Nipigon Elks
The Nipigon Elks are a Canadian Junior B ice hockey team based in Nipigon, Ontario. They play in the Lakehead Junior Hockey League of Hockey Northwestern Ontario.[1]
| Nipigon Elks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Nipigon, Ontario, Canada |
| League | Lakehead Junior Hockey League |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Home arena | Nipigon Community Centre |
| Colors | Blue, Yellow, and White |
| President | Irwin Nicol |
| General manager | Irwin Nicol |
| Head coach | John Coppock |
| Franchise history | |
| 1993-2008 | Nipigon Elks |
| 2008-2009 | Nip-Rock Elks |
| 2009-present | Nipigon Elks |
History
The Elks are five-time Western Canadian Brewers Cup champions. They won the Junior C tournament in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2013 against comparable teams from across Western Canada. The Elks were also 2010 finalists.
In 2008, the team changed their name from the Nipigon Elks to the Nip-Rock Elks. The name change, which was for just one season, had to do with an agreement with the neighboring town of Red Rock, Ontario.
2002–03
The Nipigon Elks finished off the 2002-03 season in first place with a record of 16-6-2 and went on to win the league playoffs. The Elks defeated the Wawa Travellers of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League to win the Northern Ontario Regional Junior B Hockey Championship for the right to compete at the 2003 Keystone Cup in St. Claude, Manitoba.
The Elks first game of the Western Canadian Junior B championship was against the Assiniboia Southern Rebels, a 6-1 loss. They next played the Selkirk Fishermen, resulting in a 9-3 loss. In the third game, the Elks lost to the Spruce Grove Regals 11-2, then lost to the Richmond Sockeyes 5-1. In the fifth and final game of the round robin, the Elks lost to the host St. Claude Knights 5-1 to close out their tournament winless.
Season-by-season standings
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Results | Playoffs |
| 2000-01 | 30 | 18 | 11 | 1 | - | 37 | - | - | 3rd | |
| 2001-02 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 4 | - | 14 | - | - | 2nd | |
| 2002-03 | 24 | 16 | 6 | 2 | - | 34 | - | - | 1st | Won Finals |
| 2003-04 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | - | 30 | 145 | 107 | 3rd of 7 | |
| 2004-05 | 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 | - | 23 | 106 | 127 | 4th of 7 | Lost semifinals vs Northern Hawks |
| 2005-06 | 30 | 3 | 25 | 2 | - | 8 | 92 | 211 | 6th of 7 | Lost semifinals vs K&A Wolverines |
| 2006-07 | 30 | 5 | 25 | 0 | - | 10 | 88 | 228 | 3rd of 4 | Lost semifinals |
| 2007-08 | 30 | 4 | 24 | 2 | - | 10 | 96 | 214 | 3rd of 4 | Lost semifinals |
| 2008-09 | 30 | 2 | 27 | 1 | - | 5 | 72 | 220 | 3rd of 4 | Lost semifinals |
| 2009-10 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0 | - | 30 | 136 | 139 | 2nd of 4 | Lost semifinals |
| 2010-11 | 30 | 15 | 11 | 4 | - | 34 | 146 | 130 | 2nd of 4 | Lost semifinals vs Thunder Bay Stars |
| 2011-12 | 31 | 25 | 6 | 0 | - | 50 | 238 | 117 | 2nd of 4 | Lost Finals vs Northern Hawks |
| 2012-13 | 24 | 18 | 5 | 1 | - | 37 | 135 | 84 | 2nd of 4 | Lost Finals vs Northern Hawks |
| 2013-14 | 30 | 11 | 17 | 2 | - | 24 | 104 | 143 | 3rd of 4 | Lost semifinals, 1-4 vs Thunder Bay Stars |
| 2014-15 | 30 | 14 | 15 | 1 | - | 29 | 127 | 156 | 3rd of 4 | Lost semifinals, 1-4 vs Thunder Bay Stars |
| 2015-16 | 32 | 10 | 20 | 2 | - | 22 | 118 | 159 | 4th of 6 | Lost semifinals, 1-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2016-17 | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | - | 37 | 162 | 124 | 3rd of 5 | Won semifinals, 4-1 vs Thunder Bay Stars Won Finals, 4-1 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2017-18 | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 | - | 32 | 152 | 118 | 3rd of 5 | Lost semifinals, 3-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2018-19 | 30 | 6 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 102 | 174 | 4th of 5 | Lost semifinals, 0-4 vs Fighting Walleye |
| 2019-20 | 27 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 116 | 119 | 3rd of 4 | Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2020-21 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 119 | --- | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2021-22 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 47 | 117 | 4th of 4 | Lost semifinals, 2-4 vs Bandits |
| 2022-23 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 83 | 116 | 4th of 5 | Won 1st Round, 2-0 vs Bandits Lost Semifinal, 0-4 Falcons |
Keystone Cup history
Western Canadian Jr. B Championships (Northern Ontario to British Columbia)
Six teams in round robin play. 1st vs 2nd for gold/silver; 3rd vs 4th for bronze.
| Year | Round Robin | Record | Standing | Bronze Medal Game | Gold Medal Game |
| 2003 | L, Assiniboia 1-6 L, Selkirk 3-9 L, Spruce Grove 2-11 L, Richmond 1-5 L, St. Claude 1-5 | 0-5-0 | 6th of 6 | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2017 | L, Regina 3-6 L, Peguis 3-4 L, Wainwright 2-9 L, Beaver Valley 2-10 L, Arborg 4-9 | 0-5-0 | 6th of 6 | did not qualify | did not qualify |
References
- "Hockey league undergoes makeover". Chronicle Journal. 4 October 2016.