SUDBURY, Ont. – With Marc-Alain Begin returning to his role as head coach of the Hearst Lumberjacks, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) club knows they are in good hands.
Gearing up for his sixth campaign as bench boss with Hearst and 10th overall on the Lumberjacks’ coaching staff, Begin’s squad boasted a 153-51-1-9 his previous four years as head coach.
As a star player in the NOJHL as part of his Jr. A career, he amassed 283 points in just 128 games with the Abitibi Eskimos, so it’s no surprise that his teams succeed in part with plenty of offensive production.
Boasting a solid returning cast of players at each area of the ice, along with some skilled newly recruited talent, expectations will be high when Hearst takes to the ice at Claude Larose Recreation Centre to kick off their regular season.
Here’s a glance at some of those the Lumberjacks view as keys to any potential success in 2026-27:
Head coach: Marc-Alain Begin
Home opener: Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
7 p.m. – Claude Larose Recreation Centre
KEY RETURNEES
PLAYER: Jack Helkie, G
DOB: 11/01/2006
HOMETOWN: Aurora, Ont.
Coaches’ comments: “Jack is entering his third season in the NOJHL, and we expect him to be a key veteran for us between the pipes. His experience, consistency, and leadership will be extremely valuable to our group. Jack will play an important role not only in our success on the ice, but also as a leader within our team and dressing room.”
PLAYER: Julien Trudel, D
DOB: 01/16/2006
HOMETOWN: Belle Vallee, Ont.
Coaches’ comments: “Set to begin his fourth season in Hearst, we expect Julian to log heavy minutes for us in 2026-27. He will provide instant offense and be an important contributor at both ends of the ice. Julien is a steady, hard-working player who takes pride in his defensive game, and we will rely on his experience and compete level throughout the season.”
PLAYER: Cameron Menard, F
DOB: 01/09/2006
HOMETOWN: West Carleton, Ont.
Coaches’ comments: “After joining us from Espanola last season, Cam provided an immediate offensive impact as he went on to lead the entire league in goals with 45. We expect him to take another big step forward this year. He’ll be a key player for our team and will be counted on to provide offense, compete hard, and lead by example every night. His experience and leadership will be important to our success this season.”
PLAYER: Luc Warner, F
DOB: 01/04/2006
HOMETOWN: Milton, Ont.
Coaches’ comments: “Luc also joined us from the Paper Kings last season and provided an immediate offensive impact on the ice, averaging over a point-per-game with us. Like Menard, we expect Warner to have a massive year with us. He too will be counted on being a key player for us every night. His experience and leadership will be a vital cog to our success.”
NEW TO THE SQUAD
PLAYER: Owen Kahl, F
DOB: 06/16/2006
HOMETOWN: Markham, Ont.
Coaches’ comments: “Owen will be entering his fourth year in the junior ranks, and we expect him to be a key player for us this season. With 155 games of Jr. A experience, he will be counted on to provide offense right from the start and bring much-needed stability to our forward group. Owen’s experience will also be valuable off the ice, where we expect him to be a leader and help set the standard for our team.”
PLAYER: Marcello Santiago, D
DOB: 05/29/2008
HOMETOWN: New Hope, Penn.
Coaches’ comments: “From North Hope, Pennsylvania, Marcello is a highly skilled defenceman who will bring stability, confidence, and plenty of offensive upside to our blue line. Coming off a strong camp with Shawinigan of the QMJHL, Marcello is ready to make an immediate impact in the NOJHL. We expect Marcello to be a big part of our defensive corps and a player our team can rely on every night. His skill, hockey sense, and ability to move the puck will make him an exciting addition to our lineup.”
PLAYER: William Fournier. F
DOB: 08/15/2008
HOMETOWN: Longlac, Ont.
Coaches’ comments: “William is a true Northern Ontario product, hailing from Longlac with strong family ties right here in Hearst. He developed his game with the Kapuskasing U18 AAA Flyers before playing last season with the North Bay Trappers U18 AAA, where he was part of a GNU18HL championship team. He is a strong, physical forward who isn’t afraid to battle for pucks and play a big, hard-nosed game. He brings size, compete, and a winning mentality to our lineup, and we expect him to make an impact for us right from the start.”
Photo credit: Northern Lights Photography
