The Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks of the non-sanctioned Greater Metro Junior ‘A’ Hockey League announced they will “cease operations for the remainder of the 2015-16 season.”
The team made the announcement through social media on Saturday.
The Lumberjacks were down to less than 10 players on their roster and owner Lui Ricci insisted the mid season fold had nothing to do with the financial status of the hockey club.
BayToday.ca learned the team was down to less than 10 players.
“Last week we lost several players to injury, along with certain players battling injury, it has become unsafe to play,” Ricci noted in his statement.
“Also our organization has players attending Nipissing University and with the faculty strike earlier this year it made players attending games and practices almost impossible with the condensed work load, we felt at this time it was not safe to continue.”
Ricci added he will take the next few months to evaluate their position but stated he looks forward to being back for the 2016-17 season.
“Our community, fans, billets, and sponsors are second to none and we look forward to being back next year,” he said.
Ricci brought the Lumberjacks to the West Nipissing community in the fall of 2010, replacing the Nipissing Alouettes who folded the year before.
The high point for the Lumberjacks was back in 2012 when they beat the Temiscaming Titans to capture the GMHL championship after compiling an impressive 35-7 regular season record that year.
Through 37 games this year, the Lumberjacks struggled to a 11-25-0-1 record.
