Espanola Rivermen

The Espanola Rivermenhttp://www.thesudburystar.com/2013/08/14/espanola-decides-on-rivermen were a Canadian junior ice hockey franchise based in Espanola, Ontario, Canada.http://www.espanola.ca/index.php/rec-complex/nojhl-in-espanola They were founded as a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League,http://www.nojhl.com/page/show/877646-espanola-jr-a-hockey but joined the Canadian International Hockey League after one season.
==History==
The Espanola Rivermen were granted expansion in the summer of 2013 to the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.http://www.northernlife.ca/news/sports/2013/06/28-espanola-hockey-sudbury.aspx They are the first junior club in Espanola since the demise of the Espanola Kings of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League and first NOJHL franchise since the Espanola Screaming Eagles.http://www.azhockey.com/Es.htm
As a condition of expansion, Tim Clayden, former owner of the North Bay Trappershttp://thejuniorhockeynews.com/?p=10881 and the Trenton Golden Hawks,http://pointstreaksites.com/view/solutions/pointstreak-solutions-news/news_2612 would have to sell his Trappers' franchise to get the team in Espanola. When a buyer was found for the Trappers, his expansion was granted.
The Rivermen's first game was played in Kirkland Lake, Ontario against the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners on September 6, 2013.http://thetrappers.ca/nojhl-announces-2013-14-schedule/http://www.nojhl.com/schedule/team_instance/481957?subseason=113759 Despite an early 2-0 lead, the Rivermen would lose the game 8-3. Brandon Janke scored the first goal in team history, while Griffin Strain played the game in net.http://www.nojhl.com/game/show/5426278 The next night, the Rivermen traveled to Iroquois Falls, Ontario to play the Abitibi Eskimos where the Rivermen won 3-1 to pick up their first franchise victory. Strain would get the win in net.http://www.nojhl.com/game/show/5426283 The Rivermen's first home game was on September 27, 2013, as they host the Sudbury Nickel Barons.http://www.thesudburystar.com/2013/08/02/nickel-barons-host-eskis-to-open-season The Rivermen would win the game 5-4. The first home ice goal was scored by Cray Roberge, 14:35 into the first period, on a penalty shot. Brennan Dubchak would score the eventual winning goal 9:04 into the third period while Griffin Strain made 44 saves to pick up the historic win.http://www.nojhl.com/game/show/5424945?subseason=113759&referrer=843340
In the summer of 2014, Clayden opted to pull the Rivermen out of the NOJHL to form his own league. The newly formed Canadian International Hockey League boasted 8 teams, but within months lost most of its teams. The CIHL season ended with only two teams and the Town of Espanola cancelling their contract with the Rivermen organization. The CIHL folded in the spring of 2015 and Espanola had an NOJHL team within weeks, with the Espanola Express for the 2015–16 season.
==Season-by-season results==
Season 	GP	W 	L 	T	OTL	GF 	GA 	P 	Results 	Playoffs
2013–14	56	32	23	0	1 	218	187	65	3rd NOJHL	Lost Semi-final
2014–15	38	22	14	0	2 	123	117	46	2nd CIHL 	Lost Final, 0-4 (Attack)
==References==
==External links==
*Espanola Jr. A Hockey Club Webpage
Category:Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League teams
Category:Established in 2013
Category:Disestablished in 2015