Future of Elliot Lake junior hockey team uncertain as arena continues to be closed for repairs

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) is in the process of finalizing its schedule for the 2025-2026 season, with one key question still unresolved: Will the Elliot Lake Vikings be able to play in their home arena next season?

According to Robert Mazzuca, commissioner of the NOJHL, the Vikings, who were forced to take a leave of absence for the 2024-2025 season due to ongoing repairs to their local arena, are still in limbo.

"It's not just the Vikings. We're talking about minor hockey, we're talking about figure skating, talking about public skating. A community centre in a community is a significant asset," he said. 

Elliot Lake's Centennial Arena— now renamed Rogers Arena after a $3 million donation— was suddenly shut down in September 2023 out of fears the roof could collapse and is still not ready to re-open. 

Mazzuca said he spoke to a representative of the City of Elliot Lake who said the renovations are expected to be complete by the end of July.

However, several re-opening dates have come and gone, as the repairs to the 57-year-old arena have proved more complicated, despite the city raising millions to cover the costs, including $250,000 in prize money from the 2024 Kraft Hockeyville contest. 

"Timelines here for a wide variety of reasons, unfortunately, haven't been met and no fault to the town or the community or the facility," Mazzuca said.

"Certain things have cropped up, and they've had to adjust and readjust the repairs that are required."

The delay continues to create uncertainty for the Vikings, whose players were released from their contracts mid-season when the team took a leave of absence. 

"The vast majority of the players did find a place to play. So they're essentially, if they're going to plan on coming back, they're starting from scratch," Mazzuca said. 

He explained the team has a "tall order" and would have to complete full recruitment, scouting and development in July, a process typically completed a full year ahead of a season and made even more difficult with the uncertainty surrounding the team's future. 

"That's why it's important that we have some assurances and guarantees going forward, because it puts it puts the Elliot Lake Vikings at a significant disadvantage," Mazzuca said.

While the expectation is that the Vikings' arena will be ready by July, Mazzuca explained that the league is preparing two scenarios: one with 12 teams and another with 11, in case Elliot Lake cannot field a team next season.

Mazzuca added that a decision will likely be made by the end of April.

CBC requested comment from the Vikings hockey club and the City of Elliot Lake and didn't get a response.