North of Superior Junior B Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The North of Superior Junior B Hockey League is a defunct Junior "B" ice hockey
league in Ontario
, Canada
, sanctioned by Hockey Canada
. The league used to be a part of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
. The league at one point was called the North Shore Junior B Hockey League.
, but nothing came of it.
The victors of the league's playoffs earned the right to compete against the Hockey Northwestern Ontario
's Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
in the Northwestern Ontario Regionals. The winner of that series used to earn the right to compete for the Keystone Cup
, the Western Canadian championship.
In 2004, the NSHL took a leave of absence from the NOHA. The Wawa Travellers were the only healthy team that still wanted to compete in the NSHL. The Marathon Renegades left the league for a season to attempt to find better ways of drawing players and came back in 2005 to find there was nothing left. The Thessalon Flyers were officially defunct as their owner was thrown out of Hockey Canada
for shady business practices. The last team, the Aguasabon River Rats left the league because they did not want to compete in such a small league, they left for the rival TBJBHL with an all-star contingent of NSHL players, lost their 2005 league final and never came back. With the Wawa Travellers being the only team registered to the league in 2004-05 and for the 2005-06 season, the league official closed its doors in early 2005.
In the aftermath of the dispersal of the league in 2004, the Aguasabon River Rats
took a shot at covering the distance to play in the Thunder Bay Junior "B" league. They last only one season, but were regular season champions. In 2006, the Marathon Renegades
came back to life to play Tier II Junior "A" in the Superior International Junior Hockey League
. The Wawa Travellers
have attempted ever since the folding of the NSHL to enter the SIJHL, but lack a core financial sponsor.
hockey league, but moved over to the much closer NSHL in 1997. The Hearst Elans played out of the NSHL from 1997 until 1999. In their two seasons they won their league championship twice. As of yet it is unknown why the team folded, but during their short run, they competed twice for the Western Canadian Junior "B" Championship, the Keystone Cup
, winning the bronze medal in 1998, and coming in fourth in 1999.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
league in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, sanctioned by Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
. The league used to be a part of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
Northern Ontario Hockey Association
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association is minor and junior level ice hockey governing body. The NOHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The major league run by the NOHA is the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League...
. The league at one point was called the North Shore Junior B Hockey League.
History
The NSHL survived for 8 seasons. After their 7th season, they tried to expand to increase the competition in the small league, but the expansion was blocked by the NOHA. The league threatened to take the issue to the Ontario Hockey FederationOntario Hockey Federation
The Ontario Hockey Federation is the governing body of all sanctioned ice hockey in the province of Ontario in Canada, except for those portions governed by Hockey Northwestern Ontario and the Ottawa District Hockey Association...
, but nothing came of it.
The victors of the league's playoffs earned the right to compete against the Hockey Northwestern Ontario
Hockey Northwestern Ontario
Hockey Northwestern Ontario is the governing body of all ice hockey in Northern Ontario, Canada. Hockey Northwestern Ontario is a branch of Hockey Canada.-Jurisdiction:...
's Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
The Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League is a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in Northwestern Ontario, sanctioned by Hockey Northwestern Ontario and Hockey Canada. The Thunder Bay League has produced one Keystone Cup Western Canada Junior "B" champion and five Brewers Cup Western Canada Junior "C"...
in the Northwestern Ontario Regionals. The winner of that series used to earn the right to compete for the Keystone Cup
Keystone Cup
The Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
, the Western Canadian championship.
In 2004, the NSHL took a leave of absence from the NOHA. The Wawa Travellers were the only healthy team that still wanted to compete in the NSHL. The Marathon Renegades left the league for a season to attempt to find better ways of drawing players and came back in 2005 to find there was nothing left. The Thessalon Flyers were officially defunct as their owner was thrown out of Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
for shady business practices. The last team, the Aguasabon River Rats left the league because they did not want to compete in such a small league, they left for the rival TBJBHL with an all-star contingent of NSHL players, lost their 2005 league final and never came back. With the Wawa Travellers being the only team registered to the league in 2004-05 and for the 2005-06 season, the league official closed its doors in early 2005.
In the aftermath of the dispersal of the league in 2004, the Aguasabon River Rats
Aguasabon River Rats
The Aguasabon River Rats were a Junior "B" ice hockey team based out of Terrace Bay, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League and the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
took a shot at covering the distance to play in the Thunder Bay Junior "B" league. They last only one season, but were regular season champions. In 2006, the Marathon Renegades
Marathon Renegades
The Marathon Renegades are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Marathon, Ontario. They are currently members of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:They were members of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League from 1996 until 2004...
came back to life to play Tier II Junior "A" in the Superior International Junior Hockey League
Superior International Junior Hockey League
The Superior International Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The winner of the SIJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Northern...
. The Wawa Travellers
Wawa Travellers
The Wawa Travellers were a Junior "B" team based out of Wawa, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
have attempted ever since the folding of the NSHL to enter the SIJHL, but lack a core financial sponsor.
The teams
| Team | Centre |
| Aguasabon River Rats Aguasabon River Rats The Aguasabon River Rats were a Junior "B" ice hockey team based out of Terrace Bay, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League and the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League.-History:... |
Terrace Bay Terrace Bay, Ontario Terrace Bay is a township in Thunder Bay District in northern Ontario, Canada, located on the north shore of Lake Superior east of Thunder Bay along Highway 17... |
| Hearst Elans | Hearst Hearst, Ontario Hearst is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in Northern Ontario, approximately west of Kapuskasing, approximately north of Toronto and east of Thunder Bay on Highway 11... |
| Marathon Renegades Marathon Renegades The Marathon Renegades are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Marathon, Ontario. They are currently members of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:They were members of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League from 1996 until 2004... |
Marathon Marathon, Ontario Marathon is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Thunder Bay District, on the north shore of Lake Superior north of Pukaskwa National Park, in the heart of the Canadian Shield.- History :... |
| Northern Wildcats Northern Wildcats The Northern Wildcats were a Junior "B" team based out of Longlac, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.... |
Longlac |
| Thessalon Flyers Thessalon Flyers The Thessalon Flyers were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Thessalon, Ontario, Canada. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and also the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.-History:... |
Thessalon Thessalon, Ontario Thessalon is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located at the junction of Highway 17 and Highway 129. It is surrounded by but not part of the municipality of Huron Shores, and is part of the District of Algoma.... |
| Wawa Travellers Wawa Travellers The Wawa Travellers were a Junior "B" team based out of Wawa, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.-History:... |
Wawa Wawa, Ontario Wawa is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within the Algoma District. Formerly known as the township of Michipicoten, the township was officially renamed for its largest and best-known community in 2009.... |
Royal Goodyear Cup Champions
- 2004 Wawa Travellers
- 2003 Wawa Travellers
- 2002 Augausabon River Rats
- 2001 Augausabon River Rats
- 2000 Augausabon River Rats
- 1999 Hearst Elans
- 1998 Hearst Elans
- 1997 Marathon Renegades
Hearst Elans
The Hearst Elans had the shortest operation time of any team affiliated with the NSHL.History
The Hearst Elans originated in a Northern QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
hockey league, but moved over to the much closer NSHL in 1997. The Hearst Elans played out of the NSHL from 1997 until 1999. In their two seasons they won their league championship twice. As of yet it is unknown why the team folded, but during their short run, they competed twice for the Western Canadian Junior "B" Championship, the Keystone Cup
Keystone Cup
The Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
, winning the bronze medal in 1998, and coming in fourth in 1999.
Season-by-Season Results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1997-98 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| 207 | 88 | 44 | 1st NSHL | Won League | ||||||
| 1998-99 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 190 | 92 | 42 | 1st NSHL | Won League |