KIRKLAND LAKE - The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners are on home ice for two games this weekend. Friday night the Miners host the Mattawa Blackhawks, then Saturday they take on the Cochrane Crunch.
The Gold Miners recently won back-to-back games against Cochrane and has had resounding success against Mattawa but as he has said in the past, Coach Marc Lafleur is not taking anything for granted.
“(Mattawa) is playing better and we know Cochrane will be ready.”
After the last game against the Crunch Lafleur was very upset in terms of the team’s lack of intensity. To make sure the team’s compete level is where it needs to be Lafleur says they have been doing a lot of one-on-one and two-on-two drills in practice. Lafleur says he hopes the players are getting the message they need to step up the pace and adds its the voices of the veterans that can really help get the point across.
“I honestly think they hold a bigger voice because they are their peers.”
Fans will also get their first look at the team’s newest player. Hearst product Ryan Aubertin, who Lafleur coached in midget will be on the ice fort his new team.
The 20 year-old played the last three years in Humboldt Saskatchewan. Prior to that he did play very briefly for Abitibi at the end of the 2011-2012 season.
Meantime, The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced its latest Pointstreak top 20 rankings Monday and three Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League teams were recognized.
Winners of nine consecutive contests, the streaking Soo Thunderbirds is the top-ranked NOJHL club, at No. 14, in the national listings, which are compiled in conjunction with International Scouting Services.
Meanwhile the defending NOJHL champion Kirkland Lake Gold Miners were slotted 16th overall.
Sault Ste. Marie and Kirkland Lake currently share first place in the NOJHL standings with 22 points apiece, with the Thunderbirds also holding one game in hand.
Also, the Cochrane Crunch received honourable mention status for a second straight week in the rankings.
Cochrane sits two points in arrears of the T-Birds and Gold Miners with 20 after 14 outings.
The 2015 RBC Cup host Portage Terriers (MJHL), who are 14-0 to start the season, remain the No. 1 team in the CJHL.
Despite an overtime defeat last week to put a blemish on their record, the 8-0-1 Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) stay at No. 2 overall.= Riding a seven-game unbeaten run the Penticton Vees (BCHL) moved up to No. 3 nationally in the ratings. The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced its latest Pointstreak top 20 rankings Monday and three Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League teams were recognized. Winners of nine consecutive contests, the streaking Soo Thunderbirds is the top-ranked NOJHL club, at No. 14, in the national listings, which are compiled in conjunction with International Scouting Services. Meanwhile the defending NOJHL champion Kirkland Lake Gold Miners were slotted 16th overall.
Sault Ste. Marie and Kirkland Lake currently share first place in the NOJHL standings with 22 points apiece, with the Thunderbirds also holding one game in hand. Also, the Cochrane Crunch received honourable mention status for a second straight week in the rankings. Cochrane sits two points in arrears of the T-Birds and Gold Miners with 20 after 14 outings.
The 2015 RBC Cup host Portage Terriers (MJHL), who are 14-0 to start the season, remain the No. 1 team in the CJHL. Despite an overtime defeat last week to put a blemish on their record, the 8-0-1 Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) stay at No. 2 overall.
Riding a seven-game unbeaten run the Penticton Vees (BCHL) moved up to No. 3 nationally in the ratings
