SUDBURY, Ont. – Matt Neault of the Rayside-Balfour Canadians is on the verge of matching, then establishing a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League record for most games played in his Jr. A career.
The veteran forward is expected to dress in his 243rd NOJHL regular season contest tonight as Rayside-Balfour hosts the Elliot Lake Wildcats in a 7 p.m. start at Chelmsford Arena.
In doing so, the Canadians’ captain would tie Chris Pontes for the career league mark in games played, which was set back during the 2009-10 campaign.
Neault can then establish the new NOJHL record of 244 contests Friday as Rayside-Balfour visits Elliot Lake.
In his first 242 regular season games, the 20-year-old from nearby Lively, Ont., has produced 162 points on 70 goals and 92 assists.
Special teams have seen him notch 20 man advantage markers while six have been scored while his clubs were shorthanded.
Neault also has 10 game-winning tallies to his credit.
“The NOJHL would like to congratulate Matt as he prepares to equal, then break, the league regular season record for games played,” offered Commissioner Robert Mazzuca.
“His commitment and dedication to the NOJHL, his teams and teammates is to be commended,” added Mazzuca.
TOP 10 NOJHL CAREER GAMES PLAYED (As of Dec. 13/17)
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GP | SEASONS |
| Chris Pontes | North Bay/Sudbury | 243 | 2004-10 |
| Matt Neault | Blind River/Sudbury/Rayside-Balfour | 242 | 2013-17 |
| Kealey Cummings | Abitibi/Timmins | 231 | 2011-16 |
| Matt Brunet | Soo Thunderbirds/Abitibi | 224 | 2002-07 |
| Curtis Johnson | Blind River/Manitoulin | 222 | 2001-06 |
| Brenden Biedermann | Rayside-Balfour/Sudbury | 218 | 2003-08 |
| Brian McGarry | Sudbury | 211 | 2001-06 |
| Dustin Cordeiro | Elliot Lake/Cochrane | 200 | 2012-16 |
| Andrew Bain | Timmins | 199 | 1991-96 |
| Bryan Verreault | Rayside-Balfour | 198 | 1979-84 |
With files from NOJHL Statistician & Historian David Harrison
