The Greater Sudbury Cubs have forfeited their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) franchise, the club announced in an email to the league on July 16.
The Burgess family, owners of the Cubs, confirmed in an office-manager email that the organisation will not provide further comment. A copy of the email from the team to the NOJHL was provided to Sudbury.com and outlines several factors driving the decision, including what the owners described as the “unfettered movement of players” and an exodus to Southern Ontario leagues for greater exposure. The message also cited the high cost of participation and a shrinking pool of players.
Reason given by owners
“All of these factors have made it untenable to operate in the NOJHL.”
The email stated the decision is a voluntary forfeiture and self-termination of the franchise, effective immediately. The Burgess family — long-time local hockey operators and former part owners of the Ontario Hockey League's Sudbury Wolves (sold in 2016) — said they are returning the club’s membership to the league as of July 16, 2026.
Immediate local implications
- Schedule disruption: The NOJHL released its 2026-27 regular-season schedule the same day; the Cubs had been slated to open on Sept. 10.
- Player uncertainty: Players on the Cubs’ roster will need to pursue other team options, whether within the NOJHL, in other junior circuits or alternative leagues.
- Impact on development pathway: The loss of a three-time consecutive league champion alters local junior-hockey opportunities for Sudbury-area prospects.
What the club plans next
Despite leaving the NOJHL, the Burgess family said the Sudbury Cubs organisation is actively exploring opportunities in other leagues for both men and women in the junior age bracket, potentially as early as the 2026-27 season. The email did not identify specific leagues or timelines.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Effective date of forfeiture | July 16, 2026 |
| Recent achievement | NOJHL champions for the third straight season (spring 2026) |
| Next possible season in new league | As early as 2026-27 |
InfoRadar contacted NOJHL commissioner Robert Mazzuca for comment but had not received a reply by the time of publication. The Cubs’ office manager, Karen Burgess, replied by email that “at this point there are no other comments being made.”
Broader context
The owners’ email framed the decision within what it called a changing landscape for Tier 2 junior hockey: competition from other leagues recruiting openly across regions, the migration of players to Southern Ontario for greater exposure, and rising costs that have reduced participation numbers. Those dynamics, according to the club, combined to make continued operation in the NOJHL unsustainable.
The sudden departure of a prominent Sudbury junior club raises questions for local stakeholders — including players, coaches, sponsors and arena operators — about roster placements, travel and the future of competitive junior hockey in the city. The club’s stated interest in exploring other leagues leaves open the possibility of a continued local presence under a different structure or affiliation, but no definite path was announced.
Further developments are likely as the NOJHL and the club respond to the franchise forfeiture and as players and coaches determine their next steps for the 2026-27 season.
