Thunder Bay Flyers

History

On July 6, 1980, the Degagne Buccaneers and Thunder Bay North Stars were informed by the TBAHA that they would not be permitted to field teams in the 1980–81 City League. On July 10, 1980, the executive of the Thunder Bay Kings was formed and gave life to the city's premier junior squad for the next twenty years.

From 1980 until 1982, the Kings played in the Thunder Bay Hockey League with the Allan Cup-contending Senior "A" Thunder Bay Twins, the Hardy Cup-contending Intermediate "A" Thunder Bay Blazers, and the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union's Lakehead University Nor'westers. Their first season saw them finish in second and meet the Intermediate Blazers in the league semi-final, which the Kings won 3-games-to-2. In the finals, they were swept by the Senior Twins 4-games-to-none. In the second year, the Flyers finished in third and drew the Blazers again. They defeated the Intermediates 3-games-to-1, to meet Lakehead University in the final. Lakehead upset the Twins 3-games-to-1 in the other semi-final. The Kings won the final in seven games to win the City Championship.

In 1982, the Thunder Bay Hockey League was disbanded. The Blazers folded into the Twins, who joined Manitoba's Central Senior A Hockey League. The Kings, the newly formed Thunder Bay Hornets and the Schreiber North Stars Junior "B" hockey teams, formed the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League. The Kings won the league in 1983. In the 1983-84 season, the North Stars were replaced by the Jr. B Thunder Bay Maple Leafs. The Kings celebrated an 18-game perfect season before winning the city championship for the third straight year.

In 1984, the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League folded. The Kings changed their name to the Thunder Bay Flyers and jumped to the United States Hockey League. The Hornets and Maple Leafs merged under the Thunder Bay Hornets banner and jumped to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

The Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League folded in 1984. Many former players made the jump to the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League; some went to the then existing version of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League; and others to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

However, due to Thunder Bay's location, the league was closer to Minnesota than the closest franchises in the other Ontario Junior "A" Leagues, and the Thunder Bay Flyers of the defunct Thunder Bay League survived by jumping the border to play in the top tier of American junior hockey, the United States Hockey League, and with some success. From 1984–85, when they entered the league, until their exit after the 1999-2000 season, the Flyers won four Anderson Cup regular-season titles in five years (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992), and two straight Clark Cup playoff championships in 1988 and 1989. No team coached by Dave Siciliano, whose tenure extended from 1986 to 1993, finished lower than fourth or won fewer than 31 games in a 48-game season.

Although competing in the USHL during the regular season, the Flyers also competed provincially for the Dudley Hewitt Cup against teams from the Ontario Provincial and Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Leagues, and the right to represent Ontario at the Centennial Cup for the national title as a result. They made their first appearance in the Centennial Cup by default in 1988, and four times as winners of the Dudley Hewett Cup: in 1989, 1991, 1992, and 1995. They have won the national championship twice: at the 1989 Centennial Cup competition, by defeating the Summerside Western Capitals, then of the Island Junior Hockey League, 4-1 in the final game; and at the 1992 Centennial Cup, by defeating the Halifax Mooseheads (Maritime Junior A Hockey League) 8-1 in the semi-final, and the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League 10-1 in the final.

The Flyers played their last game in 2000. The end of the Flyers resulted in the creation of the Superior International Junior Hockey League in 2001 to continue the tradition of the old Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League as a purely local organization. The league has been successful since its founding with its top team being the Fort William North Stars. The departure of the Flyers also sparked the creation of the very successful Lakehead University Thunderwolves men's hockey program, playing in the Ontario Universities Athletics Conference of the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport).

Playoffs

1981 Lost Final, Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup semi-final

Thunder Bay Kings defeated Lakehead Nor'Westers 3-games-to-noneThunder Bay Twins defeated Thunder Bay Kings 4-games-to-noneBelleville Bulls (OPJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Kings 4-games-to-1

1982 Won League, Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup semi-final

Thunder Bay Kings defeated Thunder Bay Blazers 3-games-to-1Thunder Bay Kings defeated Lakehead Nor'Westers 4-games-to-3 TBHL CHAMPIONSGuelph Platers (OJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Kings 3-games-to-none

1983 Won League, Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup final

Thunder Bay Kings defeated Thunder Bay Hornets 3-games-to-none TBJHL CHAMPIONSThunder Bay Kings defeated Ottawa Jr. Senators (CJHL) 4-games-to-3North York Rangers (OJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Kings 4-games-to-none

1984 Won League, Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup quarter-final

Thunder Bay Kings defeated Thunder Bay Hornets 4-games-to-1 with 1 tie TBJHL CHAMPIONSPembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Kings 4-games-to-none

1985

1986

1987

1988 Won League, Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup final, Lost in 1988 Centennial Cup round robin

Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Waterloo Black Hawks 3-games-to-noneThunder Bay Flyers defeated Madison Capitols 3-games-to-1Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Rochester Mustangs 3-games-to-1 USHL CHAMPIONSThunder Bay Flyers defeated Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) 4-games-to-nonePembroke Lumber Kings (CenJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 4-games-to-noneFourth and eliminated in 1988 Centennial Cup round robin (0-3)

1989 Won League, Won Dudley Hewitt Cup, Won 1989 Centennial Cup

Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Omaha Lancers 3-games-to-noneThunder Bay Flyers defeated North Iowa Huskies 3-games-to-1Thunder Bay Flyers defeated St. Paul Vulcans 3-games-to-2 USHL CHAMPIONSThunder Bay Flyers defeated Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) 4-games-to-noneThunder Bay Flyers defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) 4-games-to-none DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONSFirst in 1989 Centennial Cup round robin (2-1)Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Summerside Western Capitals (IJHL) 4-1 in final CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS

1990 Lost Semi-final, Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup semi-final

Thunder Bay Flyers defeated St. Paul Vulcans 3-games-to-noneRochester Mustangs defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 3-games-to-2Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 4-games-to-2

1991 Lost Final, Won Dudley Hewitt Cup, Lost in 1991 Centennial Cup round robin

Thunder Bay Flyers defeated North Iowa Huskies 3-games-to-noneThunder Bay Flyers defeated Dubuque Fighting Saints 3-games-to-noneOmaha Lancers defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 3-games-to-1Second in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (2-2)Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Montreal Olympiques (QPJHL) 10-0 in semi-finalThunder Bay Flyers defeated Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) 5-1 in final DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONSFifth and eliminated in 1991 Centennial Cup round robin (1-3)

1992 Lost Semi-final, Won Dudley Hewitt Cup, Won 1992 Centennial Cup

Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Rochester Mustangs 3-games-to-noneDubuque Fighting Saints defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 3-games-to-1Second in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (2-1)Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Joliette Nationals (QPJHL) 5-2 in semi-finalThunder Bay Flyers defeated Kanata Valley Lasers (CJHL) in final DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONSSecond in 1992 Centennial Cup round robin (2-2)Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Halifax Mooseheads (MJAHL) 8-1 in semi-finalThunder Bay Flyers defeated Winkler Flyers (MJHL) 10-1 in final CENTENNIAL CUP CHAMPIONS

1993 Lost Semi-final, Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup semi-final

Thunder Bay Flyers defeated St. Paul VulcansOmaha Lancers defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 3-games-to-1First in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (3-1)Chateauguay Elites (QPJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 3-1 in semi-final

1994 Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup final

First in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (3-1)Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Caledon Canadians (MetJHL) 4-3 in semi-finalChateauguay Elites (QPJHL) 9-5 in final

1995 Won Dudley Hewitt Cup, Lost 1995 Centennial Cup semi-final'

Second in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (2-1)Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Caledon Canadians (MetJHL) 7-1 in semi-finalThunder Bay Flyers defeated Brampton Capitals (OPJHL) 6-4 in final DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONSFourth in 1995 Centennial Cup round robin (2-2)Calgary Canucks (AJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 5-3 in semi-final

1996 Lost Dudley Hewitt Cup semi-final

Third in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (2-2)Newmarket 87's (OPJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 6-3 in semi-final

1997 DNQ

1998 DNQ

1999 Lost Quarter-final

Green Bay Gamblers defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 3-games-to-none

2000 DNQ

Championships

Thunder Bay City Champions: 1982, 1983, 1984

Anderson Cup USHL Regular Season Champions: 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992

Canadian National Centennial Cup Championships: 1989, 1992

Clark Cup USHL Champions: 1988, 1989

Dudley Hewitt Cup Central Canadian Champions: 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995

1988

Round RobinPembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 7-4Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 9-7Halifax Lions (MJAHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 6-4 (OT)

1989

Round RobinThunder Bay Flyers defeated Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) 8-2Summerside Capitals (IJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 5-4Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Moncton Hawks (MJAHL) 6-2FinalThunder Bay Flyers defeated Summerside Capitals (IJHL) 4-1

1991

Round RobinHalifax Jr. Canadians (MJAHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 5-4Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) 10-4Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 3-2Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 5-4

1992

Round RobinThunder Bay Flyers defeated St. James Canadians (MJHL) 7-4Vernon Lakers (BCJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 5-4 (2OT)Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Winkler Flyers (MJHL) 9-2Halifax Mooseheads (MJAHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 9-3Semi-finalThunder Bay Flyers defeated Halifax Mooseheads (MJAHL) 8-1FinalThunder Bay Flyers defeated Winkler Flyers (MJHL) 10-1

1995

Round RobinWinnipeg South Blues (MJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 6-4Calgary Canucks (AJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 6-0Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Gloucester Rangers (CJAHL) 5-2Thunder Bay Flyers defeated Joliette National (LHJAAAQ) 5-2Semi-finalCalgary Canucks (AJHL) defeated Thunder Bay Flyers 5-3

Notable alumni

Rick Adduono (Coach)

Peter Bakovic

Jozef Balej

David Bruce

Ryan Caldwell

Tony Hrkac

Greg Johnson

Ryan Johnson

David Latta

Aaron MacKenzie

Brent Peterson

Sean Pronger

Patrick Sharp

Richard Shulmistra

Mike Tomlak