NOJHL returning to Michigan Sault

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League will see some familiar faces when the 2015-16 regular season begins in the form of new teams.

The league announced on Thursday that the Soo Eagles will be re-joining the league after a three-year absence.

The addition is pending the approval of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, the Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Canada and USA Hockey.

The team will reportedly continue to run under the ownership of Ron Lavin and the direction of Bruno Bagagnolo as they make the move back to the NOJHL.

The North American Hockey League, the Eagles home for the past three seasons, has undergone some changes in recent months and the Eagles were left as the lone Michigan-based team in the loop.

The changes would mean extended road trips to play against division rivals, thus the move back to the NOJHL.

Instead, the franchise is being moved to Middleton, New Jersey to become the New Jersey Junior Titans.

The Eagles name stays in the Michigan Sault and will run in the NOJHL as an expansion team.

In addition to being a majority owner of the Eagles NOJHL team, Lavin will also be involved with the New Jersey NAHL franchise.

The NOJHL has also announced that the town of Espanola will be returning to the league in the form of the Espanola Express.

Tom McCarthy, who has been involved with junior hockey in Espanola for a number of years, will serve as the Express’ head coach.

McCarthy is no stranger to the NOHL as the veteran bench boss serves the same position with the Espanola Rivermen while that franchise was a part of the league.