Elliot Lake Vikings
Encyclopedia
The Elliot Lake Vikings was a Canadian
Junior ice hockey
team that originally began playing in the International Junior B Hockey League
in 1965. In 1981 the team moved to the Tier II Junior A Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
. The team was located in Elliot Lake, Ontario
, Canada
. The team now exists as the current Blind River Beavers
franchise.
in 1965 under the NOHA
jurisdiction. The league consisted of the following teams: The Elliot Lake Vikings, the Blind River Beavers
, the Thessalon Flyers
, the Sault Ste Marie Thunderbirds (1976), the Sault Ste Marie (Michigan) Indians, the Wawa Travellers
, the Chapleau Huskies, and the Marquette Americans (1977).
Mr. Peter Svela was the original catalyst of starting up the Elliot Lake Vikings. The team was fairly competitive until 1970 under the coaching of Mr. Barry Johnston. From 1966 to 1971 the dominant teams in the league were the Chapleau Huskies, the Blind River Beavers and the Soo Michigan Indians.
From 1971 to 1973 the team was poorly managed, was not competitive and was on the verge of bankruptcy. It is important to note that the original charter for the Team was set up as a non-profit organization and relied on various fundraising activities to meet its financial requirements.
Prior to the 1974 season a new executive was elected, holding over several of the previous Board of Director members and John Berthelot Sr. was appointed as the new President and Head Coach. Through the generosity and assistance of two of the major creditors of the club and with the hard work of the executive, the team started rebuilding the clubs finances. In 1974 the club had great difficulties in acquiring not just enough talented players, but often weren't even able to ice a full roster for games.
During this period of time the Blind River Beavers, the Soo Thunderbirds and the Soo Michigan Indians were the dominant teams.
Starting in 1975, both Rio Algom Mines and Denison Mines
assisted the club by way of some sponsorship, but more importantly they agreed and did hire many of the players enabling the team to properly recruit talent. A decision which proved to be very controversial at the time that was made by Mr. Berthelot and the executive of the club, was to stop the practice of bringing under age players up from the Elliot Lake Minor Hockey System until they were of proper age to play Junior hockey. Many players came up to the Vikings back then at the age of 14 and 15. It is worthwhile to note that some of these players were very talented and one wonders just how far their personal hockey careers may have gone had they been given the opportunity to hone their skills within their appropriate age groups, rather than having been thrust into playing against 20 year olds before they were ready.
By 1976 the Vikings were a competitive team, ranking in the upper tier of teams in the league and eventually lost out in a dramatic overtime loss in the final game of the League semi-finals against the Thessalon Flyers who would eventually lose out to the Soo Thunderbirds in the Finals.
During the rebuilding of the teams finances and competitiveness, another important footnote in Canadian Amateur Hockey
history occurred. With the poor on ice performance and finances of the club there were few volunteers during the rebuilding years. In 1974 Mrs. Arlene Berthelot became the first woman to hold the position of Manager (later to be referred to as a General Manager) of a Junior Hockey Club in Canada. She signed the NOHA card and acted as the Manager, Trainer (later joining Hockey Ontario in the Hockey Trainers Certification Program as one the first Certified Hockey Trainer in the NOHA in 1979), team mother, and any did all other tasks as required to help the Team succeed.
In 1979 a new executive was elected, with Mr. Gord Ouimet becoming the Team President.
From 1976 until the Team joined the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) in 1981, the team never finished lower than 3rd place in the league standings. During this time the Team played in front of the largest crowds in the League.
In their inaugural season in the NOJHL the Vikings lost in the League finals to the Onaping Falls Huskies.
The 1982-83 season proved to be the Vikings most successful season ever, finishing second in the League Standings, winning the NOJHL Championship. They became the first NOJHL Team to ever win a game against an Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
team, beating the North York Rangers
in Guelph
, Ontario
, where the game was played due to arena scheduling conflicts with the Rangers home rink and later in Elliot Lake in front of crowds so big that the Fire Marshal
was limiting fans to the building due to the size of the crowds.
The Vikings did lose the series 3-games-to-2 to the Rangers. The Team was made up of talent that had been developed in the local Elliot Lake organizations with one exception. The Vikings did so with players who benefited from Mr. Berthelot's controversial decision from 1975 as referenced above. The one exception and only import player on the team was a highly skilled defenceman named Shannon Hope, who was acquired in a trade late in the season from the Capreol Hawks
.
Another interesting aside is that the Vikings had three brothers on their Championship Team, John, David and Marty Berthelot.
The Vikings survived from 1981 through to 1997. From 1997-1999 the team was known as the Elliot Lake Ice. Their stretch in the league started off promising. They won the league in their second year and 6 of their first 9 seasons had above .500 records. In the 1982-83 season, the Vikings, as NOJHL Champions, took on the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Champions, the North York Rangers
, for the Ontario Hockey Association
championship and the right to play the Thunder Bay Flyers
for the Dudley Hewitt Cup
. Elliot Lake lost the series 3-games-to-2. When the team was at its peak in the 80's fans either packed Centennial Arena or listened to Bobby Alexander calling the game on CKNR radio.
Seemingly in 1990-91 the floor fell out from beneath them when the mines shut down. They would not see another winning season until 1998-99—their last season in the league. The low point in the teams history had to be the 1991-92 season. The team only had 1 victory in 48 games and averaged an unfathomable 14.75 goals against per game. Rick Dennie was one of many goalies to have suffered on a weak Vikings team during the 1990s. During his brief two year career he failed to win a game while facing upwards of 60 shots an outing. He no longer plays hockey.
Players who have played for the organization include Pittsburgh Penguins
prospect Chris Thorburn. Past greats include Doug McEwen who went on to become the all-time leading scorer for the Cardiff Devils
in the British Hockey League and Shannon Hope
who also had a lengthy career with Cardiff. In 1999 the teams owner abruptly left the city without warning, leaving the club without an owner and future.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Junior ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team that originally began playing in the International Junior B Hockey League
International Junior B Hockey League
The International Junior B Hockey League was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in the Northern Ontario and Northern Michigan regions. The league was controlled by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and was founded in 1965 and lasted until the...
in 1965. In 1981 the team moved to the Tier II Junior A Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and Hockey Canada. The winner of the NOJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario...
. The team was located in Elliot Lake, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The team now exists as the current Blind River Beavers
Blind River Beavers
The Blind River Beavers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Blind River, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
franchise.
History
The Elliot Lake Vikings Junior Hockey Club was founded and first played in the International Junior B Hockey LeagueInternational Junior B Hockey League
The International Junior B Hockey League was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in the Northern Ontario and Northern Michigan regions. The league was controlled by the Northern Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and was founded in 1965 and lasted until the...
in 1965 under the NOHA
Northern Ontario Hockey Association
The Northern Ontario Hockey Association is minor and junior level ice hockey governing body. The NOHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The major league run by the NOHA is the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League...
jurisdiction. The league consisted of the following teams: The Elliot Lake Vikings, the Blind River Beavers
Blind River Beavers
The Blind River Beavers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Blind River, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
, the Thessalon Flyers
Thessalon Flyers
The Thessalon Flyers were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Thessalon, Ontario, Canada. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and also the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
, the Sault Ste Marie Thunderbirds (1976), the Sault Ste Marie (Michigan) Indians, the Wawa Travellers
Wawa Travellers
The Wawa Travellers were a Junior "B" team based out of Wawa, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
, the Chapleau Huskies, and the Marquette Americans (1977).
Mr. Peter Svela was the original catalyst of starting up the Elliot Lake Vikings. The team was fairly competitive until 1970 under the coaching of Mr. Barry Johnston. From 1966 to 1971 the dominant teams in the league were the Chapleau Huskies, the Blind River Beavers and the Soo Michigan Indians.
From 1971 to 1973 the team was poorly managed, was not competitive and was on the verge of bankruptcy. It is important to note that the original charter for the Team was set up as a non-profit organization and relied on various fundraising activities to meet its financial requirements.
Prior to the 1974 season a new executive was elected, holding over several of the previous Board of Director members and John Berthelot Sr. was appointed as the new President and Head Coach. Through the generosity and assistance of two of the major creditors of the club and with the hard work of the executive, the team started rebuilding the clubs finances. In 1974 the club had great difficulties in acquiring not just enough talented players, but often weren't even able to ice a full roster for games.
During this period of time the Blind River Beavers, the Soo Thunderbirds and the Soo Michigan Indians were the dominant teams.
Starting in 1975, both Rio Algom Mines and Denison Mines
Denison Mines
Denison Mines Corp. is a Canadian uranium exploration, development, and production company. Founded by Stephen B. Roman, and best known for its uranium mining in Elliot Lake, it later diversified into coal, potash, and other projects....
assisted the club by way of some sponsorship, but more importantly they agreed and did hire many of the players enabling the team to properly recruit talent. A decision which proved to be very controversial at the time that was made by Mr. Berthelot and the executive of the club, was to stop the practice of bringing under age players up from the Elliot Lake Minor Hockey System until they were of proper age to play Junior hockey. Many players came up to the Vikings back then at the age of 14 and 15. It is worthwhile to note that some of these players were very talented and one wonders just how far their personal hockey careers may have gone had they been given the opportunity to hone their skills within their appropriate age groups, rather than having been thrust into playing against 20 year olds before they were ready.
By 1976 the Vikings were a competitive team, ranking in the upper tier of teams in the league and eventually lost out in a dramatic overtime loss in the final game of the League semi-finals against the Thessalon Flyers who would eventually lose out to the Soo Thunderbirds in the Finals.
During the rebuilding of the teams finances and competitiveness, another important footnote in Canadian Amateur Hockey
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
history occurred. With the poor on ice performance and finances of the club there were few volunteers during the rebuilding years. In 1974 Mrs. Arlene Berthelot became the first woman to hold the position of Manager (later to be referred to as a General Manager) of a Junior Hockey Club in Canada. She signed the NOHA card and acted as the Manager, Trainer (later joining Hockey Ontario in the Hockey Trainers Certification Program as one the first Certified Hockey Trainer in the NOHA in 1979), team mother, and any did all other tasks as required to help the Team succeed.
In 1979 a new executive was elected, with Mr. Gord Ouimet becoming the Team President.
From 1976 until the Team joined the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) in 1981, the team never finished lower than 3rd place in the league standings. During this time the Team played in front of the largest crowds in the League.
In their inaugural season in the NOJHL the Vikings lost in the League finals to the Onaping Falls Huskies.
The 1982-83 season proved to be the Vikings most successful season ever, finishing second in the League Standings, winning the NOJHL Championship. They became the first NOJHL Team to ever win a game against an Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (1972-1987)
The Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League was a Canadian Junior ice hockey league based in Ontario and sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. The league operated from 1972 until 1987. This league was the forerunner to the current Ontario...
team, beating the North York Rangers
North York Rangers
The North York Rangers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from North York, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Division Hockey, but they were also a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League.-Richmond Hill:...
in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, where the game was played due to arena scheduling conflicts with the Rangers home rink and later in Elliot Lake in front of crowds so big that the Fire Marshal
Fire Marshal
A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a fire department but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement and/or investigating fires for origin and cause...
was limiting fans to the building due to the size of the crowds.
The Vikings did lose the series 3-games-to-2 to the Rangers. The Team was made up of talent that had been developed in the local Elliot Lake organizations with one exception. The Vikings did so with players who benefited from Mr. Berthelot's controversial decision from 1975 as referenced above. The one exception and only import player on the team was a highly skilled defenceman named Shannon Hope, who was acquired in a trade late in the season from the Capreol Hawks
Capreol Hawks
The Capreol Hawks were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Capreol, Ontario, Canada. This defunct hockey team was a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
.
Another interesting aside is that the Vikings had three brothers on their Championship Team, John, David and Marty Berthelot.
The Vikings survived from 1981 through to 1997. From 1997-1999 the team was known as the Elliot Lake Ice. Their stretch in the league started off promising. They won the league in their second year and 6 of their first 9 seasons had above .500 records. In the 1982-83 season, the Vikings, as NOJHL Champions, took on the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The league dates back to 1954 as the Central Junior B Hockey League. In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the...
Champions, the North York Rangers
North York Rangers
The North York Rangers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from North York, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Division Hockey, but they were also a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League.-Richmond Hill:...
, for the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
championship and the right to play the Thunder Bay Flyers
Thunder Bay Flyers
The Thunder Bay Flyers were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.-History:On July 6, 1980, the Degagne Buccaneers and Thunder Bay North Stars were informed by the TBAHA that they would not be permitted to field teams in the 1980-81 City League...
for the Dudley Hewitt Cup
Dudley Hewitt Cup
The Dudley Hewitt Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournaments conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The trophy was first awarded in 1979. The winner of the Dudley Hewitt Cup competes at the 2011 Royal Bank Cup.-History:...
. Elliot Lake lost the series 3-games-to-2. When the team was at its peak in the 80's fans either packed Centennial Arena or listened to Bobby Alexander calling the game on CKNR radio.
Seemingly in 1990-91 the floor fell out from beneath them when the mines shut down. They would not see another winning season until 1998-99—their last season in the league. The low point in the teams history had to be the 1991-92 season. The team only had 1 victory in 48 games and averaged an unfathomable 14.75 goals against per game. Rick Dennie was one of many goalies to have suffered on a weak Vikings team during the 1990s. During his brief two year career he failed to win a game while facing upwards of 60 shots an outing. He no longer plays hockey.
Players who have played for the organization include Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
prospect Chris Thorburn. Past greats include Doug McEwen who went on to become the all-time leading scorer for the Cardiff Devils
Cardiff Devils
The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena...
in the British Hockey League and Shannon Hope
Shannon Hope
Shannon Hope is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defender who played for the Peterborough Pirates and the Cardiff Devils as well as for the Great Britain national team, for whom he was the captain between 1995 and 1997...
who also had a lengthy career with Cardiff. In 1999 the teams owner abruptly left the city without warning, leaving the club without an owner and future.
Season-by-season results
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs | |
| 1965-66 | 23 | 6 | 17 | 0 | |||||||
| 12 | 4th IJBHL | Lost Final | |||||||||
| 1966-81 | IJBHL Statistics Missing | ||||||||||
| 1981-82 | 42 | 24 | 13 | 5 | |||||||
| 281 | 205 | 53 | 2nd NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1982-83 | 42 | 26 | 10 | 6 | |||||||
| 272 | 184 | 58 | 2nd NOJHL | Won League | |||||||
| 1983-84 | 40 | 25 | 11 | 4 | |||||||
| 359 | 223 | 54 | 2nd NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1984-85 | 40 | 12 | 26 | 2 | |||||||
| 199 | 293 | 26 | 5th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1985-86 | 41 | 18 | 20 | 3 | |||||||
| 287 | 257 | 39 | 4th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1986-87 | 37 | 11 | 23 | 3 | |||||||
| 211 | 255 | 25 | 3rd NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1987-88 | 40 | 22 | 14 | 4 | |||||||
| 227 | 219 | 48 | 2nd NOJHL | Lost Final | |||||||
| 1988-89 | 40 | 25 | 10 | 5 | |||||||
| 274 | 202 | 55 | 3rd NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1989-90 | 40 | 19 | 17 | 4 | |||||||
| 259 | 242 | 42 | 3rd NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1990-91 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 0 | |||||||
| 161 | 330 | 20 | 5th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1991-92 | 48 | 1 | 47 | 0 | |||||||
| 122 | 708 | 2 | 7th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1992-93 | 48 | 5 | 43 | 0 | |||||||
| 178 | 471 | 10 | 7th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1993-94 | 40 | 6 | 33 | 1 | |||||||
| 133 | 331 | 13 | 6th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1994-95 | 48 | 13 | 30 | 5 | |||||||
| 202 | 306 | 31 | 6th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1995-96 | 44 | 4 | 37 | 3 | |||||||
| 143 | 299 | 11 | 6th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1996-97 | 40 | 6 | 33 | 1 | |||||||
| 125 | 223 | 13 | 5th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1997-98 | 40 | 5 | 34 | 1 | |||||||
| 133 | 290 | 11 | 5th NOJHL | ||||||||
| 1998-99 | 40 | 21 | 17 | 2 | |||||||
| 156 | 130 | 44 | 3rd NOJHL | ||||||||
Player Records (League)Most Shorthanded Goals, One Game:3 - Denis Castonguay, Rayside Balfour, 1983–84 3 - Rob Demers, Elliot Lake, 1983–84 Fastest Goal, Start of a Game: 6 sec. - Michael Gingras, Rayside Balfour, 1980–81 6 sec. - Rob Lebedick, Elliot Lake, 1989–90 Fastest Goal, Start of Second Period: 5 sec. - Paul Berthelot, Elliot Lake, 1990–91 Most Power Play Goals, One Season: 29 - Shawn Dubois, Elliot Lake, 1988–89 28 - Steve Sullivan, Timmins, 1991–92 Most Hat-tricks, One Season: 15 - Shawn Dubois, Elliot Lake, 1988–89 (Source: http://www.nojhl.com) | Team Records (League)Most Losses, One Season:47 - Elliot Lake, 1991–92 Fewest Wins, One Season: 1 - Elliot Lake, 1991–92 Most Goals Against Allowed, One Season: 708 - Elliot Lake, 1991–92 Most Power Play Goals Against, One Season: 136 - Haileybury, 1989–90 136 - Elliot Lake, 1991–92 Most Shorthanded Goals Against, One Season: 23 - Elliot Lake, 1990–91 (Source: http://www.nojhl.com) |
Uniform History
NHL Alumni
- Chris ThorburnChris ThorburnChris Thorburn is a professional ice hockey centre currently playing for and an alternate captain of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
(Buffalo SabresBuffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, Atlanta ThrashersAtlanta ThrashersThe Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
) - Jeremy StevensonJeremy StevensonJeremy Stevenson is a retired professional ice hockey left winger who last played for the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League. He grew up in Elliot Lake, Ontario...
(Anaheim DucksAnaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Nashville PredatorsNashville PredatorsThe Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Minnesota WildMinnesota WildThe Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Dallas StarsDallas StarsThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
)
Past Coaches
- Barry Johnston
- Bob Whitehead
- John Berthelot Sr.
- Norm Moore
- Al Hammerlick
- Mark Watson
- Ed Godon
- Todd Stencill
- Gord Ouimet
- Mark Capeless
- Ian Mills
- Frank Porco
- Dave Berthelot
- Gill Saumure