[4] After a five-year absence, professional soccer returned to Northern Ontario with Sudbury Cyclones receiving an NSL franchise.
[7][8] The Cyclones secured a playoff berth in the 1978 season by finishing third but were eliminated in the semifinals to St. Catharines Roma.
[12][13] In early 1981, the club announced its departure from the league which marked the final time that a representative from Sudbury competed in the NSL.
[14][15] A variety of factors such as travel expenses and failure to attract skilled players to the region contributed to the folding of Sudbury along with dwindling attendance numbers.
[3][14] In the club's fledgling years Sudbury occasionally imported players from Southern Ontario and abroad.