By Rosalind Russell – Hours after the new NOJHL schedule was released for 2026-27, the owners of the Greater Sudbury Cubs announced the have pulled out of the league.
Robert Mazzuca, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League commissioner acknowledged the Cubs’ decision to withdraw from league membership, and although they are disappointed, the respect the organization’s choice to determine the direction it believes is best for its future.
He says the schedule will be revised and released in the near future.
In a statement, Cubs Owner Mark Burgess says the changing landscape of Junior A hockey, “including the unfettered movement of players, open recruitment from other leagues, exodus of players to southern leagues for more exposure and the dwindling number of players in the game due to the high cost of participation,” are all factors making it “untenable to operate in the NOJHL.”
The Cubs were originally supposed to host the Espanola Paper Kings in their season opener in September.
Photo: NOJHL
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