NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
NOJHL announces staff for Central Canada Cup Challenge
SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced today its management, coaching and training staff for the upcoming Central Canada Cup Challenge showcase event Dec. 27-29 in Terrebonne, Que.
Sudbury Nickel Barons general manager Oscar Clouthier has been named director of operations for Team NOJHL while Marc Lafleur of the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners will serve as head coach.
Joining Lafleur behind the bench as assistant coaches will be Jordan Smith of the Soo Thunderbirds, Trevor Blanchard of the Sudbury Nickel Barons and Zane Neily of the North Bay Trappers.
Also named to the staff as team trainers are Carla Vine of Kirkland Lake and Sudbury’s Lisa Parise.
The 2013 Central Canada Cup Challenge will feature six competing teams, including one from both the NOJHL and the Central Canada Hockey League along with two squads from the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League.
Each of the six participating clubs will play a five-game round robin with the length of games being two 20-minute periods.
After round robin competition the top two squads in the standings will compete in the Central Canada Cup Challenge championship contest on Dec. 29.
“We at the NOJHL are very pleased to once again be competing in this high profile event that will feature some of the top players from our league competing against similar talent from the CCHL, OJHL and LHJAAAQ,” offered NOJHL Commissioner Robert Mazzuca.
“The shorter game times makes for a high-tempo style of play that is sure to generate plenty of exciting hockey for the fans along with allowing all the NCAA, CIS, NHL and major junior scouts in attendance an opportunity to view our prospects at an increased compete level,” added Mazzuca.
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 naming the players that will comprise the Team NOJHL roster is expected to be made in early December while the game schedule will be released later this week.
