Espanola Rivermen Explained

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Bg Color:blue
Text Color:yellow
Team:Espanola Rivermen
City:Espanola, Ontario, Canada
League:NOJHL
CIHL
Operated:2013[1] –2015
Arena:Espanola Regional Recreational Complex
Owner:Tim Clayden
Coach:Tom McCarthy[2]
Gm:Chad Clarke

The Espanola Rivermen[3] were a Canadian junior ice hockey franchise based in Espanola, Ontario, Canada.[4] They were founded as a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League,[5] but joined the Canadian International Hockey League after one season.

History

The Espanola Rivermen were granted expansion in the summer of 2013 to the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.[6] They are the first junior club in Espanola since the demise of the Espanola Kings of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League and first NOJHL franchise since the Espanola Screaming Eagles.

As a condition of expansion, Tim Clayden, former owner of the North Bay Trappers[7] and the Trenton Golden Hawks,[8] would have to sell his Trappers' franchise to get the team in Espanola. When a buyer was found for the Trappers, his expansion was granted.

The Rivermen's first game was played in Kirkland Lake, Ontario against the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners on September 6, 2013.[9] [10] Despite an early 2–0 lead, the Rivermen would lose the game 8–3. Brandon Janke scored the first goal in team history, while Griffin Strain played the game in net.[11] The next night, the Rivermen traveled to Iroquois Falls, Ontario to play the Abitibi Eskimos where the Rivermen won 3–1 to pick up their first franchise victory. Strain would get the win in net.[12] The Rivermen's first home game was on September 27, 2013, as they host the Sudbury Nickel Barons.[13] The Rivermen would win the game 5–4. The first home ice goal was scored by Cray Roberge, 14:35 into the first period, on a penalty shot. Brennan Dubchak would score the eventual winning goal 9:04 into the third period while Griffin Strain made 44 saves to pick up the historic win.[14]

In the summer of 2014, Clayden opted to pull the Rivermen out of the NOJHL to form his own league. The newly formed Canadian International Hockey League boasted 8 teams, but within months lost most of its teams. The CIHL season ended with only two teams and the Town of Espanola cancelling their contract with the Rivermen organization. The CIHL folded in the spring of 2015 and Espanola had an NOJHL team within weeks, with the Espanola Express for the 2015–16 season.

Season-by-season results

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
2013–14 56 32 23 0 1 218 187 65 3rd NOJHL Lost semi-final
2014–15 38 22 14 0 2 123 117 46 2nd CIHL Lost final, 0-4 (Attack)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Espanola returns. Timmins Press More from Timmins Press Published on. June 28. 2013 | Last Updated. June 28. 2013 2:42 Pm. Edt. June 28, 2013. November 14, 2019.
  2. Web site: Espanola NOJHL entry brings Trappers' top guns | Sault This Week . 2013-08-15 . 2014-08-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808041800/http://www.saultthisweek.com/2013/07/22/espanola-entry-brings-experience-talent-into-nojhl . dead .
  3. Web site: Espanola decides on Rivermen Sudbury Star . www.thesudburystar.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140408215258/http://www.thesudburystar.com/2013/08/14/espanola-decides-on-rivermen . 2014-04-08.
  4. Web site: NOJHL in Espanola . 2013-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407092802/http://www.espanola.ca/index.php/rec-complex/nojhl-in-espanola . 2014-04-07 . dead .
  5. Web site: Espanola Jr. A Hockey Club | Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League | Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League . 2013-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130719214544/http://www.nojhl.com/page/show/877646-espanola-jr-a-hockey . 2013-07-19 . dead .
  6. Web site: Espanola makes official return to Junior A hockey. Sudbury.com. November 14, 2019.
  7. Web site: NOJHL to Add Espanola in 2013? | the Junior Hockey News . 2013-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025301/http://thejuniorhockeynews.com/?p=10881 . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  8. Web site: Pointstreak Sites | Pointstreak Solutions | OJHL approves Preds move to Trenton . 2013-08-15 . https://archive.today/20130815004746/http://pointstreaksites.com/view/solutions/pointstreak-solutions-news/news_2612 . 2013-08-15 . dead .
  9. Web site: NOJHL announces 2013-14 schedule – North Bay Jr. 'A' Trappers . 2013-08-15 . https://archive.today/20130815005921/http://thetrappers.ca/nojhl-announces-2013-14-schedule/ . 2013-08-15 . dead .
  10. Web site: Game Schedule - 2013-2014 Regular Season - Espanola Rivermen . 2013-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140409194132/http://www.nojhl.com/schedule/team_instance/481957?subseason=113759 . 2014-04-09 . dead .
  11. Web site: Espanola Rivermen at Kirkland Lake Gold Miners - 2013-2014 Regular Season . 2013-09-07 . https://archive.today/20130907025411/http://www.nojhl.com/game/show/5426278 . 2013-09-07 . dead .
  12. Web site: Espanola Rivermen at Abitibi Eskimos - 2013-2014 Regular Season . 2013-09-08 . https://archive.today/20130908023637/http://www.nojhl.com/game/show/5426283 . 2013-09-08 . dead .
  13. Web site: Nickel Barons host Eskis to open season. KEITH DEMPSEY More from KEITH DEMPSEY Published on. August 2. 2013 | Last Updated. August 2. 2013 2:07 Am. Edt. August 2, 2013. November 14, 2019.
  14. Web site: Sudbury Nickel Barons at Espanola Rivermen - 2013-2014 Regular Season . 2013-09-28 . https://archive.today/20130928042114/http://www.nojhl.com/game/show/5424945?subseason=113759&referrer=843340 . 2013-09-28 . dead .

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