Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
| Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League | |
|---|---|
| Type | Organization |
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey circuit in Ontario.[1]
In Anishinabek News
- March 2015: The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League includes teams such as the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds and the Elliot Lake Wildcats. Owen Headrick was recognized as the top rookie in the league during the 2013-14 season.[2]
- April 2017: The league includes the French River Rapids, where three members of the 2017 Ontario indigenous team played.[3]
- May 2017: The league includes the French River Rapids, where Will Michaud played during the 2016-17 season.[4]
- March 2019: The league's 2019 playoffs featured a series between the Powassan Voodoos and the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.[5]
- January 2020: The league consists of twelve teams divided into East and West divisions, including the Espanola Express and Rayside-Balfour Canadians. Carson Shawana played his first game in this league in January 2020.[6]
- February 2020: The league includes the Rayside-Balfour Canadians and the Blind River Beavers. The winner of this league's playoffs qualifies for the Dudley Hewitt Cup.[7]
- March 2020: The league suspended and later cancelled its 2019-20 season operations in March 2020 due to health concerns. It is one of the ten leagues that comprise the Canadian Junior Hockey League.[8]
- May 2020: The Soo Thunderbirds compete within this league. The league's September 2020 season start depended on approval from Hockey Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
- February 2021: The league includes the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds, where Owen Headrick was named playoff MVP. The league championship was won by the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds during Owen Headrick's second season.[10]
- November 2021: The league awarded Owen Headrick the playoff Most Valuable Player title during his time with the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds.[11]
- May 2022: The league title was won by the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds in 2022.[12]
- January 2023: Owen Headrick was named the top rookie of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League for the 2013-14 season.[13]
- March 2023: The league named Pierson Sobush as one of its second-team all-stars for the 2022-2023 season. The winner of the league title advances to the Centennial Cup national championship.[14]
- January 2025: The league includes teams such as the Greater Sudbury Cubs and the Soo Thunderbirds.[15]
- February 2025: The league includes the Espanola Paper Kings, where Ashton Pitawanakwat played his rookie season in 2024-25. The circuit allows teams to carry a maximum of two sixteen-year-old players on their rosters.[16]
- January 2026: The league includes teams such as the Hearst Lumberjacks and the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. As of January 2026, Royce Abraham was competing in his first full season within this league.[17]
- January 2026: The league features players up to twenty years of age competing at the Junior A level. Owen Head competed in this league as a rookie during the 2025-2026 season.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "First Nation centre impressing with his 200-foot game during rookie Junior A season", Anishinabek News, 12 January 2026 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Headrick helping Thunderbirds with playoff run", Anishinabek News, 25 March 2015 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Anishinabek hockey players shoot to win at upcoming tournament", Anishinabek News, 25 April 2017 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Boys Team Ontario score hardware in British Columbia", Anishinabek News, 10 May 2017 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Voodoos’ star leads AOK Chiefs to championship at Little NHL", Anishinabek News, 15 March 2019 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Wiikwemkoong teen makes junior hockey debut with Espanola Express", Anishinabek News, 31 January 2020 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Dokis First Nation hockey player hoping to lead his squad to national tournament", Anishinabek News, 7 February 2020 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Graduating Indigenous star forward weighs options for future hockey career", Anishinabek News, 30 March 2020 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Former NHLer takes over coaching reins for Soo Thunderbirds", Anishinabek News, 27 May 2020 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Headrick reflects on his career while offering advice to youth hockey players", Anishinabek News, 5 February 2021 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Garden River First Nation hockey player preparing for international debut", Anishinabek News, 26 November 2021 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Garden River First Nation player taken first over-all in OHL Under-18 draft", Anishinabek News, 27 May 2022 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Sam on Sports: Owen Headrick", Anishinabek News, 13 January 2023 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Sam on Sports: Pierson Sobush", Anishinabek News, 24 March 2023 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Garden River First Nation teen now toiling for local Junior A hockey squad", Anishinabek News, 23 January 2025 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Wiikwemkoong rookie making impact with Junior A squad in Espanola", Anishinabek News, 19 February 2025 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "First Nation rookie playing both defence and forward positions with Lumberjacks", Anishinabek News, 9 January 2026 (archived copy; original article).