Soo Thunderbirds

The Soo Thunderbirds are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL).

For the defunct EPHL team, see Sault Thunderbirds.
Soo Thunderbirds
CitySault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
LeagueNorthern Ontario Junior Hockey League
DivisionWestern
Founded1999
Home arenaJohn Rhodes Community Centre
ColoursOrange, blue, and white
              
Owner(s)Darren Smyl
General managerVacant
Head coachJohn Parco (2017–18)
AffiliatesSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Franchise history
1999–2002Soo Thunderbirds
2002–2003Sault Ste. Marie Jr. Greyhounds
2003–presentSoo Thunderbirds
Championships
Playoff championships4: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016

History

Soo Thunderbirds first came into being as a junior hockey program in from 1978 to 1982 through a group started by the late Zoltan Kovacs, Sr.[1] Zoltan, who emigrated to Canada from Hungary in 1956, started the Thunderbirds of the former International Junior B Hockey League to keep more young hockey players at home.[2][3] Abbie Carricato coached the Thunderbirds during Zoltan's ownership period (1978-1982).[4] The Thunderbirds won three IJHL championships during Zoltan's ownership. The IJHL later folded.

The Soo Thunderbirds announced they would become the Soo Jr. Greyhounds for 2002–03 to establish closer relations with the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. This only lasted one season and became the Soo Thunderbirds once again.

In 2012, the Thunderbirds won the NOJHL League Championship as well as the coveted Dudley Hewitt Cup. They went on to play at the Royal Bank Cup in Humboldt, Saskatchewan where they lost in the semifinals. The Thunderbirds wonn NOJHL titles back-to-back in 2014–15 and 2015–16. In 2015, the Thunderbirds would again win the Dudley Hewitt Cup but lose in the finals in 2016.

Following the 2015–16 season and Dudley Hewitt Cup campaign, it was announced that owner, Albert Giommi, had sold the organization to a group called The Tech 921 Ltd., led by former National Hockey League player and Ontario Hockey League coach, Denny Lambert.[5] Following the sale, general manager Jamie Henderson and team president Kevin Cain both resigned.[6] Head coach Jordan Smith was later also assigned the general manager position.[7]

In 2017, the team was struggling financially and the ownership had not committed playing the 2017–18 season.[8] On March 17, local businessman Darren Smyl took over operations of the Thunderbirds in order to keep the team from leaving.[9] However, general manager and head coach Jordan Smith would move on to become the associate coach of the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League.[10] Smith would be replaced by John Parco, a local who played most of his professional career in Europe and had been coaching SG Cortina in Italy. The Thunderbirds also changed rinks and moved into the John Rhodes Community Centre after playing at the Essar Centre. With the ownership change, the Thunderbirds updated to a new color scheme and logo in blue, orange, and white.

Season-by-season results
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsResultPlayoffs
Soo Thunderbirds
1999–004022153—184145473rd NOJHL
2000–01403341224095692nd NOJHLLost Final
2001–024235502347122722nd NOJHLLost Final
Sault Ste. Marie Jr. Greyhounds
2002–034835112—305161722nd NOJHLLost Final
Soo Thunderbirds
2003–044831971266155702nd NOJHLLost Final
2004–0548261723206175575th NOJHLLost Semi-final
2005–0648311601220165632nd NOJHLLost Semi-final
2006–0748222204170184485th NOJHLLost Semi-final
2007–0850339—82061451011st NOJHLLost Final
2008–09503514—1244153712nd NOJHLWon League
2009–10503314—3253154693rd NOJHLLost Final
2010–1150389—3244144791st NOJHLLost Semi-final
2011–125038716245156831st NOJHLWon League
Won Dudley Hewitt Cup
2012–134833933223123722nd NOJHLLost Final
2013–145648512245102991st NOJHLLost Final
2014–155248716271130831st of 4, West
1st of 9, NOJHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Blind River Beavers
Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Elliot Lake Wildcats
Won League Finals, 4–1 vs. Cochrane Crunch
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
2015–16544760124593951st of 6, West
1st of 12, NOJHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Soo Eagles
Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Elliot Lake Wildcats
Won League Finals, 4–0 vs. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
2016–1756431111232134881st of 6, West
2nd of 12, NOJHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 vs. Soo Eagles
2017–1856361612195134762nd of 6, West
3rd of 12, NOJHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Soo Eagles
Lost Div. Finals, 2–4 vs. Rayside-Balfour Canadians
2018–19564411—1221145891st of 6, West
1st of 12, NOJHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Blind River Beavers
Won Div. Finals, 4–2 vs. Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Lost League Finals, 3–4 vs. Hearst Lumberjacks
2019–20563019—7220166673rd of 6, West
6th of 12, NOJHL		Postseason cancelled

Dudley Hewitt Cup

Central Canada Championships
Winners of the NOJHL, OJHL, SIJHL, and Host
Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semi-final to advance against 1st in the finals.

YearRound RobinRecordStandingSemifinalGold Medal Game
2009L, Fort William North Stars (SIJHL) 0-2
L, Schreiber Diesels (SIJHL/Host) 0-2
L, Kingston Voyageurs (OJHL) 0-3		0-0-34th of 4Did not advance
2012OTW, Wisconsin Wilderness (SIJHL) 4-3
W, Thunder Bay North Stars (Host) 4-3
L, Stouffville Spirit (OJHL) 2-10		2-1-02nd of 4W, Thunder Bay North Stars 8-5W, Stouffville Spirit 5-3
Dudley Hewitt Cup Champions
2015W, Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL) 8-1
W, Fort Frances Lakers (Host) 6-3
OTL, Toronto Patriots (OJHL) 3-4		2-0-11st of 4n/aW, Fort Frances Lakers 6-3
Dudley Hewitt Cup Champions
2016L, Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) 2-4
W, Fort Frances Lakers 6-5
W, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (Host) 3-2		2-1-02nd of 4W, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 4-1L, Trenton Golden Hawks 0-4

Royal Bank Cup

CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dudley Hewitt Champions - Central, Fred Page Champions - Eastern, Western Canada Cup Champions - Western, Western Canada Cup - Runners Up and Host
Round robin play with top 4 in semi-final and winners to finals.

YearRound RobinRecordStandingSemifinalGold Medal Game
2012W, Penticton Vees 2-1
2OTL, Portage Terriers 3-4
L, Humboldt Broncos 0-3
W, Woodstock Slammers 7-4		2-22nd of 5L, Penticton Vees 0-3n/a
2015L, Carleton Place Canadians 0-4
L, Melfort Mustangs 3-5
L, Portage Terriers 2-7
L, Penticton Vees 2-5		0-4-05th of 5Did not advance
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References
  1. "ThunderBirds look to restore the lore". Sault This Week. 1 May 2012.
  2. "Former Thunderbird, Dave Antonello, Walks Down Memory Land; Team Holding Alumni Night March 9". NOJHL. 14 February 2013.
  3. "Thunderbirds Alumni Profile: Carlo DiCandia". EUPnews. 21 February 2013.
  4. "New Horizons". Junior Hockey News. 26 May 2013.
  5. "What is next for Soo Thunderbirds hockey staff?". Sault This Week. 10 May 2016.
  6. "Big changes in Soo Thunderbirds organization". Sault Star. 18 May 2016.
  7. "Double Duty for Smith". Junior Hockey News. 1 June 2016.
  8. "First place, uncertain future for Soo Thunderbirds". Sault This Week. February 27, 2017.
  9. "New Thunderbirds ownership in place". Soo Today. March 17, 2017.
  10. "Former head coach/GM of the NOJHL's Soo Thunderbirds happy to stay North". Sault Star. 5 July 2017.
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