Cooper Moore had a homecoming of sorts when the Hearst Lumberjacks of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League unveiled plans to come to Thunder Bay during the Labour Day long weekend.
“I used to come up here probably about every year [during the Robin’s Minor Hockey Tournament],” Moore recalled. “If I was playing up with the older kids, or I was just playing with my own team, we would play in all [the Thunder Bay and area] rinks. When we found out we were coming [to the Norwest Arena], I said Norwest? Yeah, that rings a bell.”
The 18-year-old forward hails from the township of Wawa in the Algoma district. It was renamed in 2007 after formerly being known as the Township of Michipicoten.
The population of the township hovers under 3,000 and has produced three players that were drafted into the National Hockey League including forwards Denny Lambert and Chris Simon.
Moore is optimistic that there are better days ahead for registration into the Wawa Minor Hockey Association.
“When I was younger, every age group had a team, we always iced a good team,” Moore added. “Ever since [the COVID-19 pandemic hit] kids have lost the passion to play and quit hockey. But now our initiation programs have 80 kids signed up right now. [There are] quite a few younger [players] coming in [and the organizers] are doing a good job of running it. So, it should [be] good for the future.
Moore played his minor hockey with the Wawa Legionaires as well as the Soo Greyhounds under-14 and under-15 AAA teams.
He dressed for three games as an affiliate player with the Cochrane Crunch of the NOJHL last season, making his debut on Jan. 25 against the eventual league champion Timmins Rock.
“It was exciting for sure, especially playing in Timmins. They [have] a really good fan base,” he reflected. “It was really good to play those games, [it helped me] get in the mindset [of playing junior hockey so] when you make the jump the next year, you're prepared [with the game speed, and] the skill level [of the other players]. It helps you adapt.”
The Lumberjacks finished second in the East Division with 43 wins in 58 games, but fell in the division semi-final in six games to the Powassan Voodoos.
Moore says the goal this year is to win it all.
“Everyone is still getting used to each other, but we've got a lot of key pieces through trades and we picked up a lot of good younger first year players. We have a big road trip [to begin the season] coming up so hopefully we can get off to a good start, and just keep going from there.”
The Lumberjacks face off with the Greater Sudbury Cubs on Thursday to begin the NOJHL regular season.
Their home opener happens on Sept. 15 against the Elliot Lake Vikings.