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Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Junior ice hockey league
Junior ice hockey league
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Northern Ontario Junior |
| Hockey League | |
| logo | NOJHL_logo_2025.png |
| caption | Official logo |
| region | |
| leader_title | Commissioner |
| leader_name | Robert Mazzuca |
| founded | 1978 |
| teams | 11 |
| champions | Greater Sudbury Cubs |
| season | 2025 |
| assc_champ | Copeland Cup–McNamara Trophy |
| headquarters | Corbeil, Ontario |
| website | |
| current_season | 2025–26 NOJHL season |
an extant ice hockey league in Northeastern Ontario and Upper Peninsula Michigan that was established in 1978
Hockey League
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) is a Junior ice hockey league with eleven teams in Northeastern Ontario and Upper Michigan. The league is a constituent member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and is governed by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Teams compete to win the league championship Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy, with the winning team advancing to the national championship to compete for the Centennial Cup.
The NOJHL was established in 1978 with six teams: the Espanola Eagles (1978–1988), Capreol Hawks (1978–1986), Nickel Centre Native Sons (1978–1984), Onaping Falls Huskies (1978–1983), Rayside-Balfour Canadians (1978–1986) and Sudbury Cubs (1978–1982). It was preceded by the NOJHA (1962–1972) and the NOHA Jr. B Hockey League (1970–1978).
By the 1986–87 season, the NOJHL was down to four teams. The Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OPJHL), also down to four teams, played an interlocking schedule with the NOJHL. The OPJHL folded after that season.
In the 2011–12 NOJHL season, the NOJHL became the first Junior A league in Canada to implement concussion safety and drug testing programs.
NOJHL teams won the Central Canada regional championship Dudley Hewitt Cup a total of five times, in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2012 and 2015. The regional contest was discontinued after 2019. As of 2025, no team from the NOJHL has won a national championship.
Teams
The league has 11 active teams as of the 2025–26 NOJHL season. The Elliot Lake Vikings franchise was placed on an indefinite leave of absence in the middle of the 2024–25 NOJHL season.
|+ style="background:#182E57; border-top:#CDCCCB 5px solid; border-bottom:#CDCCCB 5px solid"| ! style=width:13em | Team ! style=width:13em | Home ! style=width:20em | Arena |- | Blind River Beavers || Blind River || Blind River Community Centre |- align=left | Elliot Lake Vikings || Elliot Lake || Rogers Arena -- |- align=left | Espanola Paper Kings || Espanola || Espanola Regional Recreation Complex |- align=left | French River Rapids || Noelville || Noelville Arena |- align=left | Greater Sudbury Cubs || Sudbury || Countryside Sports Complex |- align=left | Hearst Lumberjacks || Hearst || Claude Larose Recreation Centre |- align=left | Iroquois Falls Storm || Iroquois Falls || Jus Jordan Arena |- align=left | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners || Kirkland Lake || Joe Mavrinac Community Complex |- align=left | Powassan Voodoos || Powassan || Powassan Sportsplex |- align=left | Soo Eagles || Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan || Pullar Stadium |- align=left | Soo Thunderbirds || Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario || John Rhodes Community Centre |- align=left | Timmins Rock || Timmins || McIntyre Arena
| label-posD = right | mark-sizeD = 6
| mini-file = Ontario-map.png | mini-width = 105 | mini-height = 86 | minipog-gx = | minipog-gy =
| label-pos1 = right, with-line | mark-size1 = 6 | mark-coord1 = | mark-title1 = French River Rapids | mark-image1 = French_River_ON_2.jpg | mark-description1 = French River, Ontario | shape-color1 = #182E57
| label-pos2 = right | mark-size2 = 6 | mark-coord2 = | mark-title2 = Hearst Lumberjacks | mark-image2 = Hearst_Ontario.JPG | mark-description2 = Hearst, Ontario
| label-pos3 = right | mark-size3 = 6 | mark-coord3 = | mark-title3 = Iroquois Falls Storm | mark-image3 = Iroquois_Falls_ON.JPG | mark-description3 = Iroquois Falls
| label-pos4 = right | mark-size4 = 6 | mark-coord4 = | mark-title4 = Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | mark-image4 = KL_Aerial_1.jpg | mark-description4 = Kirkland Lake
| label-pos5 = right, with-line | mark-size5 = 6 | mark-coord5 = | mark-title5 = Powassan Voodoos | mark-image5 = Powassan_welcome_sign.jpeg | mark-description5 = Powassan
| label-pos6 = left | mark-size6 = 6 | mark-coord6 = | mark-title6 = Timmins Rock | mark-image6 = MacArena.jpg | mark-description6 = McIntyre Community Building Timmins, ON
| label-pos7 = left, with-line | mark-size7 = 6 | mark-coord7 = | mark-title7 = Blind River Beavers | mark-image7 = Blind_River_ON_2.JPG | mark-description7 = Blind River, Ontario
| label-pos8 = top, with-line | mark-size8 = 6 | mark-coord8 = | mark-title8 = Elliot Lake Vikings | mark-image8 = Elliot_Lake.jpg | mark-description8 = Elliot Lake --
| label-pos9 = left, with-line | mark-size9 = 6 | mark-coord9 = | mark-title9 = Espanola Paper Kings | mark-image9 = Espanola_Ontario.JPG | mark-description9 = Espanola, Ontario
| label-pos10 = right, with-line | mark-size10 = 6 | mark-coord10 = | mark-title10 = Greater Sudbury Cubs | mark-image10 = Sudbury_downtown.JPG | mark-description10 = Greater Sudbury
| label-pos11 = left, with-line | mark-size11 = 6 | mark-coord11 = | mark-title11 = Soo Eagles | mark-image11 = Soo_Michigan_skyline.JPG | mark-description11 = Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
| label-pos12 = left, with-line | mark-size12 = 6 | mark-coord12 = | mark-title12 = Soo Thunderbirds | mark-image12 = Soo_Locks_International_Bridge_2010-04_USACE.jpg | mark-description12 = Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Former teams
More than half of the teams that have played in the NOJHL no longer do. In some cases, this is the result of relocation and/or rebranding decisions. In others, franchises have simply folded. The team most recently added to the list, the Elliot Lake Vikings (2014), was placed on a leave of absence due to the protracted closure of the team's home arena.
| Former Teams | Team | Centre | From | To | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capreol Hawks | Capreol | 1978 | 1986 | Folded | |
| Copper Cliff Cubs | Copper Cliff | 1970 | 1975 | Folded | |
| Coniston Flyers | Coniston | 1976 | 1977 | Folded | |
| Elliot Lake Vikings | Elliot Lake | 1981 | 1999 | Folded | |
| Espanola Eagles | Espanola | 1962 | 2003 | Rebranded | |
| Espanola Rivermen | Espanola | 2013 | 2014 | Joined CIHL | |
| Iroquois Falls Eskis | Iroquois Falls | 1988 | 2017 | Rebranded | |
| Nickel Centre Native Sons | Nickel Centre | 1978 | 1987 | Folded | |
| Onaping Falls Huskies | Onaping Falls | 1978 | 1986 | Folded | |
| Parry Sound Shamrocks | Parry Sound | 1994 | 1999 | Joined OPJHL | |
| Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Rayside-Balfour | 1978 | 2005 | Folded | |
| Rouyn-Noranda Capitales | Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec | 1989 | 1996 | Folded | |
| Sudbury Cubs | Sudbury | 1978 | 1993 | Folded | |
| Temiscaming Royals | Temiscaming, Quebec | 2008 | 2011 | Folded | |
| Thessalon Flyers | Thessalon | 1987 | 1990 | Folded | |
| West Nipissing Alouettes | Sturgeon Falls | 1973 | 1976 | Folded | |
| Elliot Lake Vikings (2014) | Elliot Lake | 2014 | 2024 | Leave of absence |
|}
Timeline of teams
- 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, and Espanola Eagles
- 1981 - Elliot Lake Vikings join from International 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 for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of Quebec 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 the Ontario 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 Eagles move to St. Ignace, Michigan and 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 from Greater 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 join North American Hockey League
- 2012 - Elliot Lake Bobcats join from Greater 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 join CIHL
- 2014 - Elliot Lake Bobcats move to Cochrane Ontario and become Cochrane Crunch
- 2014 - North Bay Trappers move to Mattawa Ontario and become Mattawa 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 become Hearst Lumberjacks
- 2025 - Elliot Lake Vikings take leave of absence
Copeland-McNamara Trophy and Division Champions
In 2008–09, the NOJHL instituted divisions. Overall champions are bolded.
| Year | Champion | Finalist | Year | Champion | Finalist | East | West | Year | Champion | Finalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Copper Cliff Cubs/Sudbury Cubs | Levack Miners | ||||||||
| 1972 | Levack Miners | Sudbury Cubs | ||||||||
| 1973 | Copper Cliff Cubs/Coniston Cubs | Levack Miners | ||||||||
| 1974 | Rayside-Balfour Canadians | Coniston Cubs | ||||||||
| 1975 | Onaping Falls Huskies | Capreol Hawks | ||||||||
| 1976 | Onaping Falls Huskies | Capreol Hawks | ||||||||
| 1977 | Onaping Falls Huskies | Capreol Hawks | ||||||||
| 1978 | Onaping Falls Huskies | Nickel Centre Native Sons | ||||||||
| NOJHL Era | ||||||||||
| 1979 | Nickel Centre Native Sons | Sudbury Cubs | ||||||||
| 1980 | Onaping Falls Huskies | Capreol Hawks | ||||||||
| 1981 | Onaping Falls Huskies | Capreol Hawks | ||||||||
| 1982 | Onaping Falls Huskies | Elliot Lake Vikings | ||||||||
| 1983 | Elliot Lake Vikings | Onaping Falls Huskies | ||||||||
| 1984 | Rayside-Balfour Canadians | Elliot Lake Vikings | ||||||||
| 1985 | Sudbury Cubs | Capreol Hawks | ||||||||
| 1986 | Onaping Falls Huskies | Sudbury Cubs | ||||||||
| 1987 | Nickel Centre Power Trains | Sudbury Cubs | ||||||||
| 1988 | Sudbury Cubs | Elliot Lake Vikings | ||||||||
| 1989 | Sudbury Cubs | Rayside-Balfour Canadians | ||||||||
| 1990 | Sudbury Cubs | Rouyn-Noranda Capitales | ||||||||
| 1991 | Sudbury Cubs | Rayside-Balfour Canadians | ||||||||
| 1992 | Powassan Hawks | Rayside-Balfour Canadians | ||||||||
| 1993 | Powassan Hawks | Timmins Golden Bears | ||||||||
| 1994 | Powassan Hawks | Rouyn-Noranda Capitales | ||||||||
| 1995 | Timmins Golden Bears | Rouyn-Noranda Capitales | ||||||||
| 1996 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Sturgeon Falls Lynx | ||||||||
| 1997 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Sturgeon Falls Lynx | ||||||||
| 1998 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Parry Sound Shamrocks | ||||||||
| 1999 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Parry Sound Shamrocks | ||||||||
| 2000 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Sturgeon Falls Lynx | ||||||||
| 2001 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2002 | Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2003 | North Bay Skyhawks | Sault Ste. Marie Jr. Greyhounds | ||||||||
| 2004 | North Bay Skyhawks | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2005 | North Bay Skyhawks | Northern Michigan Black Bears | ||||||||
| 2006 | Sudbury Jr. Wolves | North Bay Skyhawks | ||||||||
| 2007 | Soo Indians | Sudbury Jr. Wolves | ||||||||
| 2008 | Sudbury Jr. Wolves | Abitibi Eskimos | ||||||||
| 2009 | North Bay Skyhawks | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2010 | Abitibi Eskimos | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2011 | Sudbury Jr. Wolves | Soo Eagles | ||||||||
| 2012 | North Bay Trappers | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2013 | North Bay Trappers | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2014 | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2015 | Cochrane Crunch | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2016 | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2017 | Powassan Voodoos | Blind River Beavers | ||||||||
| 2018 | Cochrane Crunch | Rayside-Balfour Canadians | ||||||||
| 2019 | Hearst Lumberjacks | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2020 | Postseason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||
| 2021 | Postseason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||
| 2022 | Hearst Lumberjacks | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2023 | Timmins Rock | Soo Thunderbirds | ||||||||
| 2024 | Powassan Voodoos | Greater Sudbury Cubs | ||||||||
| NOJHL Single Table | ||||||||||
| 1979 | Greater Sudbury Cubs | Hearst Lumberjacks |
Dudley Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Champions
| 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
File:Buckland Trophy.png|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 File:Ruddock Trophy.png|William T. Ruddock Trophy
- OHF Championship
- Competed for by NOJHL champions since 1994
- Won in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2006 File:Dudley Hewitt Cup.png|Dudley Hewitt Cup
- Regional Championship
- Competed for by NOJHL champions since 1979
- Won in 1997, 2000, and 2002
Notable alumni
- 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
Team season
- 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
- Largest margin of victory:
- :Rayside-Balfour Canadiens 30 - Elliot Lake Vikings 3 on January 28, 1992
Individual season
- 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
- 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
References
Sources
References
- (13 June 2025). "About the NOJHL". Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
- "1986–87 Ontario Junior A Hockey League standings".
- nurun.com. (2011-08-18). "NOJHL adopts concussion safety program". Sudbury Star.
- nurun.com. (2012-01-09). "NOJHL to begin drug testing". Sault Star.
- "2025 Centennial Cup guide & record book". Hockey Canada.
- (31 December 2024). "No home ice advantage: Season over for the Vikings". Village Media.
- (30 May 2025). "Elliot Lake Vikings leave of absence extended for 2025-2026 season, amid arena repairs". CBC/Radio-Canada.
- (8 April 2017). "NOJHL announces transfer of Iroquois Falls franchise to Hearst for 2017–18 season". Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
- (3 March 2012). "Soo Eagles leaving NOJHL loop to join North American Hockey League". [[The Sault Star]].
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