Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Junior ice hockey league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Current season or competition: 2025–26 NOJHL season | |
Official logo | |
| Regions | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner | Robert Mazzuca |
| Founded | 1978 |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Associated title | Copeland Cup–McNamara Trophy |
| Recent champions | Greater Sudbury Cubs (2025) |
| Headquarters | Corbeil, Ontario |
| Website | nojhl |
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).[1]
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.[2]
In the 2011–12 NOJHL season, the NOJHL became the first Junior A league in Canada to implement concussion safety and drug testing programs.[3][4]
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.[5]
The league changed its official logo (right) ahead of the 2025–26 season.
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.[6][7]
| Team | Home | Arena |
|---|---|---|
| Blind River Beavers | Blind River | Blind River Community Centre |
| Espanola Paper Kings | Espanola | Espanola Regional Recreation Complex |
| French River Rapids | Noelville | Noelville Arena |
| Greater Sudbury Cubs | Sudbury | Countryside Sports Complex |
| Hearst Lumberjacks | Hearst | Claude Larose Recreation Centre |
| Iroquois Falls Storm | Iroquois Falls | Jus Jordan Arena |
| Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | Kirkland Lake | Joe Mavrinac Community Complex |
| Powassan Voodoos | Powassan | Powassan Sportsplex |
| Soo Eagles | Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | Pullar Stadium |
| Soo Thunderbirds | Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario | John Rhodes Community Centre |
| Timmins Rock | Timmins | McIntyre Arena |
Map of teams
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.[8][9] 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.[7]
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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.
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
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
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