Elliot Lake Vikings leave of absence extended for 2025-2026 season, amid arena repairs | CBC News
There will be no junior hockey played in Elliot Lake come this fall.
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) and its board of directors announced May 30 they have extended the leave of absence for the Elliot Lake Vikings through the 2025-2026 season, citing ongoing uncertainties with the city’s arena.
The Vikings were first granted a temporary leave of absence in December 2024.
Elliot Lake’s arena and the home venue of the Vikings, Rogers Arena – formerly Centennial Arena – has been shut down since September 2023 and continues to undergo extensive repairs.
The NOJHL had been told earlier this spring the city was hopeful the arena would be ready by late July 2025, but a reopening date has yet to be confirmed.
“Unfortunately, with the ongoing delays as to when the arena will be back in operation, the Vikings have been granted their extended leave,” said NOJHL commissioner Robert Mazzuca in a news release.
“We just don’t know when the club will be able to resume activities as they wait for news on the status of their arena.”
Mazzuca added the NOJHL will operate with 11 teams instead of 12 for the upcoming 2025-26 season, and the league’s schedule will be announced in the coming days.
