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Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

Kirkland Lake Gold Miners

FieldValue
bg_colorbackground:#FFFFFF; border-top:black 5px solid; border-bottom:blue 5px solid;
text_colorblack
teamKirkland Lake Gold Miners
logo_size200px
cityKirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
leagueNorthern Ontario Junior Hockey League
divisionEast
founded
arenaJoe Mavrinac Community Complex
coloursgold,blue, and white
coachTyler Pracek
gmMike Mackley
websiteKL Gold Miners
name1Manitoulin Wild
dates12003–2005
name2Manitoulin Islanders
dates22005–2011
name3Kirkland Lake Blue Devils
dates32011–2012
name4Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
dates42012–present
championships1: 2014

The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

History

Manitoulin

Manitoulin Islanders' Logo

Founded in 2003 as the Manitoulin Wild, the franchise changed its name to the Manitoulin Islanders in 2005. They were eventually taken over by former NHLer Reggie Leach and the team started to split its time between Little Current, Ontario, and the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve's Arena. With limited community support and win totals dwindling, volunteers were facing burnout and in 2011, direction was given to team president, Kevin Eshkawkogan to find a buyer for the team from off the Island.

Kirkland Lake

After eight years on Manitoulin Island, the team had to either move or fold. In mid-May 2011, the NOJHL conditionally approved the move of the Manitoulin Islanders to Kirkland Lake, Ontario to become the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils. In their final four seasons in Little Current, the Islanders managed 17 wins in 200 games played.

The Blue Devils moniker was a long used traditional team name in Kirkland Lake, the most notable team to use the name was the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils who defeated the Calgary Stampeders 3-games-to-none to win the 1940 Allan Cup.

On September 9, 2011, the Blue Devils played their inaugural home game and regulation game in their history. The Blue Devils dropped a 9-2 decision to the North Bay Trappers. On October 12, 2011, the Blue Devils won their first game since relocation 3–2 in a shootout against the Sudbury Cubs. Two nights later, the Blue Devils scored their first ever home win, 5-4 in a shootout, against the Blind River Beavers.

On January 12, 2012, team owner, Robert Kasner, announced that he was folding the club mid-season. The folding of the team happened right after Kasner was suspended by the league for six months for multiple roster violations. Soon after the folding, the league announced that a new ownership group was to be brought in to run the team, keeping the team in Kirkland Lake. The team completed the 2011–12 season under the new name, the Gold Miners.

The Gold Miners won their first NOJHL championship in 2014 when they defeated the Soo Thunderbirds. The Gold Miners then traveled to Wellington, Ontario, to participate in the 2014 Dudley Hewitt Cup where they failed to record a win. In 2014–15, the Gold Miners and the Soo Thunderbirds were fighting for first place all season, but Kirkland Lake finished second and the Powassan Voodoos won the playoff series against Kirkland Lake.

The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners were awarded hosting duties for the 2016 Dudley Hewitt Cup, and lost to the Thunderbirds in the semifinal game. The 2022-23 season marked the first year that the Goldminers did not qualify for post season play.

Season-by-season results

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsResultsPlayoffs
*Manitoulin Wild*
2003–0448153201179245316th NOJHLLost Quarterfinal
2004–0548143013164266326th NOJHLLost Quarterfinal
*Manitoulin Islanders*
2005–064883631114229207th NOJHLLost Quarterfinal
2006–0748113007138232297th NOJHLLost Quarterfinal
2007–0850247110931166th NOJHLLost Quarterfinal
2008–09507403141322178th NOJHLLost Quarterfinal
2009–1050445113135998th NOJHLLost Quarterfinal
2010–1150446013334788th NOJHLLost Quarterfinal
*Kirkland Lake Blue Devils/Gold Miners*
2011–12509392138288206th NOJHLLost Quarterfinals, 0–4 vs. Sudbury Cubs
*Kirkland Lake Gold Miners*
2012–1348251823173145554th NOJHLWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. Blind River Beavers
Lost Semifinals, 1–4 vs. North Bay Trappers
2013–145643715234118922nd NOJHLWon Quarterfinals, 4–0 vs. North Bay Trappers
Won Semifinals, 4–1 vs. Elliot Lake Bobcats
Won League Finals, 4–2 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
NOJHL CHAMPIONS
2014–1552381022264131801st of 5, East
2nd of 9, NOJHLLost Div. Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Powassan Voodoos
2015–1654391212247135813rd of 6, East
4th of 12, NOJHLWon Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Powassan Voodoos
Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Cochrane Crunch
Lost League Finals, 0–4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
Dudley Hewitt Cup as Hosts
2016–1756282143232190634th of 6, East
6th of 12, NOJHLWon Div. Play-in series, 2–1 vs. Iroquois Falls Eskis
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Powassan Voodoos
2017–1856242147163180593rd of 6, East
7th of 12, NOJHLLost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 vs. Cochrane Crunch
2018–195633176194156722nd of 6, East
3rd of 12, NOJHLLost Div. Semifinals, 2–4 vs. Powassan Voodoos
2019–205618326154228425th of 6, East
9th of 12, NOJHLLost Div. Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Cochrane Crunch]
2020–21532020156Withdrew from season due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–224812333151231275th of 6, East
11th of 12, NOJHLLost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. French River Rapids
2022–235874811104219165th of 6, East
11th of 12, NOJHLDid Not Qualify for Playoffs
2023–2458104152145294275th of 6, East
10th of 12, NOJHLDid Not Qualify for Playoffs
2024-2552939131172842211th of 12, NOJHLDid Not Qualify for Playoffs

}

Dudley Hewitt Cup

Central Canada Championships

Winners of the NOJHL, OJHL, SIJHL, and Host

Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semifinal to advance against 1st in the finals.

YearRound RobinRecordStandingSemifinalGold Medal Game
2014L, Wellington Dukes (OJHL/Host) 1–4
L, Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL) 1–4
L, Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) 3–60–3–04th of 4Did not qualify
2016
HostW, Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) 8–5
L, Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) 1–5
L, Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) 2–31–2–03rd of 4L, Soo Thunderbirds 1–4

References

References

  1. (2011-07-24). "NOJHL notations - Sault This Week - Ontario, CA".
  2. (2011-07-24). "NOJHL Notes: Bertoncello recommended as new commish - Sault This Week - Ontario, CA".
  3. "Kirkland Lake Blue Devils Burn Out".
  4. "MID DECEMBER IN THE NOJHL".
  5. (January 20, 2012). "NOJHL welcomes new member in the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners".
  6. (February 22, 2021). "GoldMiners Request LOA for Balance of Season".
Wikipedia Source

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