Espanola Paper Kings

The Espanola Paper Kings formerly the Espanola Express are a team based in Espanola, Ontario. They are based out of the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex. The team was founded in 2015 as an Expansion team in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The team replaced the Canadian International Hockey League team in town; the Espanola Rivermen. The team had previously been in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League for the 2013-14 season, but withdrew to form the CIHL. The CIHL was down to two teams by the end of the 2014-15 season. With it being apparent that the CIHL might not take to the ice for the 2015-16 season, a local group came forward to secure a lease at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex and gain an expansion team in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The town previously had four other NOJHL teams:
*Espanola Eagles (1978-1988) left league and franchise sold to etablish Haileybury 54's organization
*Espanola Eagles (1991-1995) folded
*Espanola Screaming Eagles (1998-2003) relocated to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and were renamed Northern Michigan Black Bears and are now the Soo Eagles who rejoined the league for 2015-16
*Espanola Rivermen (2013-2014) withdrew to form Canadian International Hockey League
The town also previously had a franchise in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League; the Espanola Kings who were members of the league from 2007-2009
The Espanola Eagles had previously been a member of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association from 1962-1971 when the team dropped out of the league.
The team would be announced as being renamed the Paper Kings in August of 2022 to better reflect its connection to the community as the paper making industry has been vital to the community for over 100 years.https://www.hockeynewsnorth.com/nojhl/new-moniker-in-espanola/
===Season by Season===
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OL 	Pts 	GF 	GA 	Standing 	Playoffs
2015-16 	54 	12 	39 	0 	3 	27 	132 	243 	5th of 6, West1th of 12, NOJHL 	L, Play-In 0-2 Soo Eagles
2016-17 	56 	9 	45 	1 	1 	20 	139 	297 	6th West11th of 12 NOJHL 	Did not qualify
2017-18 	56 	2 	52 	1 	1 	6 	114 	344 	6th West12th of 12 NOJHL 	Did not qualify
2018-19 	56 	10 	43 	0 	3 	23 	145 	291 	6th West 	Did not qualify
2019-20 	56 	17 	34 	1 	4 	39 	167 	247 	5th West 	L, Play-In 0-2 Soo Eagles
2020–21 	12 	5 	4 	— 	3 	46 	56 	13 	Withdrew from season due to the COVID-19 pandemic	Withdrew from season due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 	48 	13 	31 	4 	0 	150 	217 	30 	6th of 6, West10th of 12, NOJHL 	Did not qualify
Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings	Espanola Paper Kings 	Espanola Paper Kings
2022–23 	58 	29 	24 	2 	3 	233 	218 	63 	4th of 6, West7th 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, West7th of 12, NOJHL 	Lost Div. Semifinals, 3-4 vs. Blind River Beavers
==References==
==External links==
*Espanola Express webpage
Category:Established in 2015
Category:Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League team