NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Oct. 11, 2013
Espanola’s McCarthy to coach Team East at CJHL Prospects games
SUDBURY – The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced today that Espanola Rivermen bench boss Tom McCarthy has been named head coach of Team East for the upcoming CJHL Prospects games Nov. 8-9 in Digby and Yarmouth, N.S.
Luke Pierce of the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials will guide Team West as their coach.
This two-game event is being held in conjunction with the 2013 World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth Nov. 4-10.
The opening contest goes Friday, Nov. 8 at the Digby Arena at 7 p.m. AT and concludes the following afternoon at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth in a 4 p.m. AT start.
Player selection in compiling the rosters for these two contests is a joint initiative between the CJHL and NHL Central Scouting.
“Naturally it is an honour to be selected for this opportunity,” offered McCarthy.
“It is the dream of everyone in hockey to take part in Hockey Canada and CJHL events like the CJHL Prospects Games and I look forward to serving as the Team East coach when these 40 players come together.”
McCarthy’s appointment to guide Team East in the CJHL Prospects games is well earned with his coaching record in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League being stellar since his arrival two-plus seasons ago.
In 2011-12 he was named NOJHL coach of the year guiding the North Bay Trappers to a league-best seven-win improvement from the season prior with an overall 29-21 in his first year at the helm of the club.
Last season he led the Trappers to a first place finish in the in the NOJHL with an impressive 34-7-3-4 mark before going on to see his club win the league championship and a berth in the Dudley-Hewitt Cup.
After seeing the organization relocate to Espanola in the off-season, McCarthy has continued his winning ways as the Rivermen are a solid 8-3 heading into game action this week as they sit tied for second spot in the standings.
His overall NOJHL coaching record to date stands at 71-28-3-4 in 106 career contests.
A former first round pick, 10th overall, by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1979 National Hockey League Entry Draft, McCarthy went on to play 460 NHL contests with both the North Stars and Boston Bruins accumulating 399 career points on 178 goals and 221 assists.
“Tom McCarthy’s appointment as head coach of Team East in the CJHL Prospects games is a very well deserved honour,” stated NOJHL Commissioner Robert Mazzuca.
“His efforts behind the bench, with both North Bay and now Espanola, has helped turn that organization into one of the elite programs in not only the NOJHL, but the entire CJHL,” Mazzuca added.
“For him to have earned this opportunity shows the inroads the NOJHL has made at the national level as the quality of play on the ice and strength behind the bench continues to prosper and garner recognition.”
The CJHL Prospects games will showcase 40 of the top NHL prospects in the CJHL.
It will feature players from the CJHL’s five western leagues competing against the CJHL’s five eastern leagues.
The event includes a two-game total goal series between Team East and Team West in a battle for the President’s Cup, which is awarded annually to the winning team.