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 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada |
| League | Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Home arena | Sturgeon Falls Arena |
| Colours | Black, yellow, and white |
| General manager | Patrick Miron |
| Head coach | Jeff Mancini |
| Website | westnipissinglynx |
| Franchise history | |
| 2010–2016 | Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks |
| 2016–present | West Nipissing Lynx |
History edit
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 edit
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks | ||||||||||
| 2010–11 | 42 | 10 | 28 | — | 4 | 146 | 273 | 24 | 12th GMHL | Lost Qualifier, 1–2 (Dragons) |
| 2011–12 | 42 | 35 | 7 | — | 0 | 312 | 170 | 70 | 2nd GMHL | Won Quarter-finals, 3–2 (Storm Won Semi-finals, 4–0 (Rattlers) Won Finals, 4–2 Titans |
| 2012–13 | 42 | 15 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 195 | 234 | 30 | 12th of 15, GMHL | Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–3 (Shield) |
| 2013–14 | 42 | 6 | 34 | — | 2 | 130 | 321 | 14 | 17th of 20, GMHL | Lost Qualifier Game, 8–9 (Bucks) |
| 2014–15 | 42 | 11 | 31 | — | 0 | 130 | 292 | 22 | 5th of 10, North Div. 17th of 22, GMHL |
Won Div. Qualifier Game, 5–4 OT (Spartans) Lost Div. Semi-finals, 0–3 (Titans) |
| 2015–16 | 37 | 11 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 196 | 244 | 23 | 7th North Div. (Ceased play mid-season) | |
| West Nipissing Lynx | ||||||||||
| 2016–17 | 42 | 13 | 28 | — | 1 | 184 | 268 | 27 | 9th of 10, North Div. 17th of 21, GMHL |
Won 1st Rd. Qualifier Game, 6–5 (Huskies) Lost 8th Place Qualifier Game, 0–8 (Knights) |
| 2017–18 | 42 | 15 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 198 | 228 | 33 | 7th of 9, North Div. 14th of 21, GMHL |
Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Rattlers) |
| 2018–19 | 42 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 189 | 203 | 43 | 6th of 10, North Div. 13th of 22, GMHL |
Won Div. Quarter-finals, 2–1 (Titans) Lost Div. Semi-finals, 0–3 (Rattlers) |
| 2019–20 | 42 | 16 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 177 | 231 | 33 | 8th of 10, North Div. 17th of 23, GMHL |
Won 8th Place Qualifier Game, 7–3 (Shield) Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Titans) |
| 2020–21 | Lost season to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||
| 2021–22 | 38 | 11 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 115 | 191 | 25 | 7th of 10, North Div. 13th of 19, GMHL |
Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Rattlers) |
| 2022–23 | 42 | 16 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 197 | 32 | 5th of 9, North Div. 11th of 16, GMHL |
Lost Div. Quarter-finals, 0–2 (Titans) |
| 2023–24 | 42 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 237 | 151 | 56 | 3rd of 7, North Div. 4th of 16, GMHL |
Won Div. Quarter-finals, 2-0 (Le Becard De Senneterre) Won Div. Semifinals, 3-1 (Ville-Marie Pirates) Lost Div Finals, 0-4 (Rattlers) |
References edit
- ^ "Jr. A Hockey returning to Sturgeon Falls".
- ^ Local female goalie first to play in GMHL. Midland Free Press. October 11, 2012. Section B Page 1.
- ^ "Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks Statement". Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ^ "THE DEATH POOL – GMHL STURGEON FALLS LUMBERJACKS MERCIFULLY KILLED OFF". The Junior Hockey News. 1 February 2016.