The current NOJHL origins were in 1970 when the previous NOJHL was unstable footing while competing as a Junior "A" league. In
Espanola Screaming Eagles had been a member of the league,[9] but opted to drop to the NOHA Jr. B Hockey League in 1971; the Canadiens joined them in 1972.[10]
The NOHA Jr. B Hockey League was formed in 1970 with a North and South division and teams in Capreol, Levak, Kapuskasing, amongst others. In their first season, the Capreol Hawks won the league championship. In 1971, Espanola jumped on board, followed by Chelmsford in 1972. In 1973, the Canadians moved to Rayside-Balfour and became the Canadians. The Onaping Falls Huskies moved from Levack in 1974,[11] and the Nickel Centre Native Sons, Coniston Flyers, and Sudbury North Stars joined in 1976 when the NOHA merged their small Juvenile league into Jr. B.[12]
In 1978, the top teams of the NOHA Jr. B Hockey League created the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and were promoted to Tier II Junior "A".
Royal Bank Cup
as national champions.
There were six teams in the NOJHL as of 2007. The 2006–07 league champions, the
Kirkland Lake, Ontario
. At the same time, Temiscaming Royals owner Steve McCharles was attempting to sell his team, but folded after a deal fell through with a group from Kirkland Lake.
With the Manitoulin Islanders relocated to Kirkland Lake, the team became the Kirkland Lake Blue Devils to commemorate the 1940 Allan Cup champions by the same team name. However, in December 2011, the Blue Devils were folding mid-season as a result of owner Bob Kasner being suspended for 6 months for roster violations. Days later, a new group came and created the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners to keep the team in the league.
During the 2011–12 season, the NOJHL implemented concussion safety policy and drug testing programs. The NOJHL is the first league in Canadian Junior A hockey to target either of these hot button issues.[14][15]
In 2012, the Soo Thunderbirds became only the second NOJHL franchise to qualify for the Royal Bank Cup, ending a 10-year drought that saw no NOJHL franchise at the Royal Bank Cup, despite making the Dudley-Hewitt Cup finals three times since the round-robin format in 2002. Over the summer of 2012, the Sudbury Jr. Wolves severed ties with the OHL's Wolves and became the Sudbury Cubs, and that moniker only lasted one season and became the Sudbury Nickel Barons. The Michigan-based Soo Eagles would also leave to join the USA Hockey Tier IINorth American Hockey League.
In 2013, the NOJHL granted expansion to Espanola. A community that have been without an NOJHL team since 2003 when the Screaming Eagles relocated to Northern Michigan. The re-addition brought the league up to 8 teams - the most since the 2004–05 season. The North Bay Trappers relocated out of North Bay to Mattawa at the end of the 2013–14 season and became the Mattawa Blackhawks because the Trappers were denied a lease renewal with West Ferris Arena and also because of the thriving OHL market with the
Cochrane Crunch
, who became the league's most-northern team. Weeks later, the Elliot Lake market was replaced with the Elliot Lake Wildcats.
Over the summer of 2015, the league saw the resurrection of the
Espanola Express joined the league putting membership to a record 11 teams - the most the league has carried. In May 2015, the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League
applied and were approved to return to the NOJHL after leaving in 2012 due to the Michigan-based NAHL teams either folding or relocating.
Frank L. Buckland Trophy - OHA Championship - Competed for by NOJHL champions from 1979 until 1997 - Won in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1997
William T. Ruddock Trophy - OHF Championship - Competed for by NOJHL champions since 1994 - Won in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2006
Dudley Hewitt Cup - Regional Championship - Competed for by NOJHL champions since 1979 - Won in 1997, 2000, and 2002
237 - Brian Verreault, Rayside-Balfour Canadians, 1979-84
Most Points, Career:
409 - Brian Verreault, Rayside-Balfour Canadians, 1979-84
Most Penalty Minutes, Career:
919 - Dean Bowles, Elliot Lake Vikings, 1986-91
Timeline of teams in the NOJHL
1978 - NOHA Jr. B Hockey League is promoted to Junior A and renamed Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League - League includes: Sudbury Cubs, Nickel Centre Native Sons, Onaping Falls Huskies, Capreol Hawks, Rayside-Balfour Canadians, and Espanola Eagles
