EL Vikings still in limbo
The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has extended the leave of absence for the Elliot Lake Vikings for the upcoming ’25-26 season — and thus operate with 11 teams.
The continued shutdown of the Vikings is relative to the structurally unsafe Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake, which has been closed to the public dating back to September of 2023.
“Unfortunately, with the ongoing delays as to when the arena will be back in operation, the Vikings have been granted their extended leave,” noted NOJHL commissioner Rob Mazzuca.
The initial leave was okayed by the NOJHL in December of 2024. Between September of 2023 and December of 2024, the Vikings played their “home” games and practiced in nearby Massey, which is at least 90 minute round trip from Elliot Lake.
“We just don’t know when the club will be able to resume activities as they wait for news on the status of their arena,” added Mazzuca.
When asked by Hockey News North if he thinks the Vikings will ever play in Elliot Lake again, team owner Jef Jarmovitch responded by saying: “It all depends on the City’s desire to keep me here.”
Jarmovitch then added that “the last two seasons have been extremely difficult without a home rink, to say the least. The hope is to play (in Elliot Lake come the ’26-27 season) however a possible sale and transfer of the franchise to another community is also a possibility as a result of the financial losses that the team has incurred over the last two years.”
Meantime, the NOJHL will proceed in ’25-26 with 11 teams — 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.
Sell it to someone in chapleau / wawa the rink would be filled every night.
Bring a team to Kapuskasing very strong fan base