The Soo Thunderbirds are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL).
History Soo Thunderbirds first came into being as a junior hockey program in from 1978 to 1982 through a group started by the late Zoltan Kovacs, Sr. Zoltan, who emigrated to Canada from Hungary in 1956, started the Thunderbirds of the former International Junior B Hockey League to keep more young hockey players at home. Abbie Carricato coached the Thunderbirds during Zoltan's ownership period (1978-1982). The Thunderbirds won three IJHL championships during Zoltan's ownership. The IJHL later folded.
The Soo Thunderbirds announced they would become the Soo Jr. Greyhounds for 2002–03 to establish closer relations with the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. This only lasted one season and became the Soo Thunderbirds once again.
In 2012, the Thunderbirds won the NOJHL League Championship as well as the coveted Dudley Hewitt Cup. They went on to play at the Royal Bank Cup in Humboldt, Saskatchewan where they lost in the semifinals. The Thunderbirds won NOJHL titles back-to-back in 2014–15 and 2015–16. In 2015, the Thunderbirds would again win the Dudley Hewitt Cup but lose in the finals in 2016.
Following the 2015–16 season and Dudley Hewitt Cup campaign, it was announced that owner, Albert Giommi, had sold the organization to a group called The Tech 921 Ltd., led by former National Hockey League player and Ontario Hockey League coach, Denny Lambert. Following the sale, general manager Jamie Henderson and team president Kevin Cain both resigned. Head coach Jordan Smith was later also assigned the general manager position.
In 2017, the team was struggling financially and the ownership had not committed playing the 2017–18 season. On March 17, local businessman Darren Smyl took over operations of the Thunderbirds in order to keep the team from leaving. However, general manager and head coach Jordan Smith would move on to become the associate coach of the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League. Smith would be replaced by John Parco, a local who played most of his professional career in Europe and had been coaching SG Cortina in Italy. The Thunderbirds also changed rinks and moved into the John Rhodes Community Centre after playing at the Essar Centre. With the ownership change, the Thunderbirds updated to a new color scheme and logo in blue, orange, and white.
In 2021, Smyl sold the team to an ownership composed of former NHL player Trevor Daley, longtime professional player Cole Jarrett, and Lee-Anne Jarrett. Cole took over as head coach of the team and Jamie Henderson was brought back as general manager.
Season-by-season results Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts Result PlayoffsSoo Thunderbirds1999–00 40 22 15 3 — 184 145 47 3rd NOJHL2000–01 40 33 4 1 2 240 95 69 2nd NOJHL Lost final2001–02 42 35 5 0 2 347 122 72 2nd NOJHL Lost finalSault Ste. Marie Jr. Greyhounds2002–03 48 35 11 2 — 305 161 72 2nd NOJHL Lost finalSoo Thunderbirds2003–04 48 31 9 7 1 266 155 70 2nd NOJHL Lost final2004–05 48 26 17 2 3 206 175 57 5th NOJHL Lost semi-final2005–06 48 31 16 0 1 220 165 63 2nd NOJHL Lost semi-final2006–07 48 22 22 0 4 170 184 48 5th NOJHL Lost semi-final2007–08 50 33 9 — 8 206 145 101 1st NOJHL Lost final2008–09 50 35 14 — 1 244 153 71 2nd NOJHLWon League2009–10 50 33 14 — 3 253 154 69 3rd NOJHL Lost final2010–11 50 38 9 — 3 244 144 79 1st NOJHL Lost semi-final2011–12 50 38 7 1 6 245 156 83 1st NOJHL Won LeagueWon Dudley Hewitt Cup2012–13 48 33 9 3 3 223 123 72 2nd NOJHL Lost final2013–14 56 48 5 1 2 245 102 99 1st NOJHL Lost final2014–15 52 48 7 1 6 271 130 83 1st of 4, West1st of 9, NOJHL Won Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Blind River BeaversWon Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Elliot Lake WildcatsWon League Finals, 4–1 vs. Cochrane CrunchLEAGUE CHAMPIONS2015–16 544760124593951st of 6, West1st of 12, NOJHLWon Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Soo EaglesWon Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Elliot Lake WildcatsWon League Finals, 4–0 vs. Kirkland Lake Gold MinersLEAGUE CHAMPIONS2016–17 56431111232134881st of 6, West2nd of 12, NOJHLLost div. semi-finals, 0–4 vs. Soo Eagles2017–18 56361612195134762nd of 6, West3rd of 12, NOJHLWon Div. Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Soo EaglesLost Div. Finals, 2–4 vs. Rayside-Balfour Canadians2018–19 564411—1221145891st of 6, West1st of 12, NOJHLWon Div. Semifinals, 4–2 vs. Blind River BeaversWon Div. Finals, 4–2 vs. Rayside-Balfour CanadiansLost League Finals, 3–4 vs. Hearst Lumberjacks2019–20 563019—7220166673rd of 6, West6th of 12, NOJHLPostseason cancelled2020–21 21136—29971281st of 5, West2nd of 9, NOJHLNo playoffs were held2021–22 4838523189101811st of 6, West1st of 12, NOJHLWon Div. Semifinals, 4–0 vs. Blind River BeaversWon Div. Finals, 4–0 Soo EaglesWon League Finals, 4-3 vs. Hearst LumberjacksLEAGUE CHAMPIONS2022–23 57361533229161783rd of 6, West5th of 12, NOJHLWon Div. Semifinals, 4–1 Blind River BeaversWon Div. Finals, 4–1 Greater Sudbury CubsLost League Finals, 2-4 vs. Timmins Rock2023–24 57391441265148833rd of 6, West4th of 12, NOJHLLost Div. Semifinals, 2-4 Greater Sudbury Cubs2024–25 52262312265148556th of 12, NOJHLWon Quarterfinals, 4-3 Blind River BeaversLost Semifinals 0-4 Greater Sudbury Cubs
Dudley Hewitt Cup Central Canada Championships Winners of the NOJHL, OJHL, SIJHL, and Host Round robin play with 2nd vs 3rd in semi-final to advance against 1st in the finals. Year Round Robin Record Standing Semifinal Gold Medal Game 2009 L, Fort William North Stars (SIJHL) 0-2L, Schreiber Diesels (SIJHL/Host) 0-2L, Kingston Voyageurs (OJHL) 0-3 0-0-3 4th of 4 Did not advance 2012 OTW, Wisconsin Wilderness (SIJHL) 4-3W, Thunder Bay North Stars (Host) 4-3L, Stouffville Spirit (OJHL) 2-10 2-1-02nd of 4 W, Thunder Bay North Stars 8-5W, Stouffville Spirit 5-3 Dudley Hewitt Cup Champions 2015 W, Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL) 8-1 W, Fort Frances Lakers (Host) 6-3OTL, Toronto Patriots (OJHL) 3-4 2-0-1 1st of 4 n/a W, Fort Frances Lakers 6-3 Dudley Hewitt Cup Champions 2016 L, Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) 2-4 W, Fort Frances Lakers 6-5W, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (Host) 3-2 2-1-0 2nd of 4 W, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 4-1 L, Trenton Golden Hawks 0-4
Royal Bank Cup / Centennial Cup CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Dudley Hewitt Champions - Central, Fred Page Champions - Eastern, Western Canada Cup Champions - Western, Western Canada Cup - Runners Up and Host Round robin play with top 4 in semi-final and winners to finals. Year Round Robin Record Standing Semifinal Gold Medal Game 2012 W, Penticton Vees 2-12OTL, Portage Terriers 3-4L, Humboldt Broncos 0-3W, Woodstock Slammers 7-4 2-2 2nd of 5 L, Penticton Vees 0-3n/a 2015 L, Carleton Place Canadians 0-4 L, Melfort Mustangs 3-5L, Portage Terriers 2-7L, Penticton Vees 2-5 0-4-0 5th of 5 Did not advance Revised Format 2022 Maritime Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Superior International Junior Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and Host. The BCHL declared itself an independent league and there is no BC representative.Round-robin play in two 5-team pools with top three in pool advancing to determine a Champion. Year Round-robin Record Standing Quarterfinal Semifinal Championship 2022 L, Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL), 1-6L, Summerside Western Capitals (MarJHL), 1-4L, Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL), 0-4L, Dauphin Kings (ManHL), 1-6 0-0-4-0 5th of 5 Pool B did not qualified did not qualified did not qualified
References
Further reading
External links Soo Thunderbirds