West Nipissing Lynx

The West Nipissing Lynx are a junior ice hockey team based in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (GMHL).

West Nipissing Lynx
CitySturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada
LeagueGreater Metro Junior A Hockey League
Founded2010
Home arenaSturgeon Falls Arena
ColoursBlack, yellow, and white
     
General managerPatrick Miron
Head coachJeff Mancini
Websitewestnipissinglynx.com
Franchise history
2010–2016Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks
2016–presentWest Nipissing Lynx

History

The Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks were announced in summer 2010.[1] The Lumberjacks replaced the folded Nipissing Alouettes, who left the GMHL in 2009.

On September 10, 2010, the Lumberjacks played their first game against the Elliot Lake Bobcats in Elliot Lake. The Bobcats won the game 7–2. On September 12, 2010, the Lumberjacks played on the road against the Powassan Dragons and earned their franchise's first victory with a 5–2 win.

In their second season, the Lumberjacks finished second place in the GMHL with a record of 35 wins and 7 losses. In the league quarterfinals, the Lumberjacks faced the 2010 league champion Deseronto Storm and survived a five-game series 3-games-to-2. In the semifinals, Sturgeon Falls defeated the league's only two-time champion, the Bradford Rattlers, in a four-game sweep. In the finals, the Lumberjacks drew the first-seeded Temiscaming Titans. Despite being an expansion team, the Titans were created with the remnants of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League's Temiscaming Royals, and were a seasoned and tough team. The Titans finished the season ahead of the Lumberjacks with a record of 38 wins and 4 losses and were undefeated through two rounds of playoffs (7–0). The Lumberjacks quickly went up two games on the Titans, but were defeated in game three. The Lumberjacks took game four but the Titans took game five. Game six was in Sturgeon Falls and the Lumberjacks earned a 6–1 victory and their first Russell Cup as GMHL Champions.

On September 29, 2012, the Lumberjacks became the first GMHL club to ice a female hockey player. Goaltender Alyssa Moyer made her GMHL debut in a 7–5 loss to the Shelburne Red Wings, making 21 saves.[2]

In January 2016, the team announced that it could not finish the 2015–16 season due to lack of uninjured players but planned to return for the 2016–17 season.[3][4]

In June 2016, Lumberjacks' owner Lui Ricci sold the team to two local owners looking to re-energize the team. The team was then re-branded as the West Nipissing Lynx.

Season-by-season records
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsRegular Season FinishPlayoffs
Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks
2010–11421028—41462732412th GMHLLost Qualifier, 1–2 (Dragons)
2011–1242357—0312170702nd GMHLWon Quarter-finals, 3–2 (Storm
Won Semi-finals, 4–0 (Rattlers)
Won Finals, 4–2 Titans
2012–13421527001952343012th of 15, GMHLLost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–3 (Shield)
2013–1442634—21303211417th of 20, GMHLLost Qualifier Game, 8–9 (Bucks)
2014–15421131—0130292225th of 10, North Div.
17th of 22, GMHL		Won Div. Qualifier Game, 5–4 OT (Spartans)
Lost Div. Semi-finals, 0–3 (Titans)
2015–1637112501196244237th North Div. (Ceased play mid-season)
West Nipissing Lynx
2016–17421328—1184268279th of 10, North Div.
17th of 21, GMHL		Won 1st Rd. Qualifier Game, 6–5 (Huskies)
Lost 8th Place Qualifier Game, 0–8 (Knights)
2017–1842152403198228337th of 9, North Div.
14th of 21, GMHL		Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Rattlers)
2018–1942201903189203436th of 10, North Div.
13th of 22, GMHL		Won Div. Quarter-finals, 2–1 (Titans)
Lost Div. Semi-finals, 0–3 (Rattlers)
2019–2042162501177231338th of 10, North Div.
17th of 23, GMHL		Won 8th Place Qualifier Game, 7–3 (Shield)
Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Titans)
2020–21Lost season to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–2238112403115191257th of 10, North Div.
13th of 19, GMHL		Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Rattlers)
2022–2342162600136197325th of 9, North Div.
11th of 16, GMHL		Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Titans)

References
  1. "Jr. A Hockey returning to Sturgeon Falls".
  2. Local female goalie first to play in GMHL. Midland Free Press. October 11, 2012. Section B Page 1.
  3. "Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks Statement". Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  4. "THE DEATH POOL – GMHL STURGEON FALLS LUMBERJACKS MERCIFULLY KILLED OFF". The Junior Hockey News. 1 February 2016.
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