The Niagara Falls Thunder was a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1988 to 1996. The team was based in Niagara Falls, Ontario .
11-714: Niagara Falls became home to its third OHL franchise in 1988 upon the relocation of the Hamilton Steelhawks . The new team was named the Niagara Falls Thunder. The team filled the void left behind when the Niagara Falls Flyers departed for North Bay in 1982. The Thunder picked up on the winning note of the Steelhawks' last season in Hamilton. Coach Bill LaForge returned with a strong core of players that lead
22-804: A former ice hockey player from Hamilton. On two brief occasions, the arena was home to Hamilton teams in the Ontario Hockey League , the Fincups (1977–1978) and the Steelhawks (1984–1985). From 1973 to 2015 it was home to Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and is the home of the Hamilton Jr. B Bengals lacrosse. Currently the Junior B Hamilton Kilty B's hockey team, Jr. B and Senior B Hamilton Bengals lacrosse teams play out of
33-639: The Cape Breton Oilers of the AHL. He won the Calder Cup with the team in 1992–93. The team never regained its strength of the first four seasons. After three poor seasons on the ice from 1992–93 to 1994–95, game attendance was dropping. This, combined with rescheduling of Sunday games to Saturday nights, and an aging arena with no new arena deal in sight, resulted in the Thunder moving to Erie, Pennsylvania , to play as
44-605: The Ontario Hockey League from 1984 to 1988. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario , and played at Copps Coliseum . The Brantford Alexanders were relocated in 1984 becoming the Hamilton Steelhawks. The franchise which started in Hamilton in 1953, twice left Hamilton for lack of an adequate arena but returned for the opening of Copps Coliseum. However the team was not well-supported, and played for only four seasons in Hamilton before moving to Niagara Falls, Ontario to play as
55-675: The Otters. George Burnett was voted the OHL Coach of the Year in the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons, winning the Matt Leyden Trophy in only his first and second full seasons as a head coach in the OHL. Peterborough The Niagara Falls Thunder played home games at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena from 1988 to 1996. Hamilton Steelhawks (junior) The Hamilton Steelhawks were a junior ice hockey team in
66-644: The Steelhawks, and was the co-winner 1986–87 William Hanley Trophy as the OHA's Most Sportsmanlike Player. The team was owned by Jack Robillard, Bob Willson and Al Martin, who also owned the London Knights . The Hamilton Steelhawks played home games at Mountain Arena for 1984–85 and then moved to Copps Coliseum in December 1985 as the arena was not ready in time for the start of the season . The annual OHL / QMJHL All-Star game
77-440: The Thunder. The Steelhawks name was chosen to reflect the steel industry in Hamilton. The modernized name and logo was designed to catch on with a young fan base as well. The team enjoyed three successful playoff runs, although they never made a trip to the league finals. Notable alumni are NHL stars Shayne Corson , Keith Primeau and NHL tough guy Bob Probert . Wayne Gretzky 's younger brother Keith Gretzky also played for
88-547: The fans for perhaps costing the team a chance of the Memorial Cup in 1989. The Thunder hired the younger and up-and-coming Oshawa Generals ' assistant coach George Burnett to take over. The team rallied from out of the playoffs to 6th place. Niagara Falls continued its momentum into the third round of the playoffs knocking off the first place London Knights before losing to the Kitchener Rangers . The Thunder finished
99-455: The next two seasons in second place, and made it to the third round of the playoffs both years, a feat they managed four years in a row. Coach Burnett was voted Coach of the Year for 1990–91 and 1991–92. Both years their playoff nemesis, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds , eliminated them in the semi-finals. Many players graduated in 1992 for professional careers, and Coach Burnett was promoted to
110-472: The team to a second-place finish in 1988–89. Niagara Falls reached the OHL finals the first year in their new home city, losing to the Peterborough Petes . Many players graduated from the OHL after that season and the Thunder began to rebuild for 1989–90. Shortly into the season, growing tensions between team owner Rick Gay and coach Bill LaForge led to the coach being fired. LaForge was never forgiven by
121-470: Was played here in 1988. . Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena %26 Skating Centre The Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena & Skating Centre is a recreation complex in Hamilton, Ontario , Canada. It includes a figure skating rink and a 2,500-seat ice hockey arena . Originally it was built in 1966, known as the Mountain Arena until it was renovated in 2005 and renamed in honour of Dave Andreychuk ,
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