Polar Bear Classic coming up


By
August 3, 2017

Hosted by the Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League, the second annual Polar Bear Classic will be an expansion of the first, with a midget division added.

HockeyNewsNorth.com has confirmed that this year’s Polar Bear Classic will be held on Labour Day weekend and feature both a junior and a midget division.

On the junior side, teams will include the hosts from Cochrane as well as the Espanola Express and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners of the NOJHL and the reigning Polar Bear Classic champion Kingston Voyageurs of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

On the midget side will be the Kapuskasing Flyers, Timmins Majors and Soo Thunderbirds (minor midgets) of the Great North Midget Hockey League and the Rouyn-Noranda Citadele from Quebec.

Teams in both divisions will play a round-robin format. Games will be played in both Cochrane and nearby Iroquois Falls.

“We are very excited to be able to grow this to include eight teams and two divisions,” said Ryan Leonard, who is the owner, general manager and coach of the NOJHL Crunch.

“It’s a lot of work and a big time commitment but it’s all worth it in the end as it will have a huge economic impact in our community and it’s a great way to get to know your players and bond,” noted Leonard. “To run this event will cost the Crunch organization about $25,000. There is no entry fee for the teams.”

Fans wishing to attend can buy a $30 weekend pass or a $12 day pass, said Leonard.


What you think about “Polar Bear Classic coming up”

      1. Oops, my bad, sorry..i read it wrong…I wasn’t thinking of Kingston being the tourney champion…my mistake.

  1. We’re looking forward to spending the weekend up in Cochrane and are very thankful for the opportunity. Thanks to Lenny and the corporate community with the Crunch for putting this on. We can’t wait to get up there!

  2. It’s great of Mr. Leonard to offer some games in Iroquois Falls.

    Still a great rink! The old Eskis brand is out, but But the big Eskimos face and eyes are back over the ice resurfaced entrancefor the IFMHA teams who are still known as the “Eskimos” There has also been some new accents added to the Igloo to add lil more flavour! Kids and parents who never had a chance to play or visit the Jus Jordan Arena will certainly enjoy the experience!

    Ryan, the challenge in I.F was never the fans, the rink or user rates, its finding the corporate sponsorship base to sustain a team or an owner who isn’t trying to pay himself big bucks so he can travel the world during the winter. No one is getting rich running hockey programs, we just seen what happens when you have an absent owner who collects the money and was only in town or at the rink for less than 5 games over the course of the entire 2016-17 season!

  3. You’d think that in today’s politically charged climate, the town of IF and it’s hockey program would chose a better nickname.

    The Iroquois Falls Abitibis, The Iroquois Falls Rivermen or The Iroquois Falls Wyesmen…..

  4. You’d think that in today’s politically charged climate, the town of IF and it’s hockey program would choose a better nickname.

    The Iroquois Falls Abitibis, The Iroquois Falls Rivermen or The Iroquois Falls Wyesmen…..

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