Norman Northstars Forwards Make Junior "A" Debuts

It was a big moment for Hunter Rambow and Mikey Baron this past weekend, as the pair of Northstars forwards made their Junior "A" debuts for the OCN Blizzard.

The two drew into the lineup for the game on March 4th, as the Blizzard played the Swan Valley Stampeders in the last MJHL game of the season; a make-up game from an earlier cancelled match-up. The Stampeders would win the game handily, 4-0. Neither Baron or Rambow ended up on the scoresheet.

Hunter Rambow, centre, on the forecheck during his OCN Blizzard debut on March 4, 2018. Photo courtesy of Hunter Rambow.

Rambow, a native of The Pas, finished his second season with the Norman Northstars Midget "AAA" side as the teams' leading scorer. He had 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points in 47 games. This years total is more than double from last years, when he only had 17 points as a 15-year-old rookie.

Hunter Rambow, right, during the final Norman Northstars Midget "AAA" game of the season on February 24, 2018. Photo courtesy of Kyle Darbyson.



Hunter said that he found out the day before the game that he was playing. He added that the thought of playing his first junior game for his home-town club was nerve wrecking and exciting at the same time, but that that all faded when he stepped on the ice at the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre. After the game, Rambow said the biggest difference between Midget "AAA" and Junior "A"  was the physicality, and that if he wants to make the club permanently next season he'd have to get stronger over the summer.

Mikey Baron on the forecheck against the Swan Valley Stampeders on March 4, 2018. Photo courtesy of Mikey Baron.

Baron, who hails from Thompson, finished with with 15 points (8G, 7A) in his first Midget "AAA" season. He spent last year with the Pilot Mound Varsity team, where he had three goals and seven assists in 27 games. Before that, he was a teammate of Rambow's on the 15/16 Norman Wolves Bantam "AAA" team.

Mikey Baron, left, defends against the Eastman Selects on February 2, 2018. Photo courtesy of the Thompson Citizen, Kyle Darbyson.
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Mikey said that he got a text from Blizzard head coach and general manager Doug Headley the day before the game asking if he'd like to play. Much like Rambow, Baron said that the biggest challenge was the physicality of the play. He said that the Swan Valley Stampeders were bigger and more physical, and that to make the jump from Midget "AAA" to junior, he needs to put on as much muscle mass as he can to adapt.  Mikey Baron will be attending a Gold Hockey Development prospect camp in Toronto in late May. There will be scouts on hand from the NCAA, OHL, QMJHL, OJHL, NOJHL and NAHL.

The OCN Blizzard will start their quest for the Turnbull Cup at home this Friday, March 9th, against the Winkler Flyers. 

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