K&A Wolverines
Encyclopedia
The Thunder Bay K&A Wolverines were a Canadian
junior ice hockey
team based in Thunder Bay
, Ontario. They were members of the Superior International Junior Hockey League
. They played in the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
of Hockey Northwestern Ontario
until 2009. The Wolverines are 4-time Thunder Bay Junior B and Northern Ontario Junior B champions, as well as 2009 Keystone Cup
Western Canada silver medalists.
with 3 wins, 0 losses, and a tie. The final series saw them in a thriller with the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
, with the Wolverines squeezing out the win with 3 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties. The final game resulted in a tie, but the Northern Hawks were extremely close to forcing an 8th and deciding game. The Wolverines were out classed at the 2006 Keystone Cup
with 0 wins and 5 losses, failing to make the semi-final round. They started off the tourney against the North Winnipeg Satelites
of the Keystone Junior Hockey League
with a 6-4 loss. The Wolverines then were blown out by the host Campbell River Storm
of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League
by a score of 8-2. The Saskatoon Royals of the North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League
then beat them 5-2, followed by the Red Deer Vipers
of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League
shutting them down 6-0. The Wolverines finished off their season with an 8-3 blowout loss to the Delta Ice Hawks
of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League
.
. The Hawks took Game 1 6-3, they tied the next game 2-2, and the third game was won by the Hawks 4-2. In this race to 8 points, the Hawks were leading 5-1. The Wolverines took the fourth game 3-2, but the Northern Hawks took Game 5 7-4 to take a 7-points-to-3 series lead. The Hawks could take the series with a win or tie. It was not to be, the Wolverines came together came back with a comeback, winning Game 6 4-1 and Game 7 6-1. With the series tied 7-7, Game 8 had to be a win for either team to take the playoff crown. The Wolverines competed the comeback winning the game 5-3 and the series 9-points-to-7.
The Wolverines, as Northern Ontario Jr. B champions, received their second crack at the Keystone Cup
in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
. They dropped their first game to the Saskatoon Royals 4-1. In their second game, they were crushed by the Fort Qu'Appelle Fort Knox 7-1. Game 3 did not go well either, as they lost 8-2 to the Winnipeg Saints
. The final game had the Wolverines loss to the Victoria Cougars
4-2. They exited the championship without a win.
undefeated season. After going 24-1-5, the Wolverines found themselves, again, in the finals against the Northern Hawks. The Hawks won Game 1 5-1, but the Wolverines countered with 5-0 and 6-3 victories in the next two games. Game 4 was a 5-4 Hawks victory to even out the series, but games 5 and 6 went to the Wolverines 6-5 and 6-3 respectively to win the Wolverines a third straight playoff title.
The Wolverines moved on the Keystone Cup
in Selkirk, Manitoba
. They started off the tournament on a promising note—their first point in three years: the Wolverines tied the Pilot Butte Storm 3-3. The next game, the Wolverines fell to the Norway House North Stars
5-1. In the third game of the tournament, the Wolverines lost 6-1 to the Sherwood Park Knights and later that night they lost 8-1 to the Grandview Steelers
. They finished off their third Keystone Cup tournament with a 5-1 loss to the Selkirk Fishermen
.
tournament. They finished the Thunder Bay Jr. B season in first place with a 25-5-0 record. In the league final, the Wolverines defeated the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
4-games-straight to win the league.
Both the Wolverines and the Northern Hawks advanced to the Keystone Cup, played at their home Thunder Bay Tournament Centre in April 2009. The Wolverines started off the tournament with a 6-1 win over the Northern Hawks. Later that night, they beat the Keystone Junior Hockey League
's St. Malo Warriors
5-4. The next day, they started off beating the Pacific International Junior Hockey League
's Richmond Sockeyes
3-1, then later beat the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
's Lloydminster Bandits 7-3 to clinch a spot in the tournament's gold medal game. The Wolverines finished the tournament round robin with a perfect 5-0 record by defeating the Prairie Junior Hockey League's Saskatoon Royals 3-0. The final round robin game was marred by a brawl late in the third period, instigated by the Royals. In the final, the Wolverines faced the Sockeyes again. The Wolverines led multiple times in the game, but the Sockeyes tied the game up midway through the third period to force overtime. It took a second overtime frame, but the Wolverines final fell 6-5 to the Sockeyes.
The Silver Medal performance at the 2009 Keystone Cup marks the best performance by a Thunder Bay Junior B team since the 1999 Fort William Hurricanes won the Keystone Cup championship.
On June 14, 2009, the Thunder Bay Wolverines were promoted to Junior A as members of the Superior International Junior Hockey League
.
on September 18, 2009. At home, the Wolverines lost to the Fort Frances Lakers 3-2. The next night, the Wolverines defeated the Lakers 4-3 to get their first ever Junior A victory.
Mid-season, the Wolverines moved to Schreiber, Ontario
. The entire league schedule was altered to reflect this and the league was informed of the move. After only a couple games, the team was moved back to Thunder Bay and their website claimed that the Schreiber move was never meant to be permanent.
The Wolverines finished fourth in the league, but lost the league quarter-final to an underdog Fort Frances Lakers.
On June 7, 2010, the Wolverines unceremoniously and without stated reason left the SIJHL. For owner Bill MacLaurin, this is the third time he has dropped ownership of a team in the SIJHL (first was the Featherman Hawks
and second was the Schreiber Diesels
). This was after a second season was announced by the club, that the team would be moving to the Fort William First Nation Arena
, and tryout dates were given.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
junior ice hockey
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team based in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario. They were members of the Superior International Junior Hockey League
Superior International Junior Hockey League
The Superior International Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The winner of the SIJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Northern...
. They played in the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
The Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League is a Canadian Junior ice hockey league in Northwestern Ontario, sanctioned by Hockey Northwestern Ontario and Hockey Canada. The Thunder Bay League has produced one Keystone Cup Western Canada Junior "B" champion and five Brewers Cup Western Canada Junior "C"...
of Hockey Northwestern Ontario
Hockey Northwestern Ontario
Hockey Northwestern Ontario is the governing body of all ice hockey in Northern Ontario, Canada. Hockey Northwestern Ontario is a branch of Hockey Canada.-Jurisdiction:...
until 2009. The Wolverines are 4-time Thunder Bay Junior B and Northern Ontario Junior B champions, as well as 2009 Keystone Cup
Keystone Cup
The Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
Western Canada silver medalists.
2005-06
The Wolverines won their first Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League title in 2005-06 in only their third year of existence. They finished first in the regular season with 22 wins, 5 losses, and 3 ties. In the first round, the Wolverines beat the Nipigon ElksNipigon Elks
The Nipigon Elks are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Nipigon, Ontario. They play in the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League of Hockey Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
with 3 wins, 0 losses, and a tie. The final series saw them in a thriller with the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
The Thunder Bay Northern Hawks are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They play in the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League. The Northern Hawks are three time Thunder Bay Junior B and Northern Ontario Junior B champions.-History:...
, with the Wolverines squeezing out the win with 3 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties. The final game resulted in a tie, but the Northern Hawks were extremely close to forcing an 8th and deciding game. The Wolverines were out classed at the 2006 Keystone Cup
Keystone Cup
The Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
with 0 wins and 5 losses, failing to make the semi-final round. They started off the tourney against the North Winnipeg Satelites
North Winnipeg Satelites
The North Winnipeg Satelites are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are members of the Keystone Junior Hockey League...
of the Keystone Junior Hockey League
Keystone Junior Hockey League
The Keystone Junior Hockey League , formerly known as the Manitoba Junior B Hockey League , is a Junior "B" ice hockey league composed of 7 teams in Manitoba, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada....
with a 6-4 loss. The Wolverines then were blown out by the host Campbell River Storm
Campbell River Storm
The Campbell River Storm are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League . The Storm play their home games at Rod Brind'Amour Arena. Kevin Spooner is the team's president, general...
of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League
Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League
The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a junior "B" ice hockey league of 7 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada. The Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion...
by a score of 8-2. The Saskatoon Royals of the North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League
North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League
The North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League was a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Saskatchewan, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The playoff champion played-off against the winner of the Southern Saskatchewan/Prairie Junior Hockey League for the right to compete for the Keystone Cup...
then beat them 5-2, followed by the Red Deer Vipers
Red Deer Vipers
The Red Deer Vipers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League . They play their home games at Red Deer Arena.- History :...
of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League
Heritage Junior B Hockey League
The Heritage Junior B Hockey League is a Junior "B" ice hockey league in Alberta, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The HJHL was founded in 1987 and is made up of teams from southern and central Alberta...
shutting them down 6-0. The Wolverines finished off their season with an 8-3 blowout loss to the Delta Ice Hawks
Delta Ice Hawks
The Delta Ice Hawks are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Ladner Leisure Centre....
of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League
Pacific International Junior Hockey League
The Pacific International Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league in British Columbia, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the PIJHL playoffs competes with the champions of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League...
.
2006-07
The Wolverines won their second straight TBJBHL regular season crown in 2006-07 with a 24-3-3 record. They moved directly into the league final against the highly competitive Thunder Bay Northern HawksThunder Bay Northern Hawks
The Thunder Bay Northern Hawks are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They play in the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League. The Northern Hawks are three time Thunder Bay Junior B and Northern Ontario Junior B champions.-History:...
. The Hawks took Game 1 6-3, they tied the next game 2-2, and the third game was won by the Hawks 4-2. In this race to 8 points, the Hawks were leading 5-1. The Wolverines took the fourth game 3-2, but the Northern Hawks took Game 5 7-4 to take a 7-points-to-3 series lead. The Hawks could take the series with a win or tie. It was not to be, the Wolverines came together came back with a comeback, winning Game 6 4-1 and Game 7 6-1. With the series tied 7-7, Game 8 had to be a win for either team to take the playoff crown. The Wolverines competed the comeback winning the game 5-3 and the series 9-points-to-7.
The Wolverines, as Northern Ontario Jr. B champions, received their second crack at the Keystone Cup
Keystone Cup
The Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
These figures do not include the substantial population living along the shores of the Fishing Lakes.-Origins:The current site is the third Fort Qu'Appelle. The first was a North West Company trading post , also in the valley but near what is now the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border...
. They dropped their first game to the Saskatoon Royals 4-1. In their second game, they were crushed by the Fort Qu'Appelle Fort Knox 7-1. Game 3 did not go well either, as they lost 8-2 to the Winnipeg Saints
Winnipeg Saints
The Winnipeg Saints are a Manitoba Junior Hockey League team playing out of the Centre. They played out of Dakota Community Centre in Winnipeg until the end of 2009-10 season. The team played out of St. Adolphe during the 2010-11 season, but played their home playoff games at the MTS Iceplex in...
. The final game had the Wolverines loss to the Victoria Cougars
Victoria Cougars (VIJHL)
The Victoria Cougars are a junior "B" ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the South Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League . The Cougars play their home games at Archie Browning Arena...
4-2. They exited the championship without a win.
2007-08
In 2007-08, the Wolverines may have had the best regular season in TBJBHL history, outside of the 2003-04 Thunder Bay Northern HawksThunder Bay Northern Hawks
The Thunder Bay Northern Hawks are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They play in the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League. The Northern Hawks are three time Thunder Bay Junior B and Northern Ontario Junior B champions.-History:...
undefeated season. After going 24-1-5, the Wolverines found themselves, again, in the finals against the Northern Hawks. The Hawks won Game 1 5-1, but the Wolverines countered with 5-0 and 6-3 victories in the next two games. Game 4 was a 5-4 Hawks victory to even out the series, but games 5 and 6 went to the Wolverines 6-5 and 6-3 respectively to win the Wolverines a third straight playoff title.
The Wolverines moved on the Keystone Cup
Keystone Cup
The Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
in Selkirk, Manitoba
Selkirk, Manitoba
Selkirk is a city in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, located about 22 km northeast of the provincial capital Winnipeg on the Red River, near . As of the 2006 census, Selkirk had a population of 9,515....
. They started off the tournament on a promising note—their first point in three years: the Wolverines tied the Pilot Butte Storm 3-3. The next game, the Wolverines fell to the Norway House North Stars
Norway House North Stars
The Norway House North Stars are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Norway House, Manitoba. They are members of the Keystone Junior Hockey League...
5-1. In the third game of the tournament, the Wolverines lost 6-1 to the Sherwood Park Knights and later that night they lost 8-1 to the Grandview Steelers
Grandview Steelers
The Grandview Steelers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League...
. They finished off their third Keystone Cup tournament with a 5-1 loss to the Selkirk Fishermen
Selkirk Fishermen
The Selkirk Fishermen are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Selkirk, Manitoba. They are members of the Keystone Junior Hockey League...
.
2008-09
In 2008 is was announced that the Wolverines would be the hosts of the 2009 Keystone CupKeystone Cup
The Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:...
tournament. They finished the Thunder Bay Jr. B season in first place with a 25-5-0 record. In the league final, the Wolverines defeated the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
The Thunder Bay Northern Hawks are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They play in the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League. The Northern Hawks are three time Thunder Bay Junior B and Northern Ontario Junior B champions.-History:...
4-games-straight to win the league.
Both the Wolverines and the Northern Hawks advanced to the Keystone Cup, played at their home Thunder Bay Tournament Centre in April 2009. The Wolverines started off the tournament with a 6-1 win over the Northern Hawks. Later that night, they beat the Keystone Junior Hockey League
Keystone Junior Hockey League
The Keystone Junior Hockey League , formerly known as the Manitoba Junior B Hockey League , is a Junior "B" ice hockey league composed of 7 teams in Manitoba, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada....
's St. Malo Warriors
St. Malo Warriors
The St. Malo Warriors are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based in St. Malo, Manitoba. They are members of the Keystone Junior Hockey League...
5-4. The next day, they started off beating the Pacific International Junior Hockey League
Pacific International Junior Hockey League
The Pacific International Junior Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league in British Columbia, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the PIJHL playoffs competes with the champions of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League...
's Richmond Sockeyes
Richmond Sockeyes
The Richmond Sockeyes are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League...
3-1, then later beat the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
The North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League is a Junior "B" Ice Hockey league in Alberta, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of Central "B" playoffs earns the chance to compete for the Western Canadian Junior "B" Crown, the Keystone Cup...
's Lloydminster Bandits 7-3 to clinch a spot in the tournament's gold medal game. The Wolverines finished the tournament round robin with a perfect 5-0 record by defeating the Prairie Junior Hockey League's Saskatoon Royals 3-0. The final round robin game was marred by a brawl late in the third period, instigated by the Royals. In the final, the Wolverines faced the Sockeyes again. The Wolverines led multiple times in the game, but the Sockeyes tied the game up midway through the third period to force overtime. It took a second overtime frame, but the Wolverines final fell 6-5 to the Sockeyes.
The Silver Medal performance at the 2009 Keystone Cup marks the best performance by a Thunder Bay Junior B team since the 1999 Fort William Hurricanes won the Keystone Cup championship.
On June 14, 2009, the Thunder Bay Wolverines were promoted to Junior A as members of the Superior International Junior Hockey League
Superior International Junior Hockey League
The Superior International Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The winner of the SIJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Northern...
.
2009-10
The Wolverines began their first season in the Junior A Superior International Junior Hockey LeagueSuperior International Junior Hockey League
The Superior International Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Hockey Canada. The winner of the SIJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Northern...
on September 18, 2009. At home, the Wolverines lost to the Fort Frances Lakers 3-2. The next night, the Wolverines defeated the Lakers 4-3 to get their first ever Junior A victory.
Mid-season, the Wolverines moved to Schreiber, Ontario
Schreiber, Ontario
Schreiber is a municipal township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located on the northernmost point of Lake Superior along Highway 17. The town, with a population of approximately 900 people, is almost completely located inside the geographic township of Priske, with a small western portion of...
. The entire league schedule was altered to reflect this and the league was informed of the move. After only a couple games, the team was moved back to Thunder Bay and their website claimed that the Schreiber move was never meant to be permanent.
The Wolverines finished fourth in the league, but lost the league quarter-final to an underdog Fort Frances Lakers.
On June 7, 2010, the Wolverines unceremoniously and without stated reason left the SIJHL. For owner Bill MacLaurin, this is the third time he has dropped ownership of a team in the SIJHL (first was the Featherman Hawks
Thunder Bay Bulldogs
The Thunder Bay Bulldogs were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from the Port Arthur section of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:...
and second was the Schreiber Diesels
Schreiber Diesels
The Schreiber Diesels were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Schreiber, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Superior International Junior Hockey League.-History:The Schreiber Diesels were coached by Bobby Spadoni, a life long resident of the area...
). This was after a second season was announced by the club, that the team would be moving to the Fort William First Nation Arena
Fort William First Nation
Fort William First Nation is an Ojibway First Nation south of and adjacent to Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. As of January 2008, the First Nation had a registered population of 1,798 people, of which their on-Reserve population was 832 people....
, and tryout dates were given.
Season-by-Season Standings
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 2003-04 | 24 | 7 | 16 | 1 | ||||||
| 83 | 128 | 15 | 4th TBJBHL | |||||||
| 2004-05 | 24 | 7 | 13 | 4 | ||||||
| 92 | 115 | 18 | 5th TBJBHL | |||||||
| 2005-06 | 30 | 22 | 5 | 3 | ||||||
| 172 | 68 | 47 | 1st TBJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 2006-07 | 30 | 24 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| 180 | 66 | 51 | 1st TBJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 2007-08 | 30 | 24 | 1 | 5 | ||||||
| 195 | 68 | 53 | 1st TBJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 2008-09 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| 171 | 65 | 50 | 1st TBJBHL | Won League, Silver at KC Keystone Cup The Keystone Cup is the Junior "B" ice hockey championship and trophy for Western Canada. The Championship is the culmination of the champions of 12 hockey leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.-History:... |
||||||
| 2009-10 | 52 | 19 | 28 | |||||||
| 5 | 174 | 244 | 43 | 4th SIJHL | Lost Quarter-final |
Playoffs
- 2010 Lost Quarter-final
- Fort Frances Lakers defeated Thunder Bay Wolverines 4-games-to-3