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Thunderbirds add another defenceman

As training camp approaches, the Soo Thunderbirds continue to add heading into the 2015-16 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season.

As training camp approaches, the Soo Thunderbirds continue to add heading into the 2015-16 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season.

The Thunderbirds signed defenceman Matt Murray this week, giving the team five defenceman signed heading into camp.

Murray, 17, spent the 2014-15 season with the Great North Midget League’s Soo Thunderbirds where he scored 10 goals and 29 points in 35 regular season games before adding a goal and seven points in six playoff games.

“Matt is very familiar with our coaching staff from last season and is looking to make the jump to junior hockey this season,” Thunderbirds General Manager Jamie Henderson said in a release. “Matt understands how competitive our training camp and exhibition season will be and we look forward to seeing him take a big step this year.”

Murray was also named a GNML all-star last season.

The 5-foot-11, 167-pound defenceman was also called up to play in six NOJHL games in 2014-15.

The Thunderbirds have three returning defencemen signed from the 2014-15 team that won the NOJHL title and Dudley Hewitt Cup as Brandon Grandinetti, Caleb Boman and Matt Busby are slated to return. The team also brought in defenceman Joe Newhouse as a free agent. Newhouse spent last season with the Superior League’s Thunder Bay North Stars.

Forwards Matt Caruso, Jaren Bellini, Matt Mitchell, Joey Miller, Nathan Hebert and Brett Jeffries are returning from last season while the team also signed Brad Thrower, who was a teammate with Murray in the GNML.

The Thunderbirds training camp is scheduled to begin on Aug. 14 at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds midget team will hold a tryout beginning on Aug. 28. 

 


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Brad Coccimiglio

About the Author: Brad Coccimiglio

A graduate of Loyalist College’s Sports Journalism program, Brad Coccimiglio’s work has appeared in The Hockey News as well as online at FoxSports.com in addition to regular freelance work with SooToday before joining the team full time.
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