’25-26 NOJHL season looms
First puck will drop in about two months. The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has officially confirmed its format ahead of the looming ’25-26 season.
The 11 competing teams of the NOJHL — Soo Eagles, Soo Thunderbirds, Blind River Beavers, Espanola Paper Kings, Sudbury Cubs, French River Rapids, Powassan Voodoos, Timmins Rock, Iroquois Falls Storm, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners and Hearst Lumberjacks — will all play a 52 game slate during the campaign in a one division format.
Each team will play 25 contests at home, another 25 on the road, plus two matches as part of the annual NOJHL Showcase, which will be held October 7-8 at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury.
Once again, games that are tied after regulation time will go to a seven minute, sudden victory overtime period, skating three players aside.
Should contests remain without a winner after OT, the game will end in a tie and each team will earn one point.
Teams will still receive two points for wins in regulation and OT as well as one for extra time defeats.
Meanwhile, the Elliot Lake Vikings remain on a leave of absence from the league as their venue, Rogers Arena, remains closed due to ongoing repairs to the facility.
Opening night for the ’25-26 season is slated Thursday, Sept. 11 as the two time NOJHL Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy champion Sudbury Cubs will play host to the Timmins Rock.
Regular season action is set to conclude on Sunday, March 15. Following that, the top eight teams will advance to the playoffs.
All NOJHL games will once be streamed online via FLOHockey.tv, which is the league’s official broadcast outlet.