs Abitibi Eskimos 7.30 PM

See Wednesdays story.

Season Schedule
Sep 9 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Sep 12 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Oct 10 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Oct 14 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Nov 11 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Nov 28 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Dec 16 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Dec 22 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Jan 6 – Abitibi at Sudbury
Jan 10 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Feb 12 – Sudbury at Abitibi
Feb 17 – Abitibi at Sudbury

Sat Sep 12 Manitoulin Islanders vs Blind River Beavers 7.30 PM

See Fridays story.

Season Schedule
Sep 11 – Blind River at Manitoulin
Sep 12 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Nov 7 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Nov 22 – Blind River at Manitoulin
Dec 4 – Blind River at Manitoulin
Dec 20 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Jan 8 – Blind River at Manitoulin
Feb 6 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Feb 27 – Manitoulin at Blind River
Feb 28 – Blind River at Manitoulin

FEATURE GAME OF THE WEEK

Sun Sep 13 Soo Thunderbirds vs North Bay Trappers 7.00 PM

The battle of last years two finalists in the league playoffs will heat up quickly this year with the first of two visits by the Champion Thunderbirds to the Skyhawks.

Last season the home team won all four games between the two teams with the Skyhawks winning 5-3 and 7-1 at home while the Thunderbirds replied with a pair of 3-2 victories at the John Rhodes complex in the Sault.

Season Schedule
Sep 13 – Soo Thunderbirds at North Bay
Oct 2 – North Bay at Soo Thunderbirds
Jan 10 – Soo Thunderbirds at North Bay
Feb 6 – North Bay at Soo Thunderbirds

by Dave Harrison
NOJHL Historian

Infromation from: http://www.nojhl.com/?content=news.php&id=561