The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) is proud to support the Nipissing Lakers' Men's Hockey Team Hockey Camp, being led by Lakers' Men's Head Coach and NOHA Coaching Program Facilitator, Mike McParland.
The Camp is being hosted at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens from August 11-15, 2025. See the enclosed PDF for additional information.
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) and InnVest Hotels are pleased to announce the renewal of their successful partnership agreement for an additional two years, through to August, 2027. This extension continues the collaboration that has been supporting NOHA teams and families since 2015, providing access to discounted hotel rates at more than 40 locations across Ontario.
The renewed partnership ensures that NOHA member teams will continue to benefit from preferential rates of up to 15% discount when traveling for tournaments, games, and hockey-related events throughout the province. With InnVest's extensive network of hotels strategically located across Ontario, teams can find convenient and affordable accommodations wherever their hockey journey takes them.
"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with InnVest Hotels," said Jason Marchand, Executive Director of the NOHA. "This agreement has been instrumental in helping our member teams manage travel costs while ensuring comfortable accommodations for our players and families. InnVest's commitment to supporting minor hockey in Northern Ontario has been unwavering, and we look forward to another two years of this valuable collaboration."
Since the partnership began in 2015, thousands of NOHA families have benefited from the discounted rates of up to 15%, making hockey more accessible and affordable for communities across Northern Ontario. The agreement supports the organization's mission to provide quality hockey experiences while minimizing the financial burden on families.
"InnVest Hotels is proud to support the development of young hockey players across Northern Ontario," said Saverio Gioffre, National Sales Manager at InnVest Hotels. "Hockey is an integral part of Canadian culture, and we're honored to play a role in making the sport more accessible to families. Our team is committed to providing exceptional service and comfortable accommodations for all NOHA teams."
The NOHA Rate program allows teams to book accommodations through the dedicated NOHA Rate Landing Page at innvesthotels.com/noha or by contacting participating hotels directly to request the special member rate.
North Bay, ON – June 25, 2025 – The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) is pleased to announce the immediate approval of the Association du sport jeunesse du Nord-Est de l'Ontario (ASJ) as a new Minor Hockey Association serving the Greater Sudbury region for the 2025-26 hockey season.
The pilot program will initially operate two U9 teams and one U11 team, providing fully French-language minor hockey programming to meet growing community demand.
"This approval demonstrates NOHA's core values in action and our commitment to Hockey Canada's inclusion mandate," said NOHA President, Steve Lawrence. "By supporting ASJ, we're showing Leadership in expanding access to hockey, prioritizing Safety through comprehensive programming, fostering Teamwork by working collaboratively with community partners, and ensuring Fun for francophone youth who can now fully participate in their language and culture. This aligns perfectly with Hockey Canada's vision of hockey programs that are 'customized to meet unique needs at all levels and regions.'"
Addressing Community Need and Strategic Growth
The ASJ approval directly supports NOHA's ambitious 10-year strategic plan to grow participation by 25%, with particular emphasis on expanding access in underserved communities. The new association responds to documented community demand, with nearly 40,000 French-first-language speakers in the Greater Sudbury Census metropolitan area representing a significant underserved population.
ASJ builds upon the remarkable success of the existing "Dragons du Nord" hockey initiation program from the Centre de santé Communautaire du Grand Sudbury, which has grown from 63 participants in 2021-22 to 116 participants in 2024-25. Critically, surveys over the past three years consistently show that 73% of Dragons du Nord participants indicated they would not have had hockey exposure without this French-language programming. This data demonstrates the vital need for culturally and linguistically appropriate programming that ASJ will now provide at the competitive minor hockey level.
ASJ's mission focuses on reaching previously unserved families rather than recruiting from existing programs. The association targets children who would not otherwise participate in organized hockey, specifically the 73% of families identified through the Dragons du Nord program who indicated they would not have tried hockey without French-language programming and players who are not currently part of organized hockey who are looking to participate in French-language programming.
Upholding NOHA Values
ASJ's mission directly supports NOHA's core values and aligns with Hockey Canada's national commitment to inclusion:
Leadership: Breaking barriers to create new pathways for francophone youth participation in hockey
Safety: Implementing comprehensive risk management plans and certified coaching standards
Teamwork: Collaborating with municipal partners and existing hockey community to expand opportunities
Fun: Ensuring positive experiences for participants regardless of background, with emphasis on cultural celebration and inclusive programming
The approval also reflects Hockey Canada's 2023 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Path Forward, which emphasizes programming that is "customized to meet unique needs at all levels and regions in Canada." ASJ exemplifies this commitment by creating culturally appropriate hockey opportunities that preserve francophone identity while building bridges with the broader hockey community.
"The Association du sport jeunesse du Nord-Est de l'Ontario (ASJ) extends its sincere thanks to the Northern Ontario Hockey Association for their support and commitment to minor hockey in Sudbury. We are especially grateful for the opportunity to expand access for families and children to play hockey in French, among peers who share their language. Being integrated into NOHA's existing structure opens exciting new avenues for participation, particularly for children who may have stepped away from the sport due to language barriers. We are thrilled to join the NOHA family and contribute to its ongoing success," said ASJ Director, Dhiren Chohan.
Ice Time and Community Support
The City of Greater Sudbury has confirmed ice availability to support the program. This demonstrates the community's commitment to expanding youth sports opportunities without impacting existing programming.
Pilot Program Structure
The ASJ will operate as a pilot program during the 2025-26 season, with continuation based on registration numbers and community interest. The association exemplifies NOHA's leadership standards with a founding board of nine experienced volunteers including legal, financial, educational, and hockey governance professionals.
Looking Forward
Registration for the 2025-26 season will open shortly, with detailed information available through the association's communication channels. The program emphasizes player development, safety, sportsmanship, and cultural celebration in a supportive French-language environment.
"This exciting development showcases hockey's power to build not just better players, but better communities," added Steve Lawrence. "ASJ embodies our commitment to leadership, safety, teamwork, and fun while directly supporting our strategic goal to grow participation by 25% over the next decade, particularly in underserved areas. By 2035, NOHA will be a national benchmark for growth, retention, and culture, and ASJ represents exactly the kind of innovative, inclusive programming that will help us achieve this vision. We look forward to seeing these young Dragons develop their skills and love for the game."
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