EL Vikings go on hiatus

Ongoing issues at their home arena dating back to well over a year have resulted in the Elliot Lake Vikings of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League taking a leave of absence for the balance of the ’24-25 season.

According to the NOJHL, its board of directors granted the Vikings a leave of absence due to “extenuating circumstances”, resulting from the ongoing closure of Rogers Arena, formerly Centennial Arena, in Elliot Lake.

With the arena remaining shuttered and unavailable for use, the Vikings have not practiced, or played, at home for a second consecutive season, making it extremely difficult in terms of finances, including incurring additional travel costs, along with the inability to skate and compete on home ice.

As well, the burden placed on the players and staff had a predictable detrimental effect on the entire organization and played a pivotal role in the decision to shut down for the rest of the season being made by Vikings owner Jef Jarmovitch and rubber stamped by the NOJHL.

“It was originally scheduled for the arena to be open and operational for all users, including the Vikings, in time for the start of this season,” relayed NOJHL commissioner Rob Mazzuca. “However, due to no fault of their own, the extended delays and the recent announcement by Elliot Lake city staff that the venue would remain closed indefinitely, a difficult choice had to be made.”

Mazzuca commended aforementioned president Jef Jarmovitch and the Vikings for what they have gone through over the past two seasons.

“The entire NOJHL commends Jef (Jarmovitch) and the entire Vikings organization, especially the players, who had aimed to persevere with the hopes of getting back in their venue and compete at home this season,” added Mazzuca. “We look to welcome them back to the league once it becomes feasible to do so.”

The remaining regular season games involving the Vikings will not be played, with the opposing teams being credited with 1-0 victories, and given two points in the standings.

Elliot Lake had a record of 7-20-1 at the time the decision was made to take a leave of absence. The Vikings had been playing their home games and practising 45 miles away from Elliot Lake at the Massey and District Community Center since September of 2023.

A well liked local resident, Jarmovitch had purchased the NOJHL’s Elliot Lake franchise from its previous out of town operator in the summer of 2023. One of the first orders of business for Jarmovitch was to change the team name from Red Wings to Vikings. (Historically, junior hockey made its debut in Elliot Lake in 1965 and from then until 1997, the team was known as the Vikings.)

Fans and sponsors in Elliot Lake were quick to embrace the 2023 takeover by Jarmovitch through the purchase of season tickets and advertising. The good news continued through to the team’s ’23-24 regular season home opener on Sept. 9 when, in front to close to 500 fans at Centennial Arena, the Vikings stunned the reigning NOJHL champion Timmins Rock by a 6-5 score.

But the hoopla was short lived. Shortly after the Vikings ’23-24 home opener, 55-year old Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake was suddenly and unexpectedly closed due to structural concerns.