NOJHL announces preseason schedule

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League released Monday the dates and times for its 2021 preseason schedule.

There are presently seven exhibition match-ups on the docket.

Game action is set to commence on Friday, Sept. 10, on two fronts, as the Powassan Voodoos host the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in a 7 p.m. start at the Sportsplex, while the Espanola Express will entertain the Elliot Lake Red Wings at 7:30 p.m., with the Regional Recreation Complex serving as the venue.

Meanwhile, a trio of tilts are slated for Sept. 11, beginning with a 4 p.m. encounter in Kirkland Lake as the Gold Miners and Voodoos finish off a weekend home-and-home.

Also, the Hearst Lumberjacks welcome the Cochrane Crunch at 7:30 p.m. before the Express and Red Wings meet at Centennial Arena at 7:30 p.m.

Preseason play resumes Sunday, Sept. 12 as the Rayside-Balfour Canadians square off with the French River Rapids in a 6:30 p.m. start at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury.

Those same two sides will then wrap-up things up on Tuesday, Sept. 14 with a 7 p.m. faceoff at Noelville Arena.

Any additional exhibition games will be announced by the NOJHL should they be arranged.

Also Monday, the NOJHL announced a game change to its 2021-22 regular season schedule.

The Cochrane – Hearst match-up, originally slated for September 17 will now be played on Sunday, January 9 in a 3 p.m. start at Tim Horton Events Centre.

The following is the league preseason schedule: (As of Aug. 30)

GM DATE VISITOR HOME TIME VENUE
1 Friday, Sept. 10 Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Powassan Voodoos 7 p.m. Powassan Sportsplex
2 Friday, Sept. 10 Elliot Lake Red Wings Espanola Express 7:30 p.m. Regional Recreation Complex
3 Saturday, Sept. 11 Powassan Voodoos Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 4 p.m. Joe Mavrinac Community Complex
4 Saturday, Sept. 11 Cochrane Crunch Hearst Lumberjacks 7 p.m. Claude Larose Recreation Centre
5 Saturday, Sept. 11 Espanola Express Elliot Lake Red Wings 7:30 p.m. Centennial Arena
6 Sunday, Sept. 12 French River Rapids Rayside-Balfour Canadians 6:30 p.m. Countryside Arena
7 Tuesday, Sept. 14 Rayside-Balfour Canadians French River Rapids 7 p.m. Noelville Arena