Thunder Bay Thunder Cats facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thunder Bay Thunder Cats |
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| City | Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| League | CoHL/UHL |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Operated | 1994–1999 |
| Home arena | Fort William Gardens |
| Colors | Brown, navy, white |
| Franchise history | |
| 1991–1993 | Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks |
| 1993–1996 | Thunder Bay Senators |
| 1996–1999 | Thunder Bay Thunder Cats |
| 1999–2007 | Rockford IceHogs |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 2 (1993–94, 1994–95) |
| Playoff championships | 3 (1992, 1994, 1995) |
The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was a professional ice hockey team. They were based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. This team was a member of the United Hockey League. Before becoming the Thunder Cats, the team had different names. They were first called the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks. Later, they became the Thunder Bay Senators.
Contents
Team History
Starting in Thunder Bay
Ice hockey was very popular in Thunder Bay. A local team, the Thunder Bay Twins, had won the Allan Cup five times. This success caught the eye of the Colonial Hockey League (CoHL). The league wanted to bring a new professional team to the city.
In 1991, the CoHL started a new team. They named it the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks. This new team took the place of the Twins, who had played for 21 years.
Changing Names
In 1993, the team changed its name. They became the Thunder Bay Senators. This new name showed their connection to the National Hockey League's Ottawa Senators. After playing as the Senators for three seasons, the team changed again. In 1996, they officially became the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats.
The United Hockey League Era
In 1997, the Colonial Hockey League changed its name. It became the United Hockey League (UHL). The Thunder Cats continued to play in this league.
The Thunder Cats played in Thunder Bay for eight seasons. In 1999, the team was sold. It moved to Rockford, Illinois. There, the team was renamed the Rockford IceHogs.
Team Achievements
The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats and their earlier versions had a lot of success. They won the league championship three times. They won in 1992, 1994, and 1995. The team also finished first in the regular season twice. This happened in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons.
