Around the Rinks Oct 14th, 2026 — Your Weekly NOHA Hockey Updates!
The Rinks Are Buzzing, and the Stories Are Just Getting Started!
Welcome back to Around the Rinks! Hockey season is in full swing, and across Northern Ontario, the excitement is building with every practice, puck drop, and unforgettable moment.
From standout performances and exciting team milestones to the incredible people making a difference in our hockey communities, there will be so much happening beyond the scoreboard.
So, take a little break, get comfortable, and catch up on the people, passion, and moments bringing our hockey communities together.
Let’s see what’s happening Around the Rinks!
Upcoming Important Dates:
OCT 14th, LAST CHANCE Official Certification and Recertification Clinic
Oct 14th & 15th, Development 1 CLINIC
Nov 15th, House League Player Registrations must be submitted to the NOHA Office
Dec 4th, NOHA Tournament of Champions Team Applications and Fees Due
VOLUNTEERS WANTED:
Help shape the future of Northern Ontario hockey.
The NOHA is forming three new ad hoc committees, and we are looking for volunteers who care about the game in our region and are willing to think creatively.
2027 AGM Planning Committee – Help build an AGM weekend in Timmins (June 11 and 12, 2027) that is worth the trip for every association, including workshops aimed at the betterment of hockey in Northern Ontario.
Rep League Structure Committee – Help find a better way to place Representative teams so they get the right level of competition with reasonable travel across our vast geography. New ideas, including seeded league models, are on the table.
U9 Programming Review Committee – Help return U9 hockey to what it is meant to be: fun and development for the athlete, and a positive experience for every player, regardless of tier.
Meetings are virtual, about once a month, from November 2026 to spring 2027.
Apply by Monday, October 26: https://forms.gle/PVcNLCH4tXuPi1sg9
Questions? Contact Jason Marchand at jmarchand@noha-hockey.ca.
Please read the Terms of Reference for any committee you apply to:
Espanola Minor Hockey Makes Room for Every Player
More Than Equipment — A Community That Cares Hockey is about more than what happens on the ice. It’s about community, inclusion, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to experience the game we all love. Last week, the Espanola Minor Hockey Association (EMHA) brought that belief to life by hosting an Equipment Exchange, led by Equipment Manager David and Vice President Dean. Thanks to their time, dedication, and generosity, seven children received the equipment they needed to get on the ice, with the exception of skates. For these families, the Equipment Exchange was about so much more than hockey gear. It was a helping hand, a warm welcome, and an opportunity for their children to become part of a hockey family. Moments like these are a reminder that minor hockey is about more than practices, games, and goals. It’s about the people who step up, the families who support one another, and the volunteers who work behind the scenes to make the game accessible to more children. A heartfelt thank you to David and Dean for their efforts in making this initiative possible. Your commitment reflects the very best of minor hockey and the positive impact a caring hockey community can have. At EMHA, the belief is simple: if a child wants to play hockey, they’ll find a way to help make it happen. That’s the kind of hockey community that makes a difference — one child, one family, and one opportunity at a time.
YOUR DISTRICT NEEDS A VOICE.
NOHA District 5 Council Director — Applications Open
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) is seeking applications for the position of Council Director for District 5, serving North Bay and area. The successful candidate will serve on the NOHA Board of Directors for a term running until the 2027 NOHA Annual General Meeting.
Role of the Council Director
Council Directors are members of the NOHA Board of Directors. They represent and act in the best interests of the NOHA as a whole while supporting the Member Associations in their District.
Expenses
This is a volunteer position. All travel, accommodation and other expenses relating to the position are covered by the NOHA.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are asked to complete the online application form below by Friday, October 23, 2026:
Questions About the Role
The NOHA would be happy to meet with interested candidates to discuss the role and responsibilities of the position in more detail. To arrange a meeting, please contact Jason Marchand, Executive Director, at jmarchand@noha-hockey.ca.
HCR & Spordle Questions?
We have created a booking link for associations to schedule a time with Kiersten Maitland to review the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) and Spordle Play.
This is a great opportunity to ask questions, review the systems, and make sure your association is comfortable and ready for the season.
Please use the booking link below to select a time that works best for you.
GAME-TIME UNITY IS UP IN WESTERN MANITOULIN!
The Game-Time Unity boards are officially up at the Gore Bay Memorial Arena, proudly representing Western Manitoulin Minor Hockey Association!
These boards are more than a message on the wall — they’re a reminder of the role we all play in creating a positive hockey experience. Hockey is about respect, inclusion, sportsmanship, and making sure every player, coach, official, family member, and fan feels welcome and supported.
But creating a positive hockey culture takes all of us.
Whether you’re a parent in the stands, a coach behind the bench, a player on the ice, or an official calling the game, your words, actions, and attitude matter. We all have a part to play in making our rinks a place where everyone feels safe, respected, and proud to be part of the game.
📣 Western Manitoulin hockey community, let’s lead by example! Cheer positively, respect the officials, support our players, and encourage one another. Let’s show that the strength of our hockey community goes far beyond the scoreboard.
Thank you to Western Manitoulin MHA for supporting Game-Time Unity and helping build a stronger, more inclusive hockey community across Northern Ontario.
One rink. One community. One shared responsibility. Let’s make every game a positive one!
Does your Rink have The Game-Time Unity boards?
Does your Rink Need The Game-Time Unity boards?
The excitement is back in the rink!
There’s nothing like the energy of a first home game! The Cochrane Minor Hockey Association U18A team is back on home ice, and we love seeing the players spending time in the rink, building memories, and doing what we all love — playing hockey!
What’s Truly Happening
Around our Rinks
NOHA
HISTORY :
On March 31, 1924, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds returned home after winning the Allan Cup, Canada’s national senior amateur championship.
Waiting for them?
Close to 10,000 Sault residents.
They gathered at the CPR station to welcome the champions home.
Think about that.
A hockey team returns to town by train, carrying the country’s biggest senior amateur hockey prize — and thousands of people come out to celebrate.
That’s what hockey meant to Northern communities.
And, in many places, still means today.
DID YOU KNOW?
The 1924 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds didn’t just win the Allan Cup.
Six members of that championship team later entered professional hockey and combined to win four Stanley Cups.
Two players from that group were eventually inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
That’s an extraordinary legacy for one Northern Ontario amateur team.
The road to professional hockey doesn’t always begin in a major city.
Sometimes it begins in a Northern Ontario rink.
Make Fundraising Sweeter with Purdys Chocolatier!
The NOHA is excited to continue offering Purdys Chocolatier fundraising to all NOHA Minor Hockey Associations!
With Purdys’ simple online fundraising program, teams can raise money while offering friends and family delicious, quality gifts. It’s fundraising made easy — so you can spend more time cheering your players on at the rink!
We’re working to bring our NOHA member associations helpful articles, seasonal tips, best practices, and proven strategies to make fundraising a little easier and more successful!
Stay tuned for useful resources, creative ideas, and opportunities to learn more about fundraising.
We’re also exploring interest in a virtual fundraising information session to share knowledge, answer questions, and help associations discover new ways to reach their fundraising goals.
Questions?
Contact Yvette Lauer,
Manager of Digital & Direct Sales 1-888-478-7397 ext. 1
Thanks for checking in with us Around the Rinks. Keep an eye out for next week’s edition
Have a great story, team achievement, special moment, volunteer shoutout or photos to share?
We want to see it!
Send your stories, photos and updates to: mjames@noha-hockey.ca
Keep supporting your teams, celebrating your hockey communities and making this season one to remember.
We’ll see you next week… Around the Rinks!
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