Elliot Lake Vikings
| Elliot Lake Vikings | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Elliot Lake |
| League | Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League |
| Operated | 1965-1999 |
| Home arena | Centennial Arena |
| Colours | Yellow, Red, Black, and White |
| Franchise history | |
| 1965-1997 | Elliot Lake Vikings |
| 1997-1999 | Elliot Lake Ice |
The Elliot Lake Vikings was a Canadian Junior ice hockey team that originally began playing in the International Junior B Hockey League in 1965. In 1981 the team moved to the Tier II Junior A Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. The team was located in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada.
The Elliot Lake Vikings Junior Hockey Club was founded and first played in the International Junior B Hockey League in 1965 under the NOHA jurisdiction. The league consisted of the following teams: The Elliot Lake Vikings, the Blind River Beavers, the Thessalon Flyers, the Sault Ste Marie Thunderbirds (1976), the Sault Ste Marie (Michigan) Indians, the Wawa Travellers, the Chapleau Huskies, and the Marquette Americans (1977).
Mr. Peter Svela was the original catalyst of starting up the Elliot Lake Vikings. The team was fairly competitive until 1970 under the coaching of Mr. Barry Johnston. From 1966 to 1971 the dominant teams in the league were the Chapleau Huskies, the Blind River Beavers and the Soo Michigan Indians.
From 1971 to 1973 the team was poorly managed, was not competitive and was on the verge of bankruptcy. It is important to note that the original charter for the team was set up as a non-profit organization and relied on various fundraising activities to meet its financial requirements.
Prior to the 1974 season a new executive was elected, holding over several of the previous board of directors members, and John Berthelot Sr. was appointed as the new president and head coach. Through the generosity and assistance of two of the major creditors of the club and with the hard work of the executive, the team started rebuilding the club's finances. In 1974 the club had great difficulties in acquiring not just enough talented players, but often weren't even able to ice a full roster for games.
...
Wikipedia