Espanola Paper Kings

Espanola Paper Kings
City	Espanola, Ontario
League	NOJHL
Founded	2015 (2015)
Home arena	Espanola Regional Recreation Complex
Colours	Oxford blue   Dark green   Pure yellow
Owner(s)	Jason Rapcewicz
General manager	Marc Gagnon
Head coach	Jason Rapcewicz
Website	espanolapaperkings.com
Franchise history
2015–2022	Espanola Express
2022–present	Espanola 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

The Express were one of two expansion teams that entered the league prior to the start of the 2015–16 NOJHL 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]

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. ^[2] Co-coach Jason Rapcewicz took over as head coach. However, after one season, McCarthy returned to Espanola and the head coaching position. ^[3] He left again after one season and was replaced by Dave Clancy from the Rayside-Balfour Canadians.

Espanola Express

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts	Season	Postseason
2015–16	54	12	39	0	3	132	243	27	5th in division 10th overall	Lost first round against Soo Eagles (2:0)
2016–17	56	9	45	1	1	139	297	20	6th in division 11th overall	Did not qualify
2017–18	56	2	52	1	1	114	344	6	6th in division 12th overall	Did not qualify
2018–19	56	10	43	0	3	145	291	23	6th in division 12th overall	Did not qualify
2019–20	56	17	34	0	5	167	247	39	5th in division 10th overall	Lost first round against Soo Eagles (2:0)
2020–21	12	5	4	0	3	46	56	13	Withdrew from competition midseason
2021–22	48	13	31	4	0	150	217	30	6th in division 10th overall	Did not qualify

Source: "Espanola Express hockey team statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 14 November 2025.

Jason Rapcewicz became the sole owner and head coach in 2019. ^[4] The club was rebranded as the Espanola Paper Kings in 2022. ^{[5] [6]}

Espanola Paper Kings

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts	Season	Postseason
2022–23	58	29	24	2	3	233	218	63	4th in division 7th overall	Lost quarterfinal against Greater Sudbury (4:1)
2023–24	58	34	23	1	0	271	219	69	4th in division 7th overall	Lost quarterfinal against Blind River (4:3)
2024–25	52	21	27	3	1	183	237	46	9th overall	Did not qualify

Source: "Espanola Paper Kings hockey team statistics and history". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 14 November 2025.

References

1. "Espanola Scores New Jr. "A" Hockey Team". thejuniorhockeynews.com. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
2. "Espanola Express head coach takes pro coaching job". The Junior Hockey News. 5 August 2016.
3. "Espanola Express announce return of Tom McCarthy as head coach". NOJHL. 10 April 2017.
4. "NOJHL team season preview: Espanola Express". Espanola Express. 31 August 2019.
5. Russell, Rosalind (8 August 2022). "New name, branding and coach for Espanola's NOJHL franchise". My Espanola Now. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
6. Russon, Randy (10 November 2025). "It is 500 NOJHL games coached ... and counting for Jason Rapcewicz". saultthisweek.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 14 November 2025.

Further reading

• "NOJHL team season preview: Espanola Express". midnorthmonitor.com. Postmedia. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
• "New Hockey North Hall of Fame inducts first members". BayToday.ca. Village Media. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
• Russon, Randy (4 August 2025). "Espanola Paper Kings set up for '25-26 NOJHL season with a cast of returnees and newcomers with links to the north including Sault". saultthisweek.com. Postmedia. Retrieved 9 August 2025.