The Smiths Falls Bears are a junior ice hockey club and franchise of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) based in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

History The origins of the Smiths Falls Bears trace back to when the Central Junior Hockey League was formed in 1961 under the direction of the Montreal Canadiens.

In February 2000, a dressing room fire at Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre destroyed almost all of the team's equipment. The equipment was replaced through donations and charities and Bears were able to finish the 1999–00 season. The following season the club franchise relocated to Lanark, Ontario and was rebranded as the Lanark Thunder.

|+ style="background:FFFFFF00; border-top:#FED000 solid 5px; border-bottom:#000000 solid 5px| ! style="width:4em; text-align:left;" | Season ! style="width:2.2em" | ! style="width:2.2em" | ! style="width:2.2em" | ! style="width:2.2em" | ! style="width:2.2em" | ! style="width:2.2em" | ! style="width:2.2em" | ! style="width:2.2em" | ! style="width:8em; text-align:left;" | Regular season ! style="width:18em; text-align:left;" | Postseason |- align=right | align=left|2002–03 || 55 || 9 || 39 || 7 || 2 || 196 || 317 || 25 || align=left|5th in division || align=left|Did not qualify |-align=right | align=left|2003–04 || 55 || 11 || 38 || 5 || 4 || 196 || 335 || 28 || align=left|5th in division || align=left|Did not qualify |-align=right | align=left|2004–05 || 57 || 9 || 42 || 1 || 5 || 165 || 304 || 24 || align=left|5th in division || align=left|Did not qualify |-align=right | align=left|2005–06 || 59 || 18 || 31 || 5 || 5 || 193 || 250 || 46 || align=left|4th in division || align=left|Lost quarterfinal |-align=right | align=left|2006–07 || 55 || 25 || 23 || 5 || 2 || 199 || 200 || 57 || align=left|4th in division || align=left|Lost semifinal |-align=right | align=left|2007–08 || 60 || 41 || 15 || 4 || 0 || 280 || 183 || 86 || align=left|2nd overall || align=left|Lost final |-align=right | align=left|2008–09 || 60 || 36 || 22 || 0 || 2 || 247 || 205 || 74 || align=left|5th overall || align=left|Lost quarterfinal |-align=right | align=left|2009–10 || 62 || 18 || 40 || 0 || 4 || 148 || 256 || 40 || align=left|10th overall || align=left|Did not qualify |-align=right | align=left|2010–11 || 62 || 27 || 29 || 0 || 6 || 191 || 229 || 60 || align=left|8th overall || align=left|Lost quarterfinal |-align=right | align=left|2011–12 || 62 || 30 || 30 || 0 || 2 || 220 || 240 || 62 || align=left|8th overall || align=left|Lost quarterfinal |-align=right | align=left|2012–13 || 62 || 36 || 22 || 0 || 4 || 235 || 183 || 76 || align=left|7th overall || align=left|Lost quarterfinal |-align=right | align=left|2013–14 || 62 || 41 || 17 || 0 || 4 || 238 || 174 || 86 || align=left|2nd overall || align=left|Lost final against Carleton Place (4:1) |-align=right | align=left|2014–15 || 62 || 28 || 26 || 3 || 5 || 173 || 206 || 64 || align=left|5th in division7th overall || align=left|Lost first round against Nepean (2:1) |-align=right | align=left|2015–16 || 62 || 38 || 22 || 0 || 2 || 220 || 170 || 78 || align=left|4th in division6th overall || align=left|Lost quarterfinal against Hawkesbury (4:0) |-align=right | align=left|2016–17 || 62 || 21 || 34 || 5 || 2 || 177 || 209 || 55 || align=left|6th in division7th overall || align=left|Lost quarterfinal against Cornwall (4:1) |-align=right | align=left|2017–18 || 62 || 21 || 34 || 3 || 1 || 158 || 196 || 55 || align=left|5th in division9th overall || align=left|Did not qualify |-align=right | align=left|2018–19 || 62 || 28 || 23 || 0 || 9 || 195 || 211 || 67 || align=left|3rd in division6th overall || align=left|Lost quarterfinal against Brockville (4:1) |-align=right | align=left|2019–20 || 62 || 33 || 24 || 5 || 0 || 223 || 216 || 71 || align=left|3rd in division6th overall || align=left|Playoffs cancelled |-align=right | align=left|2020–21 || colspan=10; align=center|Season cancelled |-align=right | align=left|2021–22 || 55 || 25 || 25 || 4 || 1 || 193 || 216 || 55 || align=left|5th in division7th overall || align=left|Lost quarterfinal against Ottawa (4:0) |-align=right | align=left|2022–23 || 55 || 37 || 15 || 1 || 2 || 232 || 165 || 77 || align=left|1st in division3rd overall || align=left|Won quarterfinal against Carleton Place (4:1)Won semifinal against Renfrew (4:1)Lost final against Ottawa (4:3) |-align=right | align=left|2023–24 || 55 || 36 || 15 || 1 || 3 || 193 || 128 || 76 || align=left|1st in division2nd overall || align=left|Won quarterfinal against Carleton Place (4:1)Won semifinal against Cornwall (4:1)Lost final against Navan (4:2) |-align=right | align=left|2024–25 || 55 || 30 || 19 || 5 || 1 || 168 || 142 || 66 || align=left|2nd in division4th overall || align=left|Won quarterfinal against Pembroke (4:2)Lost semifinal against Rockland (4:3) |-align=right | align=left|2025–26 || 55 || 39 || 11 || 0 || 2 || 222 || 130 || 83 || align=left|1st in division2nd overall || align=left|Won quarterfinal against Brockville (4:0)Won semifinal against Ottawa (4:1)

Source:

Notable alumni Fred Brathwaite Joe DiPenta Rob Dopson Steve Poapst Billy Smith Steve Valiquette Jason York Rod Zaine Mark Borowiecki Zachary Senyshyn

References

Further reading