The 2020–21 NOJHL season was the 43rd season of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). It was the second year in which league operations were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no postseason playoff for the league championship Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy. Four clubs took leaves of absence. The Elliot Lake Wildcats announced in May 2020 that the team had taken leave in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The Soo Eagles, based in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, were hampered by border restrictions.[2] The Powassan Voodoos and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners withdrew midseason citing "ongoing issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic".[3][4]
| 2020–21 NOJHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | November–March |
| Games | 66 |
| Teams | 9 |
| Total attendance | 2,171 |
| Streaming partner | HockeyTV |
Statistics
edit| Team | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmins Rock | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 43 | 36 |
| Hearst Lumberjacks | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 41 | 14 |
| Cochrane Crunch | 21 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 55 | 122 | 10 |
| Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 15 | 6 |
Source: "2020–21 NOJHL standings". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
| Team | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soo Thunderbirds | 21 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 99 | 71 | 28 |
| Blind River Beavers | 21 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 82 | 99 | 19 |
| Espanola Express | 12 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 56 | 13 |
| French River Rapids | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 38 | 8 |
| Rayside Balfour Canadians | 10 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 42 | 7 |
Source: "2020–21 NOJHL standings". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Sleightholm, Brent (9 May 2020). "Wildcats announce leave of absence for 2020–21 NOJHL season". ElliotLakeToday.com. Village Media. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ↑ Leeson, Ben (16 April 2021). "NOJHL commissioner proud of what league accomplished in 2020-21". thesudburystar.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "Voodoos bow out of 2020-21 NOJHL season". nugget.ca. Postmedia. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- ↑ "Gold Miners request LOA for balance of season". klgoldminers.com (Press release). Kirkland Lake Goldminers. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
Sources
edit- "2020–21 NOJHL standings". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- "NOJHL to commence 2020–21 regular season Friday". nojhl.com (Press release). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Leeson, Ben (2 September 2020). "Up to the task: Rapids owner says team, league prepared for realities of 'COVID hockey'". thesudburystar.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- "Voodoos head coach moving on". BayToday.ca. Village Media. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Perry, Thomas (20 April 2021). "Voodoos name Lafleur head coach". Postmedia. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- "Call him Chairman Mazzuca". saultstar.com. Postmedia. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Russon, Randy (9 March 2021). "NOJHL boss Rob Mazzuca was a star OHL defender". saultthisweek.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Sookram, Matt (18 May 2021). "How an investment in avocados led Jim Bruce to owning an NOJHL championship winning team". BayToday.ca. Village Media. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Russon, Randy (6 October 2020). "Local lads on Sault's NOJHL team now up to 11 skaters including no less than seven incoming players". saultthisweek.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Svela, Kris (19 April 2021). "Elliot Lake Red Wings unveil new jerseys". ElliotLakeToday.com. Village Media. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Russon, Randy (24 August 2020). "Sault's Ryan Leonard sells Cochrane Crunch to former OHL player". saultthisweek.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Leeson, Ben (17 September 2020). "Chaumont back full-time: Former Sudbury Wolves star, longtime pro player makes move to coaching with Rayside-Balfour Canadians". Sudbury Star. Postmedia. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Rodrigues, Gabby (17 March 2020). "Ontario government declares state of emergency amid coronavirus pandemic". Global News. Corus Entertainment. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- Frommer, Molly (16 November 2020). "Junior A hockey returns to northern Ontario". CTV News Northern Ontario. Bell Media. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Tascher, Eric (22 August 2020). "NOJHL outlines its 'Return To Play' strategy for upcoming hockey season". CTV News Northern Ontario. Bell Media. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Russon, Randy (5 April 2021). "News, views and dues from 2020-2021 NOJHL season". saultthisweek.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- Ruicci, Peter (4 August 2020). "Start of season likely to be delayed". timminspress.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- Ruicci, Peter (5 August 2020). "NOJHL 'will not operate without fans'". nugget.ca. Postmedia. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- Quevillon, Alain (21 August 2020). "Timmins Rock to hit the Ice after Labour Day weekend, league waiting for green light on 2020 season". Q92 Timmins. Rogers Digital Media. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- Coccimiglio, Brad (23 August 2020). "'It has been six long months': NOJHL hoping for mid-October return". Sudbury.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- Perry, Thomas (23 February 2021). "NOJHL back: Rock bolster roster". timminspress.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
- Coccimiglio, Brad (3 January 2021). "NOJHL announces January cohorts, return date remains up in the air". SooToday.com. Village Media. Retrieved 9 January 2025.