Ice Hockey in Thunder Bay
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The city of Thunder Bay, Ontario (including its predecessor cities of Fort William and Port Arthur) has a rich and storied ice hockey history. The region has produced numerous professional players and fielded highly successful amateur, junior, senior, and minor-professional teams, including multiple Allan Cup, Memorial Cup, and Dudley Hewitt Cup champions.
Below is a comprehensive, sortable list of all known present and historical ice hockey teams in the Thunder Bay area across all levels of play.
List of Teams
| Team | Level | League(s) | Years Active | EP ID | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current River Storm | Junior B | LJHL | 2022–Present | 36493 | Active in the LJHL. |
| Degagne Hurricanes | Junior A | TBJHL | 1970s | N/A | Merged with Thunder Bay Beavers and Canadians in 1978. |
| Feathermen Hawks | Junior A | SIJHL | 2001–2002 | 10798 | Rebranded as the Fort William North Stars. |
| Fort William Beavers | Senior Amateur | TBSHL | ?–1970 | 8708 | Merged with the Port Arthur Bearcats to form the Thunder Bay Twins. |
| Fort William Canadians | Junior A | TBJHL | 1935–1978 | 9606 | Originally known as the Columbus Club and Canadiens. |
| Fort William Hurricanes | Junior B | LJHL | 1993–2001 | N/A | Founding member of the modern LJHL; won Bronze at the 1994 Keystone Cup. |
| Fort William North Stars | Junior A | SIJHL | 2003–2010 | 3220 | Rebranded as the Thunder Bay North Stars. |
| Fort William Wolves | Junior A | SIJHL | 2002–2003 | 3220 | Rebranded as the Fort William North Stars. |
| K&A Golden Hawks | Junior A | SIJHL | 2003–2006 | 10798 | Also played under the name Thunder Bay Golden Hawks. |
| K&A Wolverines | Junior B | LJHL | 2005–2009 | N/A | Promoted to Junior A SIJHL in 2009. |
| Kakabeka Falls Huskies | Junior B | LJHL | 2000s | N/A | Played briefly in the LJHL. |
| Kam River Fighting Walleye | Junior A | SIJHL | 2020–Present | 30823 | Play out of NorWest Arena in nearby Oliver Paipoonge. |
| Kam River Pickerel | Junior B | LJHL | 2020 | 10842 | Rebranded to Bandits before playing a game. |
| Lakehead Thunderwolves | University | U Sports / OUA | 2001–Present | 2441 | Play out of the Fort William Gardens. |
| Nipigon Elks | Junior B | LJHL | 1993–Present | N/A | Based in nearby Nipigon; original LJHL member. |
| Northwestern Wildcats | Junior B | LJHL | 1993–1997 | N/A | Joined the North of Superior Junior B league. |
| Port Arthur Bearcats | Senior Amateur | TBSHL / MSHL | 1910s–1970 | N/A | Four-time Allan Cup Champions; won Silver for Canada at the 1936 Winter Olympics. |
| Port Arthur Bruins | Junior A | TBJHL | 1930s–1950s | N/A | Won the 1948 Memorial Cup. |
| Schreiber Falcons | Junior B | LJHL | 2011–Present | N/A | Based in nearby Schreiber. |
| Schreiber North Stars | Junior B | TBJHL | 1980s | N/A | Early area Junior B team. |
| Thunder Bay Bandits | Junior B | LJHL | 2020–Present | 10842 | Rebranded from the Thunder Bay Fighting Walleye (Junior B). |
| Thunder Bay Bearcats | Junior A | SIJHL | 2006–2009 | 8459 | Rebranded from Golden Hawks; ceased operations in 2009. |
| Thunder Bay Beavers | Junior A | TBJHL | 1970s | N/A | Competed for the Abbott Cup and local titles. |
| Thunder Bay Blazers | Junior | TBJHL | Early 1980s | N/A | Folded into the Thunder Bay Twins. |
| Thunder Bay Bombers | Senior AAA | HNO | ?–2005 | N/A | Won the 2005 Allan Cup. |
| Thunder Bay Bulldogs | Junior A | SIJHL | 2001–2008 | N/A | Original SIJHL franchise. |
| Thunder Bay Centennials | Junior A | CAJHL | 1970s | N/A | Defeated the Fort William Canadians in local 1970s playoffs. |
| Thunder Bay Eagles | Junior A | TBJHL | 1970s | N/A | Active in the late 1970s. |
| Thunder Bay Fighting Walleye | Junior B | LJHL | 2017–2020 | 10842 | Rebranded as the Pickerel/Bandits when the Junior A franchise assumed the name. |
| Thunder Bay Flyers | Junior A | USHL | 1984–2000 | 3317 | Two-time Centennial Cup and Clark Cup Champions. |
| Thunder Bay Golden Hawks | Junior A | SIJHL | 2003–2006 | 10798 | Predecessor to the Bearcats. |
| Thunder Bay Hornets | Junior A | MJHL / TBJHL | 1982–1986 | N/A | Won back-to-back Keystone Cup bronze medals before jumping to the MJHL. |
| Thunder Bay Kings | AAA Minor | HNO / GTHL | 1988–Present | 4272 | Elite AAA development program fielding teams from U13 to U18. |
| Thunder Bay Maple Leafs | Junior | TBJHL | Early 1980s | N/A | Merged with the Hornets. |
| Thunder Bay North Stars | Junior A | SIJHL | 2010–Present | 8572 | Seven-time Bill Salonen Cup champions; 2006 Dudley Hewitt Cup winners. |
| Thunder Bay Northern Hawks | Junior B | LJHL | 1999–Present | N/A | Most successful team in LJHL history with over a dozen championships. |
| Thunder Bay Queens | Women's AAA | OWHA | 1990s–Present | N/A | Elite female hockey development program. |
| Thunder Bay Senators | Professional | Colonial Hockey League (CoHL) | 1993–1996 | 3478 | Rebranded from the Thunder Hawks; minor-pro affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. |
| Thunder Bay Stars | Junior B | LJHL | 2009–2017 | 10842 | Rebranded as the Fighting Walleye (Junior B) in 2017. |
| Thunder Bay Thunder Cats | Professional | United Hockey League (UHL) | 1996–1999 | 3478 | Moved to Rockford, Illinois to become the Rockford IceHogs. |
| Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks | Professional | Colonial Hockey League (CoHL) | 1991–1993 | 3478 | Won the 1992 Colonial Cup. |
| Thunder Bay Twins | Senior Amateur | USHL / OHA | 1970–1991 | 3883 | Formed by the merger of Bearcats and Beavers; won five Allan Cup championships. |
| Thunder Bay Wildcats | Junior B | LJHL | 2015 | N/A | Ceased operations after only nine games. |
| Thunder Bay Wolverines | Junior A | SIJHL | 2009–2010 | N/A | Lasted one season in the SIJHL after jumping from Junior B. |
| Thunder Bay Wolves | Junior A | SIJHL | 2000–2002 | 8572 | Original SIJHL franchise; eventually became the North Stars. |
| Westfort Maroons | Junior B | LJHL | 1993–2006 | N/A | Won three LJHL championships in the 1990s and early 2000s. |