Around the Rinks — Your Weekly NOHA Hockey Updates!
NOHA Around the Rinks
Oct 28th, 2026
Every Rink Has a Story. Here’s What’s Happening This Week!
Welcome back to Around the Rinks! Every week, our rinks are filled with moments worth sharing — from players reaching milestones and volunteers going above and beyond to associations bringing their communities together. We're excited to shine a spotlight on some of those stories and celebrate the people who make our hockey community what it is.
Upcoming Important Dates:
Nov 2nd and 3rd Last Chance 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
Happy Halloween from the NOHA!
Wishing all our players, families, coaches, officials, and hockey communities across Northern Ontario a safe and happy Halloween!
Have fun, enjoy the treats, stay safe while trick-or-treating, and make plenty of spooky memories! 🍬
From our hockey family to yours, have a fantastic Halloween!
Absolute Last Chance
Development 1 Clinic
The NOHA will host one final last chance Development 1 clinic for those missing the credential. The clinic will run on November 2nd and 3rd from 7:00-10:00 PM each night.
Prior to registration, coaches are to take the Hockey Canada Development 1 learning lab prerequisite:
Clinic Registration | Clinic Registration | NORTHERN ONTARIO HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Questions should be directed to NOHA Director of Hockey Operations, Jacob Brown – jbrown@noha-hockey.ca
Last Chance Development 1
NOHA VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: JONATHAN LEBITT
Please join us in congratulating Jonathan Lebitt as our NOHA Volunteer of the Month!
Some coaches show up to run a practice. Others show up with a genuine love for the kids, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to helping every player become the best they can be. Coach Jon is one of those people.
A father of two boys, and proud Toronto Maple Leafs fan, Coach Jon is the perfect example of someone who gives so much of himself to the game and the kids who play it.
Jon goes above and beyond for his players, not only coaching hockey but also supporting his sons in all their sports. His dedication doesn’t stop when practice ends. While others might be watching their kids at skills camps, Jon is busy taking notes, learning new drills from other coaches, and watching his players to see where they can improve. He’s always looking for new ways to bring what he learns back to the rink to help his kids grow and succeed.
After years of coaching, Jon has built wonderful relationships with his players and their families. The kids love him, and it’s easy to see why. His commitment, passion, and willingness to keep learning make him so much more than a coach.
Volunteers like Jon remind us that hockey is about so much more than what happens on the ice. It’s about the relationships we build, the confidence we help create, and the positive impact we have on young athletes.
Thank you, Coach Jon, for the time, heart, and dedication you give to your players and our hockey community. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we’re proud to recognize you!
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
Know someone that deserves to be Nominated
STILL HAVE SPORDLE PLAY QUESTIONS?
Spordle is hosting more "Ask Me Anything" Q&A sessions this week, so there's still time for your league managers, assigners, associative planners, or anyone interested to get their Spordle Play questions answered as the season gets going:
Need help finding something on our website?
We’ve got you covered!
Have you found our website a little tricky to navigate in the past? We’ve made it easier than ever to find the information you need!
Meet our NEW Website Assistant! Your helpful guide to all things NOHA! Have a question? Looking for a specific form, resource, deadline, or piece of information? Our new web assistant can answer your questions and point you in the right direction — making it easier to find what you’re looking for!
Quick answers
Easier navigation
Important information at your fingertips
Don’t miss out — visit our website, explore the new assistant,
Visit noha-hockey.ca and stay connected.
Team NOHA Is Heading South for the ALLIANCE Hockey Face Off!
The bags are packed, the skates are sharpened, and 36 players from Northern Ontario are heading south to Komoka this weekend!
Selected to represent Team Red and Team Black, these athletes will take to the ice October 30–November 1, 2026, for the ALLIANCE Hockey Face Off. They’ll have the opportunity to showcase their skills, compete against top talent, and represent Northern Ontario with pride.
We also want to show our appreciation for the coaches and coaching staff who will be supporting these athletes throughout the tournament. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, dedication, and time to help these players learn, develop, and make the most of this experience. Your role in their growth is just as important, and we wish you all the best this weekend!
Good luck to Team Red and Team Black, and to all the coaches and staff! We’ll be cheering you on from back home and can’t wait to see you take the ice!
We will be sharing updates on our social media pages throughout the tournament, so be sure to follow along and help us cheer on our Northern Ontario athletes!
Congratulations to everyone selected to be part of this experience. Have a great weekend, play hard, and make Northern Ontario proud!
We’re behind you all the way!
Around the Rinks Spotlight: New Liskeard Cubs Making a Difference in Their Community!
The U18 New Liskeard Cubs are showing that being part of a hockey team is about so much more than what happens on the ice! From connecting with local students to creating meaningful opportunities for youth and honouring those who served our country, the Cubs have been keeping community spirit at the heart of everything they do.
Bringing Hockey into the Classroom
On October 20, three Cubs players visited École Catholique St-Michel as part of the organization's ongoing community engagement efforts. The players spent time with students in both the classroom and gym, answering questions, chatting about hockey, and sharing their love of the game.
The visit also included some colouring fun with the Cubs' very own colouring books! Every student received a colouring book and a ticket to a Cubs game — a great way to introduce more young fans to the excitement of hockey.
And this is just the beginning! The organization is planning more school visits to continue building connections with youth throughout the area.
Making Memories at the PD Day Skate
The Cubs also hosted their second PD Day Skate of the season, giving local youth another opportunity to get out on the ice and spend time with the players. The event was filled with opportunities to connect, have fun, and build lasting memories, with Cubs colouring books and free game tickets shared with participants.
The organization looks forward to these events as a meaningful way to give back to the community and help make hockey more accessible and welcoming for local families.
A special thank you to Nicholls Fabricators Inc. for sponsoring the event and helping make these community experiences possible!
Mark your calendars! The next PD Day Skate with the Cubs is scheduled for November 27.
Honouring Those Who Served
The Cubs are also showing their respect for our veterans and service members. Ahead of their October 24 game, the team welcomed Jason Pannell from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 33 in New Liskeard, who provided poppy helmet stickers for players and staff.
The team will proudly wear their poppies until November 11, carrying this important message of remembrance with them both at home and on the road. With games scheduled in Sault Ste. Marie during the October 31 weekend and the Blue Line Tournament in Kitchener from November 6–8, the Cubs will continue to honour those who have served and sacrificed for our country.
Thank you to Jason and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 33 for helping the organization create this meaningful opportunity for its players and staff.
More Than Hockey
Whether they're visiting classrooms, welcoming kids to the rink, or honouring our veterans, the U18 New Liskeard Cubs are demonstrating what it means to be part of a hockey community.
These are the moments that help build connections, inspire young fans, and remind us all that the impact of hockey reaches far beyond the scoreboard.
Keep up the great work, Cubs! We love seeing teams across Northern Ontario finding ways to give back and make a difference in their communities.
TOC Team Applications are due by midnight December 4th.
Fill in the Application below to register to attend the NOHA Tournament of Champions. Applications are due by midnight December 4th. Any applications submitted after December 4th will be charged a late fee.
Please send e-transfers to etransfer@noha-hockey.ca Please Put TEAM NAME TOC FEE in Notes/Memo of Transfer
Please note: all teams that register for the NOHA Tournament of Champions will participate.
Any Team withdrawing from the Tournament of Champions after December 4th shall forfeit their monies to the NOHA
Questions or concerns please email: Playoff Committee Chair: Sue Shepherdson at toc@noha-hockey.ca Staff Personal: Caitlin Hill at chill@noha-hockey.ca
NOHA
HISTORY :
During Sudbury’s 1932 Memorial Cup run, hockey became such a huge event that the city practically rearranged itself around the games.
According to the Sudbury Museums, political and judicial matters were rescheduled so people could listen to the championship games.
The Sudbury Star even arranged for a temporary radio station so residents could follow the action.
Radios sold out.
And people who didn’t have one reportedly paid 50 cents to listen to the game at Sainte-Anne’s Hall.
This was during the Great Depression.
That’s hockey.
DID YOU KNOW?
When Kirkland Lake entered the NOHA Senior League in 1935, something important began happening.
The NOHA helped develop juvenile hockey, creating a pathway for local players to move through the younger levels and eventually play senior hockey in their hometown.
That meant communities didn’t have to rely as heavily on importing players.
Kids could grow up playing hockey…
Move through the local system…
And eventually wear the jersey of their hometown senior team.
Sound familiar?
The player-development pathway we value today has deep roots.
Score Big with a Sweet Fundraising Opportunity!
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!
Here is an article in Todays Parent Magazine that has some great information.How To Run A Successful Fundraiser—Without The Stress And Burnout - Today's Parent
That’s a Wrap for This Week!
Another week of great stories, community connections, and hockey memories in the books! Thank you to everyone who continues to share the amazing things happening across Northern Ontario. We can’t wait to see what next week brings!
Have a team achievement to celebrate, a volunteer to recognize, a special moment to share, or some great photos from your rink? We’d love to hear from you!
YOUR RINK. YOUR PEOPLE. YOUR STORIES. OUR HOCKEY COMMUNITY!
📸 Send your stories, photos, and updates to:
mjames@noha-hockey.ca
Your submissions help us celebrate the people, passion, and moments that make hockey in Northern Ontario so special.
Until next time, keep making memories, supporting your hockey community, and sharing what’s happening Around the Rinks
We’ll see you next week… Around the Rinks!
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