Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
The Soo Thunderbirds are preparing to hit the ice for another exciting Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) campaign as the league has officially released its schedule for the 2026-2027 regular season.
The Thunderbirds will begin their 52-game schedule on the road with a two-game series against the Hearst Lumberjacks. Opening weekend gets underway on Saturday, September 12, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m., before the two teams meet again on Sunday, September 13, at 4:00 p.m in Hearst.
Following the opening road trip, the Thunderbirds will return home to the John Rhodes Community Centre for their first home game of the season on Friday, September 18, when they welcome their cross-border rivals, the Soo Eagles, for a 7:00 p.m faceoff. The home opener is expected to draw a strong crowd as fans get their first opportunity to see the 2026-2027 Thunderbirds in action.
The Thunderbirds will wrap up their regular season home schedule on Saturday, March 13, when they host the Blind River Beavers at 7:00 p.m before turning their attention toward a potential playoff run.
Every NOJHL club will play a 52-game regular season schedule during the 2026-2027 campaign, with all 12 teams competing in a single-division format. The balanced schedule is expected to provide competitive matchups throughout the season as teams battle for playoff positioning.
The league will once again host its annual NOJHL Showcase, featuring all 12 league clubs along with six prestigious prep school programs. Returning for a second consecutive year is St. Andrew’s College, while Gilmour Academy, Ridley College, Bishop’s College School, Rothesay Netherwood School, and Upper Canada College will all make their Showcase debuts.
The Showcase schedule, where the results will count toward the NOJHL regular season standings for league teams, will be announced once it has been finalized.
The league will continue using its overtime format for the upcoming season. Any regular season game tied after regulation will proceed to a seven-minute sudden-victory overtime period, played with three skaters aside. If neither team scores during overtime, the game will officially end in a tie, with each team earning one point in the standings.
Teams will continue to receive two points for regulation and overtime victories, while clubs falling in overtime will earn one point.
When the regular season concludes in March, the top eight teams in the standings will qualify for the NOJHL playoffs. The eventual league champion will earn the opportunity to represent the NOJHL at the 2027 Centennial Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship, where the country’s top Junior A teams will compete for the national title.
With another highly competitive season on the horizon, the Soo Thunderbirds will look to build momentum from opening weekend in Hearst before returning home to begin their chase for an NOJHL championship in front of their fans on September 18.
2026 – 2027 Soo Thunderbird Schedule
September
Sep. 12 Soo Thunderbirds @ Hearst Lumberjacks (7:00 pm)
Sep. 13 Soo Thunderbirds @ Hearst Lumberjacks (4:00 pm)
Sep. 18 Soo Eagles @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Sep. 19 Elliot Lake Vikings @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Sep. 25 Soo Thunderbirds @ Timmins Rock (7:00 pm)
Sep. 26 Soo Thunderbirds @ Iroquois Falls Storm (7:30 pm)
Sep. 27 Soo Thunderbirds @ Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (4:00 pm)
October
Oct. 2 Soo Thunderbirds @ Powassan Voodoos (7:00 pm)
Oct. 3 Soo Thunderbirds @ French River Rapids (7:00 pm)
Oct. 10 Kirkland Lake Gold Miners @ Soo Thunderbirds(7:00 pm)
Oct. 11 French River Rapids @ Soo Thunderbirds (4:00 pm)
Oct. 18 Hearst Lumberjacks @ Soo Thunderbirds (4:00 pm)
Oct. 23 Soo Thunderbirds @ Elliot Lake Vikings (7:30 pm)
Oct. 27 Soo Thunderbirds @ Blind River Beavers (7:00 pm)
November
Nov. 1 Sudbury Cubs @ Soo Thunderbirds (4:00 pm)
Nov. 6 Soo Thunderbirds @ Espanola Paper Kings (7:30 pm)
Nov. 7 Powassan Voodoos @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Nov. 13 Iroquois Falls Storm @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Nov. 14 Timmins Rock @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Nov. 20 Soo Thunderbirds @ Elliot Lake Vikings (7:00 pm)
Nov. 21 Soo Thunderbirds @ Blind River Beavers (7:00 pm)
Nov. 26 Blind River Beavers @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
December
Dec. 4 Soo Thunderbirds @ Timmins Rock (7:00 pm)
Dec. 5 Soo Thunderbirds @ Iroquois Falls Storm (7:30 pm)
Dec. 6 Soo Thunderbirds @ Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (4:00 pm)
Dec. 10 Soo Thunderbirds @ Sudbury Cubs (7:05 pm)
Dec. 11 Kirkland Lake Gold Miners @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Dec. 13 Hearst Lumberjacks @ Soo Thunderbirds (4:00 pm)
Dec. 17 Espanola Paper Kings @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Dec. 18 Soo Eagles @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
January
Jan. 8 Soo Thunderbirds @ Soo Eagles (7:30 pm)
Jan. 10 Blind River Beavers @ Soo Thunderbirds (4:00 pm)
Jan. 15 Sudbury Cubs @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Jan. 16 Elliot Lake Vikings @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Jan. 22 Soo Thunderbirds @ Powssan Voodoos (7:00 pm)
Jan. 23 Soo Thunderbirds @ French River Rapids(7:00 pm)
Jan. 30 Soo Eagles @ Soo Thunderbirds(7:00 pm)
February
Feb. 4 Elliot Lake Vikings @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Feb. 5 Soo Thunderbirds @ Soo Eagles (7:30 pm)
Feb. 6 Soo Thunderbirds @ Blind River Beavers (7:00 pm)
Feb. 11 Soo Thunderbirds @ Sudbury Cubs (7:05 pm)
Feb. 12 Espanola Paper Kings @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Feb. 19 Iroquois Falls Storm @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Feb. 20 Timmins Rock @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Feb. 26 Soo Thunderbirds @ Espanola Paper Kings (7:30 pm)
Feb. 27 Soo Thunderbirds @ Soo Eagles (7:00 pm)
March
Mar. 5 French River Rapids @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Mar. 6 Powssan Voodoos @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
Mar. 12 Soo Thunderbirds @ Elliot Lake Vikings (7:00 pm)
Mar. 13 Blind River Beavers @ Soo Thunderbirds (7:00 pm)
