TheNorthern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL)is aJunior ice hockeyleague and member of theCanadian Junior Hockey LeagueandNorthern Ontario Hockey Association.The winner of the NOJHL playoffs competes for theCentennial Cupalong with the winners of the 8 other tier 2 junior A leagues across Canada.
Current season or competition: 2024–25 NOJHL season | |
 Official logo | |
| Region(s) | Northeastern Ontario |
|---|---|
| Commissioner | Robert Mazzuca |
| Former name(s) | NOHA Junior B Hockey League (c. 1970–1978) |
| Founded | 1970 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Associated Title(s) | Dudley Hewitt Cup Centennial Cup |
| Recent Champions | Greater Sudbury Cubs(2024) |
| Headquarters | Corbeil, Ontario |
| Website | nojhl |
The modern NOJHL
editThe current incarnation of the NOJHL comprises twelve teams located inOntarioandMichigan.The teams are currently located in:Blind River,Iroquois Falls,Elliot Lake,Espanola,Hearst,Kirkland Lake,Noelville,Powassan,Rayside-Balfour,Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario,Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan,andTimminsthe league is spread across the southern region ofNortheastern Ontario.[1]
The current NOJHL origins were in 1970 when the previous NOJHL was unstable footing while competing as a Junior "A" league. InSouthern Ontario,theOntario Major Junior Hockey Leaguewas looking to expand north and the league's two top teams, theSudbury Wolves[2]andSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds,[3]accepted an invitation from theOntario Major Junior Hockey Leagueto compete in the higher league. The next best team, theNorth Bay Trappers,[4]then chose to leave and joined theOntario Hockey Association's newOntario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.With the top tier of talent gone, the only remaining team in the league was theChelmsford Canadiens.A season before, theEspanola Screaming Eagleshad been a member of the league,[5]but opted to drop to the NOHA Jr. B Hockey League in 1971; the Canadiens joined them in 1972.[6]
The NOHA Jr. B Hockey League was formed in 1970 with a North and South division and teams in Capreol, Levak, Kapuskasing, amongst others. In their first season, theCapreol Hawkswon the league championship. In 1971, Espanola jumped on board, followed by Chelmsford in 1972. In 1973, the Canadians moved to Rayside-Balfour and became the Canadians. TheOnaping Falls Huskiesmoved from Levack in 1974,[7]and theNickel Centre Native Sons,Coniston Flyers, and Sudbury North Stars joined in 1976 when the NOHA merged their small Juvenile league into Jr. B.[8]
In 1978, the top teams of the NOHA Jr. B Hockey League created the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and were promoted to Tier II Junior "A".[9]With the five former Jr. "B" clubs and theSudbury Cubs,the league was back in action. In 1981, theElliot Lake Vikingsjumped into the fold. In 1983, the Onaping Falls Huskies dropped out despite winning three league titles in the past four seasons. After a one-season hiatus, they came back for two more years and then folded for good. In 1986, Rayside-Balfour went on hiatus and Capreol folded, dropping the league down to four teams. The Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League, also down to four teams, operated with the NOJHL as essentially two divisions of the same league. With an interlocking schedule, the NOJHL survived the 1986–87 season, the OPJHL did not and folded after the season concluded. Also, after 8 years of trying and failing, an NOJHL champion defeated an OPJHL champion for theOntario Hockey Associationchampionship. TheNickel Centre Power Trainsdefeated theOwen Sound Greys4-games-to-2 for the right to compete for theDudley Hewitt Cup—the Central Canadian Junior "A" Championship. The next year, the Canadians were back and a new team known as theThessalon Flyersentered the league. In 1988, theHaileybury 54'sjoined the league and in 1989 so did theRouyn-Noranda Capitales.Thessalon folded in 1990, Haileybury moved to Powassan in 1991 and theTimmins Golden Bearsjoined as well. A season later, Sudbury became Nickel Centre and then later folded. In 1994, Powassan moved to Sturgeon Falls and theParry Sound Shamrocksjoined the league. In 1996, Rouyn-Noranda folded to make way for a newQuebec Major Junior Hockey Leagueteam that was moving to their town. In 1999, Timmins moved to Iroquois Falls, Elliot Lake moved to Nickel Centre, and theSoo Thunderbirdswere founded. Also in 1999, Parry Sound moved to a new OPJHL (founded in 1993). A year later, Nickel Centre moved to Blind River and the Sudbury Northern Wolves were founded. In 2002, Sturgeon Falls moved to North Bay. A season after that, a team from Manitoulin joined and Espanola jumped over toSault Ste. Marie, Michigan.Finally, in 2005, the league's most dominant team in history and the last remaining shred of the original NOJHL, Rayside-Balfour, folded. They did not go without leaving their mark. Early in the 2005–06 season, the Sudbury Northern Wolves became heavily involved with the OHL'sSudbury Wolvesand the Northern Wolves became the Sudbury Jr. Wolves. The remaining players from the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats joined the Jr. Wolves. From 1996 until 2002, the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats won 7 straight NOJHL Championships, threeDudley Hewitt Cups,and once came within one win of winning theRoyal Bank Cupas national champions.
There were six teams in the NOJHL as of 2007. The 2006–07 league champions, theSoo Indians,took a year off in an attempt to sell the franchise. A year later, in 2008, they came back as theSoo Eagles.Also, in the summer of 2008, theTemiscaming Royalsjumped from theGreater Metro Junior A Hockey Leagueto the NOJHL to expand the league to eight teams. Temiscaming was the second Québécois team in NOJHL history, after theRouyn-Noranda Capitaleswho were in the league from 1989 to 1996. In the spring of 2011, the Royals failed to find new ownership and folded. The Manitoulin Islanders leftLittle Current, Ontarioat the end of the 2010–11 season and relocated toKirkland Lake, Ontario.At the same time, Temiscaming Royals owner Steve McCharles was attempting to sell his team, but folded after a deal fell through with a group from Kirkland Lake.
With the Manitoulin Islanders relocated to Kirkland Lake, the team became the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils to commemorate the1940 Allan Cup championsby the same team name. However, in December 2011, the Blue Devils were folding mid-season as a result of owner Bob Kasner being suspended for 6 months for roster violations. Days later, a new group came and created the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners to keep the team in the league.
During the 2011–12 season, the NOJHL implemented concussion safety policy and drug testing programs. The NOJHL is the first league in Canadian Junior A hockey to target either of these hot button issues.[10][11]
In 2012, the Soo Thunderbirds became only the second NOJHL franchise to qualify for the Royal Bank Cup, ending a 10-year drought that saw no NOJHL franchise at the Royal Bank Cup, despite making the Dudley-Hewitt Cup finals three times since the round-robin format in 2002. Over the summer of 2012, the Sudbury Jr. Wolves severed ties with the OHL's Wolves and became the Sudbury Cubs, and that moniker only lasted one season and became the Sudbury Nickel Barons. The Michigan-based Soo Eagles would also leave to join theUSA Hockey Tier IINorth American Hockey League.
In 2013, the NOJHL granted expansion to Espanola. A community that have been without an NOJHL team since 2003 when the Screaming Eagles relocated to Northern Michigan. The re-addition brought the league up to 8 teams - the most since the 2004–05 season. The North Bay Trappers relocated out of North Bay to Mattawa at the end of the 2013–14 season and became the Mattawa Blackhawks because the Trappers were denied a lease renewal with West Ferris Arena and also because of the thriving OHL market with theNorth Bay Battalion.TheEspanola Rivermenwere added to the NOJHL for 2013–14, but left after one season to join the non-Hockey Canada sanctionedCanadian International Hockey League.The Elliot Lake Bobcats relocated to Cochrane, Ontario and became theCochrane Crunch,who became the league's most-northern team. Weeks later, the Elliot Lake market was replaced with the Elliot Lake Wildcats.
Over the summer of 2015, the league saw the resurrection of theRayside-Balfour Canadians,who were the Sudbury Nickel Barons from 2012 to 2015. The Sudbury Nickel Barons, for the second time pulled out of hosting the Dudley-Hewitt Cup due to the relocation and the lack of support in the community. The 2016 tournament was allocated to Kirkland Lake, Ontario and hosted by the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. The Abitibi Eskimos left Iroquois Falls after 16 years to move to Timmins and become theTimmins Rock.Mattawa, the smallest market in the NOJHL lost the Mattawa Blackhawks to Iroquois Falls to replace the departed Abitibi Eskimos and became known as theIroquois Falls Eskimos.The league grew to 10 teams with the addition of theFrench River Rapidsof Noëlville, Ontario. Weeks after the French River Rapids joined the league, theEspanola Expressjoined the league putting membership to a record 11 teams - the most the league has carried. In May 2015, the Soo Eagles of theNorth American Hockey Leagueapplied and were approved to return to the NOJHL after leaving in 2012 due to the Michigan-based NAHL teams either folding or relocating.
In April 2017, the Iroquois Falls Eskis announced they were moving toHearst, Ontario,and became theHearst Lumberjacks.
In May 2023, theCochrane Crunchannounced they were moving toIroquois Falls,and became theIroquois Falls Storm.This would be the third franchise in Iroquois Falls, after theIroquois Falls Eskis/Abitibi Eskimos(1999-2015) and theIroquois Falls Eskis(2015-2017).
Teams
editThe league had a single conference with 12 teams, as of the2024–25 NOJHL season.[12][13]
125miles
Copeland-McNamara Trophy and Division Champions
editIn 2008–09, the NOJHL instituted divisions. Overall champions arebolded.
Dudley Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Champions
edit| Year | Champion | Finalist | Host (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Milton Merchants(OPJHL) | -- |
| 2000 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Brampton Capitals(OPJHL) | -- |
| 2002 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Dryden Ice Dogs(SIJHL) | -- |
| 2012 | Soo Thunderbirds | Stouffville Spirit(OJHL) | Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| 2015 | Soo Thunderbirds | Fort Frances Lakers(SIJHL) | Fort Frances, Ontario |
Trophy gallery
edit-
Frank L. Buckland Trophy
- OHA Championship
- Competed for by NOJHL champions from 1979 until 1997
- Won in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1997 -
William T. Ruddock Trophy
- OHF Championship
- Competed for by NOJHL champions since 1994
- Won in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2006 -
Dudley Hewitt Cup
- Regional Championship
- Competed for by NOJHL champions since 1979
- Won in 1997, 2000, and 2002
Former teams
editNotable alumni
edit- Todd Bertuzzi-Sudbury Cubs
- Brian Savage-Sudbury Cubs
- Steve Sullivan-Timmins Golden Bears
- Alex Auld-Sturgeon Falls Lynx
- Chris Thorburn-Elliot Lake Ice
- Jeremy Stevenson-Elliot Lake Vikings
- Jake Muzzin-Soo Thunderbirds
- Alex Henry-Timmins Golden Bears
- Dan Cloutier-Timmins Golden Bears
- Trevor Halverson-Thessalon Flyers
- Shannon Hope-Elliot Lake Vikings
- Lonnie Loach-Haileybury 54's
- Tyler Kennedy-Soo Thunderbirds
- Derek MacKenzie-Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats
- Colin Miller-Soo Thunderbirds
- Andrew Desjardins-Espanola Screaming Eagles
League records
editTeam season
edit- Best Record, One Season:
- 40-0-0 - Sudbury Cubs, 1989-90
- 40-0-0 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats, 1999-00
- Worst Record, One Season:
- 0-51-0-1 Blind River Beavers 2014-15
- Most Goals Scored, One Season:
- 482 - Rayside-Balfour Canadians, 1991-92
- Fewest Goals Scored, One Season:
- 97 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats, 2003-04
- Fewest Goals Against, One Season:
- 80 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats, 1999-00
- Most Goals Against, One Season:
- 708 - Elliot Lake Vikings, 1991-92
Team game
edit- Largest margin of victory:
- Rayside-Balfour Canadiens 30 - Elliot Lake Vikings 3 on January 28, 1992
Individual season
edit- Most Goals, One Season:
- 97 - Denis Castonguay, Rayside Balfour Canadians, 1983-84
- Most Assists, One Season:
- 106 - John Stos, Rayside Balfour Canadians, 1991-92
- Most Points, One Season:
- 196 - Denis Castonguay, Rayside Balfour Canadians, 1983-84
- Most Penalty Minutes, One Season:
- 384 - Andy Hodgins, Espanola Eagles, 1991-92
- Lowest Goals Against Average, One Season:
- 1.99 - Justin Dumont, Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats, 1999-00
- Most Shutouts, One Season:
- 9 - Connor Rykman, Soo Thunderbirds, 2015–16
Individual career
edit- Most Games Played, Career:
- 244 - Matthew Neault, Blind River Beavers/Sudbury Nickel Barons/Rayside-Balfour Canadians, 2013-2018
- Most Goals, Career:
- 197 - Denis Castonguay, Rayside-Balfour Canadians, 1979-84
- Most Assists, Career:
- 237 - Brian Verreault, Rayside-Balfour Canadians, 1979-84
- Most Points, Career:
- 409 - Brian Verreault, Rayside-Balfour Canadians, 1979-84
- Most Penalty Minutes, Career:
- 919 - Dean Bowles, Elliot Lake Vikings, 1986-91
Timeline of teams in the NOJHL
edit- 1978 - NOHA Jr. B Hockey League is promoted to Junior A and renamed Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League - League includes: Sudbury Cubs, Nickel Centre Native Sons, Onaping Falls Huskies, Capreol Hawks, Rayside-Balfour Canadians, andEspanola Eagles
- 1981 - Elliot Lake Vikings join fromInternational Junior B Hockey League
- 1982 - Sudbury Cubs become Sudbury North Stars
- 1983 - Onaping Falls Huskies leave league
- 1983 - Sudbury North Stars return to Sudbury Cubs
- 1984 - Onaping Falls Huskies rejoin league
- 1984 - Nickel Centre Native Sons leave league
- 1985 - Nickel Centre Native Sons rejoin league
- 1986 - Nickel Centre Native Sons renamed Nickel Centre Power Trains
- 1986 - Rayside-Balfour Canadians, Capreol Hawks, and Onaping Falls Huskies leave league
- 1987 - Rayside-Balfour Canadians rejoin league
- 1987 - Thessalon Flyers join league
- 1987 - Nickel Centre Power Trains leave league
- 1988 - Espanola Eagles leave league, franchise sold to Haileybury 54's
- 1989 - Rouyn-Noranda Capitales join league
- 1990 - Thessalon Flyers leave league
- 1990 - Haileybury 54's move and become Powassan Passport
- 1991 - Timmins Golden Bears and Espanola Eagles join league
- 1992 - Sudbury Cubs become Nickel Centre Cubs
- 1992 - Powassan Passport become Powassan Hawks
- 1993 - Nickel Centre Cubs leave league
- 1994 - Parry Sound Shamrocks join league
- 1994 - Powassan Hawks move and are renamed Sturgeon Falls Lynx
- 1995 - Espanola Eagles leave league
- 1995 - Rayside-Balfour Canadians renamed Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats
- 1996 - Rouyn-Noranda Capitales disband to make way forRouyn-Noranda HuskiesofQuebec Major Junior Hockey League
- 1997 - Elliot Lake Vikings become Elliot Lake Ice
- 1998 - Espanola Eagles rejoin league
- 1999 - Timmins Golden Bears relocate and become Iroquois Falls Jr. Eskis
- 1999 - Soo Thunderbirds join league
- 1999 - Elliot Lake Ice leave league, franchise sold to Nickel Centre Barons
- 1999 - Parry Sound Shamrocks move to theOntario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
- 2000 - Sudbury Northern Wolves join league
- 2000 - Nickel Centre Barons move and are renamed Blind River Barons
- 2001 - Blind River Barons renamed Blind River Beavers
- 2002 - Iroquois Fals Jr. Eskis are renamed Abitibi Eskimos
- 2002 - Sturgeon Falls Lynx move to North Bay and become the North Bay Skyhawks
- 2002 - Soo Thunderbirds are renamed Sault Ste. Marie Jr. Greyhounds
- 2003 -Espanola Eaglesmove toSt. Ignace, Michiganand become the Northern Michigan Black Bears
- 2003 - Little Current awarded expansion franchise Manitoulin Wild
- 2003 - Sault Ste. Marie Jr. Greyhounds return to Soo Thunderbirds
- 2005 - Manitoulin Wild become Manitoulin Islanders
- 2005 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats are granted a one-year leave of absence
- 2005 - Sudbury Northern Wolves become Sudbury Jr. Wolves
- 2006 - Northern Michigan Black Bears are relocated and renamed Soo Indians
- 2006 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats officially fold
- 2007 - Soo Indians take one-year leave in search of new ownership
- 2008 - Temiscaming Royals join fromGreater Metro Junior A Hockey League
- 2008 - Soo Indians return, renamed Soo Eagles
- 2009 - North Bay Skyhawks are renamed North Bay Trappers
- 2011 - Temiscaming Royals leave league
- 2011 - Manitoulin Islanders move and become Kirkland Lake Blue Devils
- 2011 - Sudbury Jr. Wolves are renamed Sudbury Cubs
- 2012 - Kirkland Lake Blue Devils fold/return as Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
- 2012 - Soo Eagles leave and joinNorth American Hockey League
- 2012 -Elliot Lake Bobcatsjoin fromGreater Metro Junior A Hockey League
- 2012 - Sudbury Cubs are renamed Sudbury Nickel Barons
- 2013 - Espanola Rivermen join league as expansion
- 2014 - Espanola Rivermen leave league and joinCIHL
- 2014 - Elliot Lake Bobcats move to Cochrane Ontario and becomeCochrane Crunch
- 2014 - North Bay Trappers move to Mattawa Ontario and becomeMattawa Blackhawks
- 2014 - Elliot Lake Wildcats join league as expansion
- 2014- Powassan Voodoos join league as expansion
- 2015- Abitibi Eskimos relocate to Timmins and become Timmins Rock
- 2015- Mattawa Blackhawks relocate to Iroquois Falls and become Iroquois Falls Eskis
- 2015- Sudbury Nickel Barons relocate to Chelmsford and become Rayside-Balfour Canadians
- 2015- French River Rapids join league as expansion
- 2015- Espanola Express join league as expansion
- 2015- Soo Eagles rejoin league
- 2017- Iroquois Falls Eskis relocate to Hearst and becomeHearst Lumberjacks
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League".Nojhl.com.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"Sudbury Wolves".Officialgamepuck.com.Archived fromthe originalon 5 March 2013.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds".Officialgamepuck.com.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"North Bay Trappers".Officialgamepuck.com.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"EspanolaEagles".Officialgamepuck.com.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"ChelmsfordCanadiens".Officialgamepuck.com.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"Onaping Falls Huskies".Officialgamepuck.com.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"Nickel Centre Native Sons".Officialgamepuck.com.Archived fromthe originalon 24 September 2015.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League".Nojhl.com.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^nurun.com (18 August 2011)."NOJHL adopts concussion safety program".Sudbury Star.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^nurun.com (9 January 2012)."NOJHL to begin drug testing".Sault Star.Retrieved13 December2013.
- ^"NOJHL Announces 2024/25 Regular Season Schedule".saultsports.com.11 June 2024.Retrieved16 November2024.
- ^"NOJHL making changes as new schedule unveiled".TimminsToday.com.Village Media. 13 June 2024.Retrieved16 November2024.
Sources
edit- Erskine, Michael (15 November 2024)."GoFundMe campaign supports NOJHL team for Manitoulin".Manitoulin Expositor.Retrieved17 November2024.
- Anderson, Gordon (25 July 2024)."A new direction: NOJHL implements new directives to improve development".saultstar.com.Postmedia.Retrieved17 November2024.
- "All 12 NOJHL clubs hit the ice in Sudbury next week".sudbury.com.26 September 2024.Retrieved17 November2024.