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Espanola Paper Kings

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Espanola Paper Kings
CityEspanola, Ontario
LeagueNorthern Ontario Junior Hockey League
DivisionWest
Founded2015
Home arenaEspanola Regional Recreation Complex
ColoursBlue, green and white
     
Owner(s)Jason Rapcewicz[1]
General managerMarc Gagnon
Head coachJason Rapcewicz
Franchise history
2015–2022Espanola Express
2022–presentEspanola Paper Kings

The Espanola Paper Kings are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team based out of Espanola, Ontario. They are members of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) and play their home games at the Espanola Regional Recreational Complex.

History

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The Express were one of two expansion teams that entered the league prior to the start of the 2015–16 season. The team hired former NHL forward Tom McCarthy as its first head coach. McCarthy had previously coached the Espanola Rivermen prior to the teams disbandment.[1] The team played its first game on September 11, 2015, losing at home 4-1 to the Rayside-Balfour Canadians before a crowd of 346.[2] After losing the first six games in franchise history, the team picked up its first victory with a 3-2 win against the Blind River Beavers.[3] Espanola made the playoffs in their first season just ahead of the Blind River Beavers. However, they fell to the Soo Eagles in a best-of-three series 2 games to 0. Espanola finished last in the league attendance wise, averaging only 181 fans per game.

In August 2016, coach McCarthy announced he was taking a head coaching position with HSC Csíkszereda in the Romanian Hockey League but would also remain involved with the Express as one of the owners.[4] Co-coach Jason Rapcewicz took over as head coach. However, after one season, McCarthy returned to Espanola and the head coaching position.[5] He left again after one season and was replaced by Dave Clancy from the Rayside-Balfour Canadians.

Prior to the 2019–20 season, Jason Rapcewicz became the sole owner of the team and took over as general manager from former owner Chad Clarke.[6]

Season-by-season records

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Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts Result Playoffs
2015–16 54 12 39 0 3 132 243 27 5th of 6, West
10th of 12, NOJHL		 Lost Div. Play-in Series, 0–2 vs. Soo Eagles
2016–17 56 9 45 1 1 139 297 20 6th of 6, West
11th of 12, NOJHL		 Did not qualify
2017–18 56 2 52 1 1 114 344 6 6th of 6, West
12th of 12, NOJHL		 Did not qualify
2018–19 56 10 43 — 3 145 291 23 6th of 6, West
12th of 12, NOJHL		 Did not qualify
2019–20 56 17 34 — 5 167 247 39 5th of 6, West
10th of 12, NOJHL		 Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Soo Eagles
2020–21 12 5 4 — 3 46 56 13 Withdrew from season due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7]
2021–22 48 13 31 4 0 150 217 30 6th of 6, West
10th of 12, NOJHL		 Did not qualify
Espanola Paper Kings
2022–23 58 29 24 2 3 233 218 63 4th of 6, West
7th of 12, NOJHL		 Lost Div. Semifinals, 1-4 vs. Greater Sudbury Cubs
2023–24 58 34 23 1 0 271 219 69 4th of 6, West
7th of 12, NOJHL		 Lost Div. Semifinals, 3-4 vs. Blind River Beavers

References

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  1. ^ a b "ESPANOLA SCORES NEW JR. "A" HOCKEY TEAM". The Junior Hockey News. May 13, 2015.
  2. ^ http://www.leaguestat.com/nojhl/nojhl/en/stats/text-game-report.php?game_id=2679
  3. ^ http://www.leaguestat.com/nojhl/nojhl/en/stats/text-game-report.php?game_id=2716
  4. ^ "ESPANOLA EXPRESS HEAD COACH TAKES PRO COACHING JOB". The Junior Hockey News. August 5, 2016.
  5. ^ "ESPANOLA EXPRESS ANNOUNCE RETURN OF TOM MCCARTHY AS HEAD COACH". NOJHL. April 10, 2017.
  6. ^ "NOJHL TEAM SEASON PREVIEW: ESPANOLA EXPRESS". Espanola Express. August 31, 2019.
  7. ^ "COVID-19 restrictions cause season cancellations by Espanola, French River, Rayside-Balfour". NOJHL. March 10, 2021.
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