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14-717: The Avalanche were formed in the summer of 2009. The Avalanche are the first junior team in Thessalon since the folding of the Thessalon Flyers of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League . On September 12, 2009, the Avalanche played their first game. On the road, Algoma lost 7-4 to the Deseronto Storm . The next evening, the Avalanche traveled to Beaverton, Ontario and picked up their first win, beating

28-677: A review panel for three years to propose further restructuring if necessary. The senior A-level champions of the NOHA and the OHA formerly competed in a playoffs series for the W. A. Hewitt Trophy. Former leagues Empowered by Hockey Canada , the Northern Ontario Hockey Association governs all Ontario senior and junior hockey not administered by Hockey Northwestern Ontario , Ottawa District Hockey Association , or Ontario Hockey Association . This does not include

42-477: The Brock Bucks 6-3. On September 25, 2009, the Avalanche played their first home game and defeated their local rival Elliot Lake Bobcats 4-2. In a touching pre-game ceremony , local hockey legend, and multiple-time OHA champion Lloyd Boyer, who had died of cancer a few weeks before, was honored with a moment of silence. Surviving children Brad, Janna, Susan, and Karen (who is also battling cancer) provided

56-793: The International Junior B Hockey League in 1967 when the Elliot Lake Vikings went on hiatus. In 1972, they changed their name to the Thessalon North Stars and a year later to the Flyers. The Flyers played in 3 seasons in the NOJHL starting in 1987. The addition of the Flyers helped break the league from an interlocking schedule with the OHA Jr. "A" League , which otherwise would have probably fatally crippled

70-578: The Northern Ontario Hockey Association . The team has yet to return to Thessalon, as a league to play in no longer exists. Northern Ontario Hockey Association The Northern Ontario Hockey Association ( NOHA ) is an ice hockey governing body for minor , junior and senior ice hockey . The NOHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada . The major league run by

84-564: The Avalanche announced that they were ceasing operation, but claim they may return for 2013-14. Thessalon Flyers The Thessalon Flyers were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Thessalon , Ontario , Canada. Over its history, this defunct hockey team was a part of the International Junior B Hockey League , followed by the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League , and lastly the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League . The North Shore Stars joined

98-601: The Flyers went on to the NSHL final, losing four games to one to the Wawa Travellers. Players upset with the lack of team travel for the first two games of the series in Wawa sent management a message by refusing to report to practice the following week and neglected to show up for the next two games of the final series resulting in forfeiture of the title, and a hefty suspension levied on team owner and general manager Sacco by

112-675: The NOHA is the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League . The NOHA was founded in 1919 and that same year became affiliated with the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). In May 1963, the NOHA applied to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to become an equal branch to the OHA. When the request was denied, OHA president Lloyd Pollock stated that measures needed to be put in place to prevent

126-628: The NOJHL. In 1990, the Flyers folded. In 2003-04, the Flyers came back and entered the NSHL under owner Domenic Sacco, but that season ended up being the last in NSHL history. The Flyers were good enough to make the finals, but lost out the defending champion Wawa Travellers . After the season, the Flyers and the Aguasabon River Rats left the league, leaving the Wawa Travellers and the Marathon Renegades and

140-662: The ceremonial puck drop. In mid-January 2011, it was announced that the town of Iron Bridge, Ontario and its 500-seat Outdoor Arena would host a regular season game, known as the North Shore Winter Classic, between the Elliot Lake Bobcats and Algoma Avalanche on January 29, 2011. This is the first known regulation outdoor game in Ontario in the modern era. Elliot Lake would win the game 8-2 in front of an estimated 400 fans. On July 17, 2012,

154-599: The chance of seeing high-calibre hockey in their hometowns on a regular basis. Thus the reintroduction of the Thessalon Flyers in the small farming community of Thessalon, Ontario . With a competitive talent pool being sought by teams such as the Thunderbirds and nearby Soo Indians and Blind River Beavers , Sacco knew that drawing a competitive team would be difficult. Offering to cover transportation costs to and from surrounding areas, players from all over

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168-605: The league to fold. They were coached by Vic Duguay (fired before season started), Ryan Leonard (asst. coach/head coach), Roy Iachetta Sr. (asst. coach), Chad Vresk (asst. coach) and Jeff Williamson (trainer). The Flyers only ever season in the NSHL saw them led in scoring by Lucas Bedell with 48 points in 17 games played, this was good for the league lead. With the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Soo Thunderbirds playing out of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario , Sault business man Domenic Sacco knew that surrounding communities would jump at

182-587: The migration of players southwards to the more populated OHA, and preserve the leagues in Northern Ontario . During the summer in 1989, the Metro Toronto Hockey League , Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), OHA and NOHA, joined under the umbrella of the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF). Each organization was given equal representation on its board of governors, which was given the mandate to oversee hockey in Ontario, and be

196-432: The north shore of Lake Huron combined to make the 2003-2004 Thessalon Flyers. Of these players included former Great North Midget League players Lucas Bedell and Thessalon native Jason Bird. Failing to pay for ice fees in Thessalon, coupled with failed sponsorship deals, left the coffers of the team nearly empty and players left town, leaving the team not nearly as competitive as originally anticipated. Despite this setback,

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