Team NOHA, TPH Hockey and the Thunder Bay Kings prepare for OHL Cup
In addition to automatic qualifiers from the GTHL, OMHA and ALLIANCE ranks, the U.S. entry TPH Hockey join Team NOHA and the Thunder Bay Kings at the 2023 OHL Cup. Here’s a closer look at the three additional automatic entries for this year’s showcase.
TPH Hockey
Historically one of two American teams to enter the OHL Cup on a yearly basis, TPH Hockey has had plenty of future OHLers suit up at the annual showcase, with names ranging from current London Knight forward Ryan Humphrey, to Windsor Spitfires alumnus Egor Afanasyev, and former Flint Firebird forward Tag Bertuzzi.
Athough TPH finished round robin play with a 1-3 record last year, the group was extremely competitive in each of their matchups, impressing many of the scouts around the league as three players from that team in Caeden Heins (6th Rd., Oshawa Generals), Payton Stowe (9th Rd., Erie Otters), and Nikolas Young (10th Rd., North Bay Battalion), were selected in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.
Thunder Bay Kings – 10-23-3, 23 pts (9th Place, GTHL)
A team that entered their second season in the GTHL, the Thunder Bay Kings U16 program enters this year’s OHL Cup looking to take the next step following a 1-2-1 record in last year’s tournament.
A team that featured the likes of Owen Sound Attack standout rookie goaltender Carter George and Erie Otters defenceman Nicholas Holomego, this year’s squad is led up the middle with Easton Mikus leading the charge while forward Carter Poddubny has also been a standout.
Team NOHA
A combination of the top 2007-born players in the NOHA, Team NOHA has always brought an enticing group to the OHL Cup.
In recent memory, current OHLers such as current Hamilton Bulldogs forward Masen Wray, as well as a deep group in 2019 that carried names such as Zacharie Giroux (Flint Firebirds), Max McCue (London Knights), Chase Stillman (Peterborough Petes), Jack Matier (Ottawa 67’s) and Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting) have worn the NOHA logo at Scotiabank Pond.
This year’s squad is no different, as Team NOHA’s roster will be headlined by high-scoring forward Hudson Chitaroni of the Soo Jr. Greyhounds. Featured in our inaugural OHL Central Scouting Poll, the Jr. Greyhounds forward finished second in the Great North U18 League in scoring as an underager, collecting 22 goals and 26 assists in 28 games.
This year’s NOHA squad features players from four different teams including the Soo Jr. Greyhounds U18, Timmins Majors U18, Sudbury Nickel Capitals U16 and the North Bay Trappers U16.
