There will be no junior hockey played in Elliot Lake for at least another season.
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) and its Board of Directors confirmed Friday that the Elliot Lake Vikings will remain on a leave of absence through the 2025-26 season, extending the hiatus first granted in December 2024.
The decision comes as the team’s home venue, Rogers Arena—formerly known as Centennial Arena—remains closed and under extensive repair. The facility has been shut down since September 2023, and despite earlier hopes of a late July 2025 reopening, the city has yet to confirm when the arena will be operational again.
“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.
With the Vikings inactive for another year, the NOJHL will once again operate with 11 teams for the 2025-26 campaign. League officials and team representatives are currently finalizing the regular season schedule, which is expected to be released in the coming days.
The Vikings’ continued absence marks a significant pause for junior hockey in the Elliot Lake community, which has a longstanding tradition in the league. Fans and players alike now face another year without local competition, while the team waits for clarity on its future home ice.