skip navigation

Expect a Different Elks Team in 2025 - Jeff McMenemy

By LJHL, 12/19/24, 9:00AM EST

Share

It’s not been the start to the season that the Nipigon Elks wanted but Captain Jeff McMenemy is convinced that the team is turning the corner.

“Lots of guys have been in and out of the lineup, which has created challenges in finding the right chemistry as linemates,” McMenemy noted. “However, the team has started to transition into putting forth a full 60-minute effort, which can hopefully translate into wins in the New Year.”

The Elks collected their two victories against the Thunder Bay Bandits on November 1st and 2nd. They head into 2025 seven points back of the Bandits for fourth in the overall standings.

McMenemy admits they are more of a family than a hockey team.

“Our team had a large turnover this year, but the chemistry has been great overall,” McMenemy added. “We have twenty-three players that are willing to go out there and do anything for their teammates, which shows the bond that we have formed as a group. The best part is how close our team is away from the rink; We hang out together whether it happens before practice, getting dinner after games, or seeing each other at school and work.”

McMenemy is the new Captain of the Elks, taking over for Carter Hargreaves who transitioned from being on the ice last year to being behind the bench this season.

“Having Carter as the coach is weird, to say the least. He was the player who reached out to me when I first moved up to Thunder Bay for University and convinced me to come and play for the Nipigon Elks,” said McMenemy. “We played on a line together and drove to every game together. Now, four years later, both of us are still here, just in different roles.”

“I think Carter has handled the situation very professionally and continues to put everything he has into the team as a coach the same way he did as a player. He holds us accountable and strives to make our team better every day.”

McMenemy feels that Liam Stenlund is someone who has a superior work ethic and does all the little things right on and off the ice.

“Liam shows up every game, goes out there with the same work ethic and determination, and has pride when wearing the Nipigon Elks jersey, which has made him very successful throughout the season thus far. He’s also just such a great teammate, great in the dressing room. All the guys love him, and he really is a coach’s dream to have a player like him.”

The Elks begin the 2025 portion of the schedule with a home and home series against the Schreiber Falcons on Saturday, January 11th in Nipigon and Sunday, January 12th in Schreiber.

The Elks are an original franchise since the league began play in 1993.

The Elks play on the traditional territory of the Robinson-Superior Treaty, home to the Red Rock Indian Band, the Anishinabek, and the Métis People.

The Lakehead Junior Hockey League proudly acknowledges and celebrates the history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada. We also continue to learn and educate ourselves in the spirit of reconciliation.