NOJHL down to six teams

The defending NOJHL champion Soo Indians will be taking a leave of absence bringing the junior league down to six teams for the start of the 2007-2008 season.

The league made the announcement through a press release on Friday. Recognizing that this decision is one team less than what made up the NOJHL in 2006-2007, teams will play more games in 2007-2008 and the league will play host to a Showcase Tournament in Sault Ste. Marie in early January of which details will be announced at a future date.

The league plans to help current owner Charles Perdicaro find a buyer for the franchise, hopefully in Soo, Michigan.

In the press release interim commissioner Hec Seguin said if all goes according to plan the league could bring in two more teams for the start of the 2008-2009 season.

"Ville Marie has indicated to the league that they will take the next year to get their finances in order and we will see the same from a new group in Soo, Michigan. We fully expect to be an eight-team league for the 2008-2009 season," Seguin said in a written a written statement.

"The league is quite comfortable operating with six teams for 2007-2008 season. The six franchises are all stable and the last thing we need is a franchise that the league would be worried about."

Now, as a six-team league, the NOJHL teams will play a 50 game regular season in 2007-2008, up from the 48 games of previous seasons. Teams will play one another 10 times this season and all teams will qualify for the playoffs.

The NOJHL is still taking applications for the position of Commissioner. Hector Seguin is serving as acting commissioner until the position is filled.