The Las Vegas Thunderbirds were a junior ice hockey team in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The Thunderbirds played their home games at City National Arena in Summerlin South, Nevada, in the Las Vegas Valley.
History
The Las Vegas Thunderbirds were announced by the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) as an expansion team on February 14, 2019. They began play in the 2019–20 season. Team ownership included Corey St. Germain, while its president was announced as former NHL player John Marks. Marks had previously coached at junior and professional hockey. He retired from coaching in 2015 after four seasons leading the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League. The team played their first season at SoBe Ice Arena.
In 2020, the Thunderbirds left the WSHL after one season and joined another independent junior hockey league, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), at the Premier (Tier III) level. They also moved their home games to City National Arena beginning with the 2020–21 season. In 2022, the team improved and reaching the conference final against the Fresno Monsters. In 2023, they clinched their first division title by sweeping Fresno in the playoff final. This result allowed the Thunderbirds to advance to the USPHL Premier National Championship, held in Utica, New York, for the first time in their history.
In June 2023, three local Las Vegas entrepreneurs — Joe Micatrotto, Marco Benvenuti and Allan Creel — purchased the team from Adam Bonaldi and Corey St. Germain. The team relocated to Henderson, Nevada for the 2024–25 season, and were rebranded as the Henderson Force.
Season-by-season records
Season GP W L Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs 2019–20 51 26 22 2 1 83 194 146 605 3rd of 5, Western11th of 20, WSHL Playoffs cancelled 2020–21 40 24 14 — 2 50 196 149 1028 2nd of 5, Pacific28th of 62, USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal game, 4–0 (Anaheim Avalanche)Lost Division Championship game, 2–7 (Fresno Monsters) 2021–22 44 29 14 — 1 59 213 192 857 2nd of 6, Pacific20th of 64, USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 (Lake Tahoe Lakers)Lost division finals, 0–2 (Fresno Monsters) 2022–23 46 34 9 4 3 71 278 148 881 2nd of 7, Pacific12th of 69, USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 (Ontario Jr. Reign)Won Division Finals, 2-0 (Fresno Monsters)Seeding Rd: (L, 2–5 (Metro Jets); L, 2–4 (Tampa Bay Juniors)Lost Eighthfinal, 3–6 (Richmond Generals) 2023–24 46 31 14 1 - 63 222 151 857 3rd of 7, Pacific17th of 61, USPHL-Premier Lost Div. Semifinal, 0-2 (Ontario Jr. Reign)
References
External links Las Vegas Thunderbirds website