NOJHL expects a full season
Plans are for the 12 team Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to proceed with a full 2021-2022 regular season schedule and a start date of September 16.
All scheduled dates are pending approval on a return to play from provincial, regional and municipal health authorities relative to any COVID-19 regulations.
Having said that, the NOJHL expects to have a normal 56-game regular season, which is slated to begin on September 16 and conclude on March 13.
All 12 league teams will play 27 home and 27 away games with two other contests scheduled as part of the NOJHL Showcase.
That event is presently planned to be held during the second week of January at a yet to be determined venue.
Given the current unknowns regarding COVID-19, teams will play within their own division only until at least the Christmas break.
Soo Eagles, Soo Thunderbirds, Blind River Beavers, Elliot Lake Red Wings, Espanola Express and Rayside Balfour Canadians will form the West Division while East Division members are French River Rapids, Powassan Voodoos, Timmins Rock, Cochrane Crunch, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners and Cochrane Crunch.
Upon completion of the regular season, the top five teams in each division will advance to the playoffs.
Playoff dates are currently scheduled as follows:
March 15-20: Division elimination series (No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed) Best-of-three
March 22 – April 3: Division semi-finals (No. 1 vs. elimination series winner & No. 2 vs. No. 3) Best-of-seven
April 5-17: Division finals (Series winners) Best-of-seven
April 19 – May 3: League finals (Division winners) Best-of-seven