SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Sunday its schedule for the upcoming Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy championship series between the Soo Thunderbirds and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
This best-of-seven affair will commence Friday at Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie at 7:30 p.m.
That will be followed by Game 2 on Saturday at 7 p.m. back at Essar Centre.
From there, the series will shift to the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex in Kirkland Lake for Game 3 & 4 April 21-22 in a pair of 7 p.m. starts.
If necessary, Game 5 is slated for Sunday, April 24 at Essar Centre at 7:30 p.m.
Game 6, if required, is slated for Tuesday, April in Kirkland Lake at 7 p.m.
Should the series go the distance, Game 7 would be held on Thursday, April 28 in Sault Ste. Marie at 7:30 p.m. at Essar Centre.
Also of note, as Kirkland Lake is the host club for the 2016 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship May 3-7, the Thunderbirds automatically advance to join the Gold Miners at the four-team event as the other NOJHL representative, regardless of the outcome of the league final.
Both sides will be joined by the champions of both the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Superior International Junior Hockey League with a berth to the RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A championship in Lloydminster, Alta., later in May on the line for the DHC winner.
All NOJHL playoff games are available online
NOJHL championship
For the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy
Soo Thunderbirds vs. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Friday, April 15 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
Game 2: Saturday, April 16 Sault Ste. Marie 7 p.m. (Essar Centre)
Game 3: Thursday, April 21 @ Kirkland Lake 7 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac Community Complex)
Game 4: Friday, April 22 @ Kirkland Lake 7 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac Community Complex)
Game 5*: Sunday, April 24 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
Game 6*: Tuesday, April 26 @ Kirkland Lake 7 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac Community Complex)
Game 7*: Thursday, April 28 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
*- if necessary
