SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League has today released its’ 2018 preseason schedule.
There are numerous exhibition contests on the slate, highlighted with the annual Polar Bear Classic in Cochrane and Iroquois Falls.
Game action will commence Saturday, Aug. 25 with the Cochrane Crunch and Timmins Rock playing a neutral site game at the Jus Jordan Arena in Iroquois Falls.
Game action will continue Sunday, Aug. 26 as the Powassan Voodoos travel to take on the Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL) at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday evening, the French River Rapids host the Espanola Express in another 7 p.m. start at Noelville Arena.
Tuesday, Aug. 28 has another NOJHL side, in the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, on the road as they head to Rouyn Noranda, Que., to take on the Abitibi-Temiscaming Gaillards at 7:30 p.m.
Next up has Powassan visiting French River to meet the Rapids at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
A pair of tilts are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 30 with the Hearst Lumberjacks facing off with the Timmins Rock in a neutral site affair at Jus Jordan Arena in Iroquois Falls.
That same night French River visits Espanola in another 7:30 p.m. start.
Friday, Aug. 31 sees the Polar Bear Classic commence as French River meets Kirkland Lake at 3:30 p.m. at Tim Horton Event Centre.
The nightcap there features the host Cochrane Crunch meeting the Pelham Panthers (GOJHL) at 8 p.m.
Another preseason match-up that night has Hearst entertaining Timmins at Claude Larose Arena at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 1 has four more PBC games on the docket while the event will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 2 with semifinal action and the championship game.
Also on tap during the Polar Bear Classic will be five AAA midget contests featuring the Timmins Majors, Kapuskasing Flyers and the Rouyn Noranda Citadelles.
The following is the 2018 NOJHL preseason schedule:
CLICK HERE to view preseason results.
| GM | DATE | VISITOR | HOME | TIME | VENUE |
| 1 | Saturday, Aug. 25 | Cochrane Crunch | Timmins Rock | 7:30 p.m. | Jus Jordan Arena |
| 2 | Sunday, Aug. 26 | Powassan Voodoos | Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL) | 7 p.m. | Pembroke & Area Community Centre |
| 3 | Tuesday, Aug. 28 | Espanola Express | French River Rapids | 7 p.m. | Noelville Arena |
| 4 | Tuesday, Aug. 28 | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | Abitibi-Temiscaming Gaillards (RSEQ) | 7:30 p.m. | Imagold Arena |
| 5 | Wednesday, Aug. 29 | Powassan Voodoos | French River Rapids | 7 p.m. | Noelville Arena |
| 6 | Wednesday, Aug. 29 | Cochrane Crunch | Hearst Lumberjacks | 7 p.m. | Claude Larose Arena |
| 7 | Thursday, Aug. 30 | Hearst Lumberjacks | Timmins Rock | 7:30 p.m. | Jus Jordan Arena |
| 8 | Thursday, Aug. 30 | French River Rapids | Espanola Express | 7:30 p.m. | Regional Recreation Centre |
| 9 | Thursday, Aug. 30 | Abitibi-Temiscaming Gaillards (RSEQ) | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | 7:00 p.m. | Kirkland Lake Community Complex |
| 10 | Thursday, Aug. 30 | Soo Thunderbirds | Soo Eagles | 6 p.m. | Big Bear Arena |
| 11* | Friday, Aug. 31 | French River Rapids | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | 3:30 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 12 | Friday, Aug. 31 | Timmins Rock | Hearst Lumberjacks | 7 p.m. | Claude Larose Arena |
| 13* | Friday, Aug. 31 | Pelham Panthers (GOJHL) | Cochrane Crunch | 8 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 14 | Friday, Aug. 31 | Soo Eagles | Soo Thunderbirds | 8 p.m. | John Rhodes Arena |
| 15* | Saturday, Sept. 1 | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | Pelham Panthers (GOJHL) | 10:30 a.m. | Jus Jordan Arena |
| 16* | Saturday, Sept. 1 | Cochrane Crunch | French River Rapids | 10:30 a.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 17* | Saturday, Sept. 1 | Pelham Panthers (GOJHL) | French River Rapids | 3 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 18* | Saturday, Sept. 1 | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | Cochrane Crunch | 6 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 19* | Sunday, Sept. 2 | 4th Round Robin | 1st Round Robin | 12:30 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 20* | Sunday, Sept. 2 | 3rd Round Robin | 2nd Round Robin | 12:30 p.m. | Jus Jordan Arena |
| 21* | Sunday, Sept. 2 | Semifinal Winner | Semifinal Winner | 6 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| * – Polar Bear Classic at Cochrane and Iroquois Falls | |||||
| Polar Bear Classic AAA Midget Division Schedule | |||||
| GM | DATE | VISITOR | HOME | TIME | VENUE |
| 1 | Friday, Aug. 31 | Kapuskasing Flyers | Timmins Majors | 5:45 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 2 | Saturday, Sept. 1 | Timmins Majors | Rouyn Noranda Citadelles | 12:45 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 3 | Saturday, Sept. 1 | Rouyn Noranda Citadelles | Kapuskasing Flyers | 8:15 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 4 | Sunday, Sept. 2 | 3rd Round Robin | 2nd Round Robin | 10 a.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
| 5 | Sunday, Sept. 2 | Semifinal Winner | 1st Round Robin | 3 p.m. | Tim Horton Event Centre |
CLICK HERE to view preseason results.
