NOJHL confirms playoff set up
Here we go. The Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League has officially confirmed its format and time line for the looming playoffs.
There is no change from last season as, of the NOJHL’s 12 member clubs, the top four teams, points wise, in each of the two divisions will qualify for post season play.
In the NOJHL West, both the Blind River Beavers and the Sudbury Cubs have secured playoff spots while each of the Soo Thunderbirds, Espanola Paper Kings and Soo Eagles remain in contention for the final two berths with the Elliot Lake Vikings already eliminated.
Meanwhile in the NOJHL East, the Timmins Rock, Hearst Lumberjacks and Powassan have punched their tickets to the post season. Iroquois Falls Storm and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners are vying for the final place on the East side with the French River Rapids already eliminated.
Round 1 of the playoffs will feature divisional semi-final action with the No. 1 seed taking on the No. 4 side and the No. 2 squad meeting No. 3, respectively, in best-of-seven play from March 21 through April 2.
From there, Round 2 will feature the two division finals in a pair of best-of-seven affairs that are slated to run between April 4-16. That will then lead to the NOJHL final where the two divisional winners will vie for the league championship. The scheduled dates for the finals range from April 18-30.
Extremely unfair to teams with the point totals that deserve to be in the play-offs.
Pretty sad that one of two teams will be out even with these records against the other division……
SMI vs East 14W 3L
ESPO vs East 21W 7L