Thunder Bay Thunder Cats

Last updated
Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
Thunder Bay Thunder Cats Primary 1994.png
City Thunder Bay, Ontario
League CoHL/UHL
Founded 1991
Operated 19941999
Home arena Fort William Gardens
ColorsBrown, navy, white
   
Franchise history
1991–1993 Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks
1993–1996 Thunder Bay Senators
1996–1999Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
1999–2007 Rockford IceHogs
Championships
Regular season titles2 (1993–94, 1994–95)
Playoff championships3 (1992, 1994, 1995)

The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and a member of the United Hockey League. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.

Contents

History

After the success of the five-time Allan Cup champion Thunder Bay Twins, the Colonial Hockey League (CoHL) took interest in expanding to the Northwestern Ontario city. In 1991, the CoHL introduced the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks, spelling the end of the 21-year Twins franchise that stepped aside for the new minor professional team. In 1993, the team changed its name to the Thunder Bay Senators to reflect the teams affiliation with the National Hockey League's Ottawa Senators. After three seasons as the Senators, the team became the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats in 1996. The CoHL changed its name to the United Hockey League (UHL) in 1997.

After eight seasons in Thunder Bay, the Thunder Cats were bought, moved to Rockford, Illinois, and renamed the Rockford IceHogs in 1999.

Season-by-season results

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsFinal standingPlayoffs
1991–92 6026286309289623rd CoHLWon Championship
1992–93 6032244288271683rd CoHLLost semi-final
1993–94 6445154331236941st CoHLWon Championship
1994–95 74482243412791001st CoHLWon Championship
1995–96 74362612302289844th CoHLLost Championship
1996–97 7443238333266944th CoHLLost semi-final
1997–98 74422606337304904th UHLLost quarter-final
1998–99 744720073252471013rd UHLLost semi-final