The ripple effect of the opening of OHL training camps last week is now being felt in the lower levels, as local NOJHL and GNML teams begin to finalize their respective rosters.

Practicing at the Sudbury Arena on Monday evening, with their league-opener slated for Wednesday night in Copper Cliff, the Sudbury Nickel Barons have firmed up the bulk of their 2012-2013 roster, with an abundance of bodies, notably on the back-end.

Returning netminder Alex Laino will be joined by Wolves' 2012 draft pick Michael Muzyka, establishing a base of home-grown talent that permeates from top to bottom of this lineup.

The blue-line group will be "newish," with only Brett Dusick and Michael Rouleau having seen consistent action with the Cubs last year.

Scott Sirkka and Khadyn Butterfly make the jump from the Nickel Capital Wolves, while Mississauga prospect Bradley Bell looks for one year of junior experience to prepare him for OHL action.

Rounding out the defensive corps are Evan Purcell, Ryan Chretien and Jake Punkari as the Barons try to accommodate young men looking to balance between work, school and hockey commitments.

Up front, the trio of Sebastien Leroux, Darcy Haines and André Comtois will be relied upon heavily, with August Jarecki, Giovanni Foschia and likely Josh Moore moving from the Great North Midget League to the NOJHL.

While a couple of openings still remain, Cory Vaillancourt, Martin Jolicoeur and Justin Bell have all signed on, with David Lazarus expected to confirm once his release is secured.

In other news involving local talent, Trent Mallette has cracked the roster of the Sault Greyhounds, as the team deals with the absence of a trio of players involved in a criminal investigation.

Ryan Erickson joined Marco Lizotte at the Niagara Steelhawks camp, with Erickson opting to bypass playing any exhibition games at this time, in order to keep NCAA alternatives open. Erickson did skate over the weekend with the Kemptville 73's, but was apparently back in Sudbury on Monday.

Nickel Capitals forward Michael Laidley enjoyed, by all accounts, a solid few days attending training camp in Sault Ste. Marie but has decided to complete his final year of midget eligibility in Sudbury.