Latest news with #RobertMazzuca
CBC
30-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Elliot Lake Vikings leave of absence extended for 2025-2026 season, amid arena repairs
Social Sharing 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.
CBC
19-03-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Future of Elliot Lake junior hockey team uncertain as arena continues to be closed for repairs
The Vikings' return for the 2025-2026 season depends on timely arena 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.
CBC
19-03-2025
- Sport
- CBC
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.
