SUDBURY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Saturday that the originally scheduled contest tonight (Jan. 5) between the Timmins Rock and French River Rapids has been postponed, along with the Timmins Rock vs. Powassan Voodoos on Sunday, January 6 and the French River/Powassan game on Monday, January 7.
The cause of the postponements is as result of the Rapids team bus that was involved in an accident on Highway 64 early Saturday morning as the club was returning home from a road game in Kirkland Lake.
There were no injuries reported with anyone on the bus.
As a result of the adjustment of the travel schedule for the Rock, their Sunday afternoon meeting at the Powassan Voodoos has also been called off.
“The entire NOJHL is extremely thankful that no one was seriously hurt in the incident as French River traveled home last night,” stated league commissioner Robert Mazzuca.
“The quick thinking of the team’s bus driver undoubtedly prevented the potential of a very serious incident from occurring and we commend him for his actions.
“Traveling to and from games is something teams in every sport deal on a continuous basis and in lieu of the tragic events involving the Humboldt Broncos in April, the NOJHL is making available counselling, with assistance from the Canadian Mental Health Association, for the entire French River Rapids organization, along with any other league member clubs, over this very close call,” provided the NOJHL Commissioner.
The NOJHL also sincerely commends Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, the Ontario Hockey Federation and all of its member partners for their prompt response to this situation.
The league would also like to thank the billet families, and all the supporters of the Rapids for all their contributions and assistance over the past 12 hours.
The NOJHL will announce the dates in which these match-ups will be rescheduled once finalized by the clubs and the league.
