Fort Frances Thunderhawks
Encyclopedia
The Fort Frances Thunderhawks are a Canadian
Senior ice hockey club from Fort Frances, Ontario
. They are eligible to compete for the Allan Cup
.
, a former local team that played in the Superior International Junior Hockey League
.
The expansion of the Thunderhawks into the Northwestern Ontario
region puts them in direct competition with the already established Kenora Thistles
and the 2005 Allan Cup
Champion Thunder Bay K&A Twins. Additionally, a third team in the region allows for the potential for the first senior league in the region since the 1980s.
On November 10, 2009, the Thunderhawks played their first ever game. In Fort Frances, the Thunderhawks dropped a 7-6 decision in a shootout to the Kenora Thistles
. At the event they honoured local Senior history with an opening ceremony celebrating the 1952 Allan Cup
victory by the Fort Frances Canadians. On December 4, 2009, the Thunderhawks celebrated their first ever win by defeating the Thunder Bay K&A Twins 6-5 at home.
The Thunderhawks entered the 2010 HNO Gary Cook Cup tournament on March 11, 2010 for the regional senior championship. In their first game they tied the Kenora Thistles
3-3. The next night the Thunderhawks trailed the Thunder Bay K&A Twins 5-0 in the third period, only to rally and tie the Twins 5-5. It looked as if the Thunderhawks (0-0-2) would be a surprise berth into the tournament final, but at the last minute the Twins filed a protest over a Thunderhawks player. The protest was upheld by the HNO who overturned both of Fort Frances's results, despite the issue seeming to be a clerical error done by the HNO itself, which eliminated the Thunderhawks from the tournament.
Despite losing in the semi-final of the 2011 Allan Cup
, the Thunderhawks were informed in June 2011 that Hockey Northwestern Ontario
had awarded them the Gary Cook Cup as branch champions because of their win over Kenora in the tournament quarter-final. Also, the Thunderhawks were awarded the Renwick Cup
as Ontario Senior hockey champions over the Dundas Real McCoys
for advancing further in the tournament.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Senior ice hockey club from Fort Frances, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. They are eligible to compete for the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
.
History
The Thunderhawks were founded in 2009 and are the namesake of the Fort Frances Borderland ThunderFort Frances Borderland Thunder
The Borderland Thunder are a defunct Junior "A" ice hockey team from Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:...
, a former local team that played in the Superior International Junior Hockey League
Superior International Junior Hockey League
The Superior International Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The winner of the SIJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Northern...
.
The expansion of the Thunderhawks into the Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. Its western boundary is the Canadian province of Manitoba, which disputed Ontario's claim to the...
region puts them in direct competition with the already established Kenora Thistles
Kenora Thistles (senior)
The Kenora Thistles are a Canadian Senior ice hockey club from Kenora, Ontario. They are eligible to compete for the Allan Cup and were hosts of the 2011 Allan Cup.-History:...
and the 2005 Allan Cup
2005 Allan Cup
The 2005 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 2004-05 Senior "AAA" season. The event was hosted by the Lloydminster Border Kings in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan/Alberta...
Champion Thunder Bay K&A Twins. Additionally, a third team in the region allows for the potential for the first senior league in the region since the 1980s.
On November 10, 2009, the Thunderhawks played their first ever game. In Fort Frances, the Thunderhawks dropped a 7-6 decision in a shootout to the Kenora Thistles
Kenora Thistles (senior)
The Kenora Thistles are a Canadian Senior ice hockey club from Kenora, Ontario. They are eligible to compete for the Allan Cup and were hosts of the 2011 Allan Cup.-History:...
. At the event they honoured local Senior history with an opening ceremony celebrating the 1952 Allan Cup
1952 Allan Cup
The 1952 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1951-52 Senior "A" season. The event was hosted by the Fort Frances Canadians and Fort Frances, Ontario...
victory by the Fort Frances Canadians. On December 4, 2009, the Thunderhawks celebrated their first ever win by defeating the Thunder Bay K&A Twins 6-5 at home.
The Thunderhawks entered the 2010 HNO Gary Cook Cup tournament on March 11, 2010 for the regional senior championship. In their first game they tied the Kenora Thistles
Kenora Thistles (senior)
The Kenora Thistles are a Canadian Senior ice hockey club from Kenora, Ontario. They are eligible to compete for the Allan Cup and were hosts of the 2011 Allan Cup.-History:...
3-3. The next night the Thunderhawks trailed the Thunder Bay K&A Twins 5-0 in the third period, only to rally and tie the Twins 5-5. It looked as if the Thunderhawks (0-0-2) would be a surprise berth into the tournament final, but at the last minute the Twins filed a protest over a Thunderhawks player. The protest was upheld by the HNO who overturned both of Fort Frances's results, despite the issue seeming to be a clerical error done by the HNO itself, which eliminated the Thunderhawks from the tournament.
Despite losing in the semi-final of the 2011 Allan Cup
2011 Allan Cup
The 2011 Allan Cup was the 2011 Canadian Grand National Championship of Senior ice hockey. This was the 103rd year the trophy was awarded. The 2011 Allan Cup was be contended in Kenora, Ontario, hosted by the Kenora Thistles of Hockey Northwestern Ontario from April 11 to April 16,...
, the Thunderhawks were informed in June 2011 that Hockey Northwestern Ontario
Hockey Northwestern Ontario
Hockey Northwestern Ontario is the governing body of all ice hockey in Northern Ontario, Canada. Hockey Northwestern Ontario is a branch of Hockey Canada.-Jurisdiction:...
had awarded them the Gary Cook Cup as branch champions because of their win over Kenora in the tournament quarter-final. Also, the Thunderhawks were awarded the Renwick Cup
Renwick Cup
The Gordon Renwick Cup is the Senior "AAA" Central Canada ice hockey championship. The winning of this trophy earns the champion the right to compete in the Allan Cup, the National Senior Championship. The winner of Ontario would play the winner of Quebec for this trophy...
as Ontario Senior hockey champions over the Dundas Real McCoys
Dundas Real McCoys
The Dundas Real McCoys are a Senior "AAA" ice hockey team based out of Dundas, Ontario. They play in the Ontario Hockey Association's Major League Hockey.-History:...
for advancing further in the tournament.
Season-by-season standings
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2009-10 | 10 | 3 | 6 | |||||||
| 1 | 29 | 56 | 7 | 3rd HNO | Lost Round Robin | |||||
| 2010-11 | 5 | 1 | 3 | |||||||
| 1 | 18 | 25 | 3 | 2nd HNO | Won Gary Cook Cup, Won Renwick Cup Renwick Cup The Gordon Renwick Cup is the Senior "AAA" Central Canada ice hockey championship. The winning of this trophy earns the champion the right to compete in the Allan Cup, the National Senior Championship. The winner of Ontario would play the winner of Quebec for this trophy... |