The current incarnation of the NOJHL comprises twelve teams located in Ontario and Michigan.

Marie, Michigan, and Timmins the league is spread across the southern region of Northeastern Ontario.

[6] The NOHA Jr. B Hockey League was formed in 1970 with a North and South division and teams in Capreol, Levak, Kapuskasing, amongst others.

The Onaping Falls Huskies moved from Levack in 1974,[7] and the Nickel Centre Native Sons, Coniston Flyers, and Sudbury North Stars joined in 1976 when the NOHA merged their small Juvenile league into Jr.

The Nickel Centre Power Trains defeated the Owen Sound Greys 4-games-to-2 for the right to compete for the Dudley Hewitt Cup—the Central Canadian Junior "A" Championship.

In 1996, Rouyn-Noranda folded to make way for a new Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team that was moving to their town.

A year later, Nickel Centre moved to Blind River and the Sudbury Northern Wolves were founded.

Finally, in 2005, the league's most dominant team in history and the last remaining shred of the original NOJHL, Rayside-Balfour, folded.

At the same time, Temiscaming Royals owner Steve McCharles was attempting to sell his team, but folded after a deal fell through with a group from Kirkland Lake.

However, in December 2011, the Blue Devils were folding mid-season as a result of owner Bob Kasner being suspended for 6 months for roster violations.

The NOJHL is the first league in Canadian Junior A hockey to target either of these hot button issues.

The Espanola Rivermen were added to the NOJHL for 2013–14, but left after one season to join the non-Hockey Canada sanctioned Canadian International Hockey League.

The Sudbury Nickel Barons, for the second time pulled out of hosting the Dudley-Hewitt Cup due to the relocation and the lack of support in the community.

The league grew to 10 teams with the addition of the French River Rapids of Noëlville, Ontario.

In May 2015, the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League applied and were approved to return to the NOJHL after leaving in 2012 due to the Michigan-based NAHL teams either folding or relocating.

[12][13] On 31 December 2024, the league announced that the Elliot Lake Vikings was taking a leave of absence for the remainder of the 2024–25 NOJHL season due to "extenuating circumstances resulting from the ongoing closure of Rogers Arena, formerly Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake."