The Greater Sudbury Cubs have informed Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League officials they will not return for the 2026-27 season, announcing a voluntary forfeiture of their franchise effective July 16, 2026. The decision comes hours after the league released its regular-season schedule that included a Sept. 10 home opener for the Cubs against the Espanola Paper Kings.
Owner cites shifting junior-hockey landscape
In an email to league officials and media, owner Mark Burgess said his company, 601202 Ontario Ltd., and the Sudbury Cubs organisation are terminating their membership and returning the franchise to the league. Burgess pointed to structural changes in Junior A hockey as reasons behind the move, including what he described as increased player movement, competition from other leagues and an exodus of players to southern leagues for greater exposure.
“This is a voluntary forfeiture and self-termination of our franchise. We are returning our membership back to the league as of July 16, 2026.”
Concerns about participation and costs
In his correspondence, Burgess also referenced a declining number of players and the rising cost of participation as factors that made continuing the operation of the club untenable. The announcement arrives after a season that saw the Cubs crowned back-to-back NOJHL champions, and it has immediate implications for the club’s players, staff, season-ticket holders and community partners.
- Franchise status: voluntarily forfeited and returned to the NOJHL as of July 16, 2026.
- Immediate schedule impact: the team’s presence was included in the league schedule released earlier the same day.
- Stated reasons: unfettered player movement, recruitment by other leagues, player exodus to southern leagues and high participation costs.
Local and league consequences
The decision raises questions about the availability of junior-A hockey in Sudbury, where the Cubs had been a recent on-ice success. Returning the membership to the league leaves it to the NOJHL to determine the franchise’s fate — whether it will seek new ownership, relocate the membership, or dissolve the club entirely. It also creates short-term uncertainty for players who may be under contract or relying on the team for development and exposure.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Effective date | July 16, 2026 |
| Next scheduled home opener | Sept. 10, 2026 (vs. Espanola Paper Kings, as per NOJHL schedule) |
The club’s withdrawal also affects local businesses, volunteers and community organisations that support junior hockey through sponsorships, game-day services and youth development programs. The broader concerns Burgess listed—recruitment competition and participation costs—mirror challenges facing junior hockey in other parts of the province and country.
League officials and Cubs representatives have been notified; further statements from the NOJHL or potential new ownership have not been published at this time. The suddenness of the announcement means many details about contracts, futures of players and the status of community commitments remain unresolved.
Sudbury residents and hockey stakeholders will be watching for follow-up announcements from the NOJHL and any interested investors or local groups looking to preserve junior-A hockey in the city.
