With the 2026–2027 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season underway, every team enters the 52-game schedule with different questions that could shape its season. For some clubs, the biggest concern will be replacing key players from last season, while others will be focused on developing younger talent, finding consistent goaltending, improving defensive play, or building enough offensive depth to compete over a long schedule. The return of the Elliot Lake Vikings adds another storyline to the league, with Greater Sudbury Cubs, who would have entered the season as three-time defending Copeland Cup champions. Which team will face the challenge of maintaining their high level of success. With eleven teams competing for eight playoff positions and a chance to represent the NOJHL at the 2027 Centennial Cup, every point will matter, making consistency, health, special teams, goaltending and roster depth important concerns for every club throughout the season.
The 2026–2027 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season brings a different set of challenges for each of the league’s 11 teams. With the top eight clubs advancing to the playoffs, every point will become important over the course of the season. Here is a look at the biggest concern facing each team.
Blind River Beavers
For the Blind River Beavers, the biggest concern is getting back into the playoff picture after missing the postseason last year for the first time in a decade. Head coach and GM Kyle Brick returns with considerable experience, but the Beavers will need their returning players to provide leadership while their newcomers adjust quickly to the NOJHL. Blind River has already shown flashes of offensive ability early this season, but consistency at both ends of the ice will be critical. The biggest question may be whether the Beavers can avoid the stretches of inconsistency that kept them out of the playoffs last season.
Elliot Lake Vikings
Simply getting back into a regular NOJHL routine is the major concern for the Elliot Lake Vikings. The club returned to the league after an extended absence caused by the closure and renovation of Rogers Arena, with the Vikings playing their first regular-season game since December 15, 2024. That means there is a significant gap between the organization’s previous NOJHL experience and the current league environment. With a young roster and a new beginning in a newly refurbished home arena, Elliot Lake will need patience, development and consistency as the season progresses. The Vikings’ challenge will be turning the excitement surrounding their return into sustained competitiveness.
Espanola Paper Kings
The Paper Kings’ biggest concern is maintaining the progress they made last season while taking the next step into the playoff picture. Espanola finished sixth overall in 2025–26 and ranked sixth in both goals scored and goals allowed, while their penalty kill finished among the league leaders. However, the team also led the NOJHL in penalty minutes. With Carter Drigo, Cain Savage and Colton Loiselle among the key returning forwards, and new additions brought in to strengthen the defence, Espanola has pieces to build around. The question is whether the Paper Kings can become more disciplined and consistent while getting enough offensive production to move beyond simply qualifying for the playoffs.
French River Rapids
For the French River Rapids, the biggest concern is improving at both ends of the ice. The Rapids finished 11th in the NOJHL in both goals scored and goals allowed last season and have not qualified for the playoffs since 2023. That makes improvement in defensive consistency and offensive production equally important. Head coach Paul Frustaglio is counting on returning veterans and several newcomers to help change the club’s fortunes. French River cannot afford long stretches where it struggles to score or gives up too many goals. If the Rapids can become more competitive defensively while finding additional scoring, they could make the playoff race considerably more interesting.
Hearst Lumberjacks
The Hearst Lumberjacks enter the season with high expectations, but their biggest concern could be maintaining consistency over the entire 52-game schedule. Marc-Alain Begin returns for his sixth season as head coach, and his previous four seasons behind the bench produced a 153-51-1-9 record. Hearst also has a strong returning group and added recruited talent. With that experience comes expectations, however, and the Lumberjacks will need to perform consistently against both the top teams and clubs fighting for the final playoff positions. Their ability to remain healthy, receive dependable goaltending and maintain offensive production over a long season could determine where they finish.
Iroquois Falls Storm
The Iroquois Falls Storm’s biggest concern is transforming improvement into results. After finishing 10th last season, the Storm have made it clear that they want to improve offensively and defensively under head coach Alex Brisson. Captain Alexandre St. Pierre returns after producing career highs in goals, assists and points, giving the club an important veteran presence. The Storm will need more players to contribute consistently alongside their established leaders. Iroquois Falls has already shown that it can compete in individual games, but the bigger challenge will be stringing those performances together and staying within the playoff race.
Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
The biggest concern for the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners is whether a new hockey operation can quickly translate into improvement on the ice. Jonathan Blier has taken over as president and general manager after a lengthy run with Hearst, while Dean DeSilva has been brought in as head coach with experience in major junior hockey and Hockey Canada programs. The organization has clearly made significant changes, but new leadership takes time to establish systems, expectations and culture. Kirkland Lake will need its veteran players and newcomers to buy into the new direction quickly. After finishing eighth last season, the Gold Miners are looking to take another step forward and avoid being caught in a crowded battle for the final playoff spots.
Powassan Voodoos
The Voodoos’ biggest concern is maintaining their high level of success while adjusting to a new head coach. Ty Pracek takes over from Peter Goulet, who left for an OHL opportunity after being named the 2025–26 NOJHL Coach of the Year. Powassan has won 161 games over the past five seasons and returns several important veterans. The Voodoos also enter the season with special teams as a potential strength after leading the NOJHL in penalty killing and finishing second on the power play last season. The challenge will be maintaining that identity while developing new players and ensuring the coaching transition does not disrupt the team’s established standard.
Soo Eagles
The Soo Eagles’ biggest concern is getting off to a better start and establishing consistency early. Last season, the Eagles began with nine straight losses before recovering to comfortably qualify for the playoffs and then upsetting the second-seeded Powassan Voodoos in the opening round. Head coach Jeremy Rebek returns for his third season, and the Eagles are looking for improved defensive play, quality goaltending and enough offensive production to support their blue line. The Eagles have demonstrated that they can recover from adversity, but avoiding another slow start would put them in a much better position to compete for a playoff spot.
Soo Thunderbirds
The Soo Thunderbirds enter 2026–27 with the challenge of maintaining the level of success that has become expected from the organization. The Thunderbirds have recorded 171 victories over the previous five seasons, averaging more than 34 wins per year, and continue to develop a roster featuring several local players. The concern is not simply making the playoffs—it is maintaining consistency while dealing with the inevitable challenges of injuries, player development and roster turnover. With strong expectations surrounding the organization, the Thunderbirds will need dependable goaltending, continued offensive contributions from their returning players and strong defensive play to remain among the league’s top clubs.
Timmins Rock
For the Timmins Rock, the biggest question is how quickly the team adapts to a new voice behind the bench. Sheldon Reasbeck has taken over as head coach and general manager following Brandon Perry’s departure for Queen’s University. Reasbeck brings coaching experience from the Great North U18 Hockey League and Iceland, while Timmins returns several players with significant NOJHL experience. The Rock also went unbeaten during the preseason, creating expectations heading into the regular season. The challenge will be carrying that preseason success into meaningful games and maintaining consistency under a new coaching system. Timmins has the experience and talent to compete, but establishing a strong identity early could be critical.
The Bottom Line
With the Greater Sudbury Cubs (who knows why) no longer part of the league and only eleven NOJHL clubs competing for eight playoff positions, the margin for error could be particularly small this season. Some teams are trying to return to the playoffs, others are attempting to take the next step toward championship contention, and Elliot Lake is rebuilding its NOJHL presence after a lengthy absence. From goaltending and scoring depth to coaching changes, player development and consistency, every team enters the season with a different question to answer—and those answers will ultimately shape the 2027 playoff race.
