The new Canadian International Hockey League, established this spring by former Jr. Trappers owner Tim Clayden, has named former Jr. Trappers Associate GM Randy Blake as the League's Director of Operations.
Blake is a long-time proponent of junior hockey throughout Northern Ontario.
To be sure, Blake is a self-made man when it comes to his hockey career.
The North Bay native started out as a scout for the Nipissing Alouettes of the Greater Metro Jr. Hockey League beginning with the 2006-2007 season. He then moved to the Temiscaming Royals as that team transitioned from the GMJHL to the
Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League in 2007, staying with the club until 2010.
It was then that Blake joined the North Bay Trappers of the NOJHL as their assistant general manager, later becoming the general manager as the Trappers went on to win the 2012-2013 regular season and playoff championship.
When the North Bay franchise moved to Espanola to become the Rivermen for the 2013-2014 campaign as the 8th NOJHL team in the leagues most recent expansion, Blake went with the team, helping to guide the Rivermen in their first season to a league leader in fan attendance and a third-place regular season finish.
CIHL Vice President Dean Pauli gladly supports Blake's new role with the CIHL.
“There is no one that I can think of that deserves the honour and new role more than Randy Blake. He quietly goes about his business each and every season behind the scenes making people happy and all things work for all involved. The CIHL is in a very strong position, now having positioned Randy as our full time day to day pillar of the league. Congratulations Randy," said Pauli.
As Director of Operations, Blake will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the CIHL, reporting directly to the CIJHL Executive Branch. He will also be responsible to help guide individual team general managers and coaches in daily league business and adherence to CIHL reporting guidelines.
“I am very happy to be involved in the CIHL and providing young athletes, especially kids and their parents here in Northern Ontario and others world wide with another option to play junior hockey,” Blake stated. “The CIHL is about moving world wide student-athlete junior hockey players on to the next level whether it be collegiate, major junior ‘A’ or pro hockey and every person involved in the CIHL today has the very same shared vision. Teaming up with American teams for two College Showcase weekends and a possible interlocking schedule is a great opportunity for these young student-athletes to help generate added and the needed exposure, especially to the NCAA,” said Blake.
“I have been involved in hockey now for quite some time and have made some great contacts in Canada and the United States, which will help us bring in some good, quality students -athlete junior hockey players and help the CIHL grow at the same time into one of the best junior hockey leagues on this side of the big pond with all the great people involved,” he added.
“We are all very excited to get started."
Submitted to BayToday.ca