NORTH BAY, ON —The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA), in collaboration with the Great North U18 League (GNU18L), is pleased to announce the approval of a structural adjustment to the League for the 2026–2027 season. This change, which will be implemented as a pilot program and evaluated on an annual basis, reflects the NOHA’s ongoing commitment to providing the best possible development environment for players across all of Northern Ontario.
The Pilot Program
Beginning with the 2026–2027 season, the three (3) NOHA U16 AAA programs — the North Bay Trappers, Sudbury Wolves, and Soo Jr. Greyhounds — will participate in a partial schedule against U18 AAA Teams within the GNU18L. The specific number of cross-divisional games between U16 and U18 AAA competition is to be confirmed as scheduling details are finalized. The overall structure is designed so that U16 AAA Teams will play the majority of their games against one another, while U18 AAA Teams will continue to compete primarily against U18 competition. This approach ensures that the scheduling experience for each age group remains appropriate and development-focused, while creating a defined number of competitive touchpoints between the two divisions.
Consistent with the League’s competitive structure, only U18 AAA Teams will be eligible to compete for the GNU18L Championship. U16 AAA Teams participating in the pilot will not be eligible for the League standings or for the GNU18L Championship, which they had been in previous seasons.
In addition to their regular season schedule, U16 AAA Teams will be permitted to participate in up to five (5) tournaments during the 2026–2027 season. This includes one (1) tournament during the Development Phase at the beginning of the season, which is structured to take place prior to the regular season schedule and will provide early competitive opportunities without impacting regular season game commitments.
Annual Evaluation
The pilot program will be subject to formal annual review by the NOHA and its Member Associations. Evaluation criteria and success thresholds have been established in advance of the pilot’s commencement to ensure transparent, evidence-based assessment. The NOHA Board of Directors retains full authority over the continuation, modification, or discontinuation of the pilot based on the outcomes of each annual review.
New U16 Showcase Event
As part of this announcement, the NOHA is pleased to introduce a new annual showcase event designed for all U16-aged players in the NOHA, regardless of whether they compete for a U16 AAA Team or a U18 AAA Team. This event will provide every U16-aged player in the NOHA with a dedicated opportunity for increased visibility before OHL scouts, regional scouts, and other evaluators who travel to Northern Ontario to assess talent. Further details regarding the showcase format, dates, and hosting arrangements will be communicated to Member Associations in the coming weeks.
Playing at Home
For U16-aged players in communities where a local U16 AAA program is not available, the NOHA wants to be clear: the path to development and exposure does not require leaving home. Players competing for a U18 AAA Team in the GNU18L face older, larger, and more physically mature competition on a nightly basis, an environment that accelerates development in ways that age-equivalent competition simply cannot replicate.
This experience also directly prepares players for the next level. Learning to compete, battle, and succeed against that calibre of opponent while still in the minor hockey system is a meaningful advantage that northern players have always carried with them.
The new U16 Showcase Event ensures that every U16-aged player in the NOHA, regardless of program, has access to the same dedicated scouting weekend. Team NOHA and the OHL Cup remain available as a pathway for eligible U16-aged players on U18 rosters. Northern Ontario has always developed elite players, and the NOHA is committed to making sure that continues to be true in every community we serve.
A Commitment to Northern Hockey
The NOHA's mandate extends across all levels of the game in Northern Ontario, from House League to Junior A, and from North Bay to Moose Factory. This pilot program reflects the NOHA's commitment to making evidence-based decisions that serve the entire membership.
The NOHA is grateful to the Great North U18 League and its member organizations for their collaboration in designing a model that supports both U16 and U18 programming without compromising the viability of either. The NOHA will continue to keep Member Associations and the broader membership informed as implementation planning proceeds through the spring and summer of 2026.
About the Northern Ontario Hockey Association
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) is the governing body for minor and junior hockey across Northern Ontario, representing Member Associations from North Bay to Moose Factory. The NOHA is a Member Association of the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) and oversees all levels of minor and junior hockey competition in the region, including the Great North U18 League and the Team NOHA Program.
Media Contact
Northern Ontario Hockey Association
Jacob Brown – NOHA Director of Hockey Operations
110 Lakeshore Drive, North Bay, Ontario P1A 2A8
Phone: (705) 474-8851
We are excited to announce that the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) has expanded its partnership with Spordle to adopt the full Spordle ecosystem. This expansion includes Spordle Play, Spordle Page, and the Spordle App, in addition to the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR), which many of our members are already familiar with.
This initiative is designed to create a seamless, unified experience for all administrators, coaches, volunteers, and parents, reducing administrative burden and making it easier to focus on the game rather than the paperwork.
Using Spordle for TOC Tournaments
This season, NOHA is using Spordle Play for all Tournament of Championships (TOC) tournaments. Associations, coaches, and parents can follow along with schedules, scores, and updates in real-time through the Spordle platform. This is a great opportunity to see firsthand how the system works and how it can simplify competition management.
Follow along here: Spordle Play – NOHA TOC
As noted by Jason Marchand, Executive Director of the NOHA:
“We recognized that our volunteers were often overwhelmed by using multiple, disconnected apps to manage their teams and associations. By providing the full Spordle ecosystem, we are unifying our operations. Since our registration is already powered by Spordle through the HCR, adding Spordle Play (the competition management tool) and the Spordle App creates a seamless experience that allows our hockey community to focus on the game, not the paperwork.”
For your reference, here is the full announcement from Spordle regarding this expanded partnership:
MONTREAL, QC – Spordle is proud to announce a deepened relationship with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA). As a valued member of the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) and Hockey Canada, the NOHA has officially expanded its collaboration with us to encompass the full Spordle ecosystem.
Because NOHA members are part of the Hockey Canada family, they are already familiar with the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR), which we are privileged to power. This new agreement builds upon that foundation. By adopting Spordle Page, Spordle App, and Spordle Play, the NOHA is generously investing in a unified experience for their community, ensuring that administrators, coaches, and parents can manage their season within a single, connected digital environment.
Supporting Our Volunteers
We understand that volunteers are the heartbeat of the hockey community. The primary goal of this expansion is to simplify their workload.
"The decision to move to the Spordle Ecosystem was driven by our commitment to our members," says Jason Marchand, Executive Director, NOHA. "We recognized that our volunteers were often overwhelmed by using multiple, disconnected apps to manage their teams and associations. By providing the full Spordle ecosystem, we are unifying our operations. Since our registration is already powered by Spordle through the HCR, adding Spordle Play (the competition management tool) and the Spordle App creates a seamless experience that allows our hockey community to focus on the game, not the paperwork."
Michael Sawicz, National Technical Account Manager at Spordle, shares this sentiment: "We are thrilled to welcome the NOHA into the full Spordle family. Our goal is to ensure that data flows seamlessly from the registry to the ice. By adopting the full Spordle ecosystem, NOHA volunteers will finally have a 'single sign-on' experience that simplifies everything from licensing to scheduling and team communication."
Serving the Hockey Community
The NOHA joins a growing community of provincial and regional bodies across Canada that are striving to make the digital side of amateur sport easier. We are committed to providing the NOHA with a supportive "one-stop" experience, including:
The Registry: Continued seamless integration with the HCR for real-time eligibility and manage registrations, memberships, payments, governance, certifications and roster management.
Spordle Play: Simplified tools for scheduling, assigning, live scoring, and tournament logistics.
Spordle Page: A professional, centralized digital content hub for the association.
Spordle App: Direct communication for parents and real-time team management to keep everyone connected.
Spordle is dedicated to serving the sports community through technology. As the official technology partner of Hockey Canada, we are humbled to power the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) and strive to provide a digital ecosystem that simplifies the lives of sports administrators, coaches, and families nationwide.
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) is the governing body for amateur hockey in Northern Ontario. As a member of the OHF and Hockey Canada, they are dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the sport and the players who love it.
ABOUT SPORDLE
Spordle is a trusted technology partner dedicated to simplifying sports management for some of the largest organizations in Canada. As an all-in-one platform, it connects the entire sports ecosystem, from national bodies, regional associations, leagues, clubs, teams, into a single, seamless system. Spordle provides integrated tools for registration, team management, intelligent scheduling, seamless communication, and real-time performance tracking, allowing organizations to focus on what matters most: the game, not the paperwork. More than just a software provider, Spordle acts as a true operational advisor and success partner to its clients.
Simplify, Connect, Perform
Portal Opens April 1, 2026
All screening submissions must be completed through the OHF Online Submission Portal.
Start Early – No Receipts Accepted (Apr 1–July 30)Police processing for Vulnerable Sector Checks (VSCs) can take 6–8 weeks. Receipts will NOT be accepted during this period, so applicants should begin the process as soon as possible.
Spring Evaluations
Returning, previously approved individuals (2025–26) may participate.
New participants must complete screening BEFORE taking part.
All participants must be registered in the HCR..
Returning Individuals (Recent VSC: 2024–2025)
Only the online declaration is required.
Current declarations expire May 31, 2026.
Returning Individuals (2023 VSC)
Must submit a new VSC + complete the declaration.
Screening expires May 31, 2026.
New Volunteers & Officials
Must register in HCR first.
Required to submit a VSC and declaration.
Appendix A Available
A standardized OHF letter to request a Vulnerable Sector Check from your local police service is included in the bulletin (Appendix A) and should be used where required.
Questions? Contact: screening@ohf.on.ca
Ensuring all screening is completed on time is critical to maintaining a safe and compliant hockey environment. Please review your status and take action early.
Full bulletin available here:
