LumberJacks to celebrate 55 years with anniversary weekend

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

SCUGOG: The Port Perry LumberJacks will open their 2026-27 Provincial Junior Hockey League season with a celebration of the past and a clear goal for the future.

The club will mark its 55th season of junior hockey this autumn, while joining the Township of Scugog's celebration of the 50th anniversary of Scugog Arena in a special anniversary weekend, on September 19th and 20th.

The weekend will pay tribute to the franchise’s roots, including its early years as the Port Perry Flamingos. The team entered the league under the sponsorship of Flamingo Pastries, a partnership which remained part of the club’s identity for decades, before the team became the Port Perry Mojacks and eventually the LumberJacks.

For, Director of Hockey Operations, Brad Bricknell, the anniversary provides an opportunity to recognize the many people who have helped build junior hockey in Port Perry.

“Fifty-five years is a pretty remarkable accomplishment for any junior hockey organization,” said Mr. Bricknell. “There have been so many players, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, families and fans who have put their time into this team over the years. We want to make sure we celebrate that history and the people who made it possible, while also creating some new memories for the next generation of LumberJacks fans.”

The celebration begins Saturday, September 19th, when Port Perry hosts the newest addition to the Orr Division, the Scarborough Knights, at 2:25 p.m.

The Knights have relocated from Caledon and will provide the LumberJacks with their first test of the new season.

The weekend will then shift, from welcoming a new division opponent, to renewing one of the area’s oldest rivalries.

On Sunday afternoon, Port Perry will face the Uxbridge Bruins, in a Battle of North Durham. The Bruins will also be celebrating a milestone this season, as they mark their 50th anniversary.

For General Manager Tom Parish, the weekend is about recognizing the club’s history, without losing sight of what the LumberJacks are trying to accomplish on the ice.

“It’s great to celebrate 55 years, but we’re not looking at this as a history lesson,” said Mr. Parish. “We want to honour the people who came before us, but at the same time, this group has an opportunity to write its own chapter. Our goal is to compete for an Orr Division championship, and we know what it’s going to take to get there.”

Port Perry has not won the Orr Division since 2016, leaving the LumberJacks with plenty of motivation, as they begin another campaign.

The anniversary weekend will also bring former players back to the arena, including former team captain Matt Paul, who knows first-hand what it means to wear the LumberJacks jersey in front of a Port Perry crowd.

“There’s something special about playing junior hockey in a community like Port Perry,” said Mr. Paul. “When you put on that jersey, you understand you’re representing more than just yourself. You’re representing the players who wore it before you, your teammates, and the people in the stands who have supported this team for generations. To see the organization celebrating 55 years and the arena celebrating 50 is pretty special.”

That connection between the team, their longtime home rink, and the community will be at the centre of the anniversary weekend.

From the Flamingos to the Mojacks and eventually the LumberJacks, the franchise has undergone its share of changes. Yet, through all of the names and generations of players, junior hockey has remained a fixture at Scugog Arena.

Now, the LumberJacks are hoping the milestone season can provide the backdrop for another memorable run.

The last Orr Division championship came a decade ago. As Port Perry prepares to celebrate its history, the club will also be looking to make some of its own.

“We can appreciate everything which came before us,” said Mr. Bricknell, “but ultimately, we want to give the community something new to celebrate.”