Thunder Bay Northern Hawks
Encyclopedia
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.
(SIJHL), the Northern Hawks moved up to Junior B for the 2001/02 season. The Northern Hawks are one-time Western Canadian Brewers Cup champions. They won the Junior C tournament in 2003 against comparable teams from across Western Canada.
In 2004 and 2005, the Hawks stepped up and won the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
championship and the Northern Ontario Regional Junior B Hockey Championship
.
In 2004, the Northern Hawks were Western Canadian Keystone Cup
Bronze Medal finalists. The Northern Hawks missed the Gold Medal Game by taking a tie to the Richmond Sockeyes
in their final round robin game.
of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League
to win the Northern Ontario Regional Junior B Hockey Championship
and earn the right to compete for the Keystone Cup
.
The 2004 Keystone Cup was hosted by the Aguasabon River Rats
of the North of Superior League and Schreiber, Ontario
. In the first game, the Northern Hawks throttled Aguasabon 9-3. In the second game, the Hawks tied the Regina Capitals
4-4. Next, the Hawks lost to the Norway House North Stars
6-4, but returned the next game with a 3-1 win over the Red Deer Vipers
. The fifth game of the round robin, for the Northern Hawks, was against the Richmond Sockeyes
. The game resulted in a tie, but if Thunder Bay had of won they would have instantly been playing for the Gold Medal. The Northern Hawks faced Red Deer again in their final game, this time for the tournament's Bronze Medal. The Thunder Bay Northern Hawks lost the game 7-5. From this loss to the end of the 2008 Keystone Cup, no Thunder Bay League team had won a game at the Keystone Cup tournament.
. The River Rats defected from the folding North of Superior League. In the league semi-final, the Northern Hawks defeated the Nipigon Elks
3-games-to-1. This set up a final between the Hawks and River Rats. The Northern Hawks defeated the River Rats 4-games-to-1 to win the league championship. With no other leagues in the region, the Northern Hawks were crowned Northern Ontario Jr. B champions and went on to the 2005 Keystone Cup
in Medicine Hat, Alberta
.
At the tournament, the first game for the Northern Hawks was a 4-1 loss to the Selkirk Fishermen
. Next, the Hawks lost 8-5 to the Medicine Hat Cubs. In the third game, the Hawks were defeated by the Osoyoos Storm 6-2. After that, the Northern Hawks lost to both the Calgary Stampeders and the Saskatoon Royals to close out their tournament winless.
. Because the Wolverines were hosting the Keystone Cup
in 2009, the Northern Hawks were allowed to participate as the Hockey Northwestern Ontario
branch representative.
At the Keystone Cup
, the Hawks faced the Wolverines again in the first game. The Wolverines won 6-1. Later that night, the Norther Hawks lost 5-2 to the Prairie Junior Hockey League's Saskatoon Royals. The next day, the Northern Hawks lost to the Keystone Junior Hockey League
's St. Malo Warriors
6-2. On the third day, the Northern Hawks lost 6-1 to the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
's Lloydminster Bandits, which eliminated them from medal contention. In the final round robin game, the Hawks lost 4-2 to the Pacific International Junior Hockey League
's Richmond Sockeyes
, who would eventually win the Keystone Cup
in double overtime over the K&A Wolverines
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team
Team
A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a 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
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. They play 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"...
. The Northern Hawks are three time Thunder Bay Junior B and Northern Ontario Junior B champions.
History
The Northern Hawks joined the Thunder Bay Junior B/ Juvenile AAA league in the fall of 1999 playing out of Norwest Arena. The team lost in the league Juvenile AAA final to the Thunder Bay Wolves that first season. The 2000/01 season saw the Northern Hawks win the Juvenile AAA Championship and move onto the Ontario Hockey Federation Juvenile AAA championship in Newmarket, Ontario. The Northern Hawks would capture a silver medal at the OHF event, this was one of Thunder Bay's strongest showings ever at the Juvenile AAA event. With the creation of the 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...
(SIJHL), the Northern Hawks moved up to Junior B for the 2001/02 season. The Northern Hawks are one-time Western Canadian Brewers Cup champions. They won the Junior C tournament in 2003 against comparable teams from across Western Canada.
In 2004 and 2005, the Hawks stepped up and won 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"...
championship and the Northern Ontario Regional Junior B Hockey Championship
Northern Ontario Regional Junior B Hockey Championship
The William Ryan Trophy is a Canadian ice hockey series to determine the Northwestern Ontario seed of the Keystone Cup - the Western Canada Junior "B" Hockey Crown.-History:...
.
In 2004, the Northern Hawks were Western Canadian 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:...
Bronze Medal finalists. The Northern Hawks missed the Gold Medal Game by taking a tie to the 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...
in their final round robin game.
2003-04
The Thunder Bay Northern Hawks finished off the 2003-04 season with one of the best records in Thunder Bay junior hockey history, finishing an undefeated season with 22 wins and 2 ties. They went on to win the 2004 playoff championship as well as defeated the Wawa TravellersWawa Travellers
The Wawa Travellers were a Junior "B" team based out of Wawa, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League
North of Superior Junior B Hockey League
The North of Superior Junior B Hockey League is a defunct Junior "B" ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The league used to be a part of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The league at one point was called the North Shore Junior B Hockey League.-History:The...
to win the Northern Ontario Regional Junior B Hockey Championship
Northern Ontario Regional Junior B Hockey Championship
The William Ryan Trophy is a Canadian ice hockey series to determine the Northwestern Ontario seed of the Keystone Cup - the Western Canada Junior "B" Hockey Crown.-History:...
and earn the right to compete for 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:...
.
The 2004 Keystone Cup was hosted by the Aguasabon River Rats
Aguasabon River Rats
The Aguasabon River Rats were a Junior "B" ice hockey team based out of Terrace Bay, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League and the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
of the North of Superior League and 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...
. In the first game, the Northern Hawks throttled Aguasabon 9-3. In the second game, the Hawks tied the Regina Capitals
Regina Capitals
The Regina Capitals were a professional ice hockey team originally based in the city of Regina, Saskatchewan in the Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921.-Franchise history:...
4-4. Next, the Hawks lost 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...
6-4, but returned the next game with a 3-1 win over 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 :...
. The fifth game of the round robin, for the Northern Hawks, was against the 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...
. The game resulted in a tie, but if Thunder Bay had of won they would have instantly been playing for the Gold Medal. The Northern Hawks faced Red Deer again in their final game, this time for the tournament's Bronze Medal. The Thunder Bay Northern Hawks lost the game 7-5. From this loss to the end of the 2008 Keystone Cup, no Thunder Bay League team had won a game at the Keystone Cup tournament.
2004-05
The Northern Hawks finished second overall in the 2004-05 season to the Aguasabon River RatsAguasabon River Rats
The Aguasabon River Rats were a Junior "B" ice hockey team based out of Terrace Bay, Ontario. They played out of the North of Superior Junior B Hockey League and the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League.-History:...
. The River Rats defected from the folding North of Superior League. In the league semi-final, the Northern Hawks defeated the Nipigon Elks
Nipigon 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:...
3-games-to-1. This set up a final between the Hawks and River Rats. The Northern Hawks defeated the River Rats 4-games-to-1 to win the league championship. With no other leagues in the region, the Northern Hawks were crowned Northern Ontario Jr. B champions and went on to the 2005 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 Medicine Hat, Alberta
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Medicine Hat, known to locals as "The Hat", is a city of 61,097 people located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is enclaved within Cypress County along with the nearby Town of Redcliff, although neither is part of the county....
.
At the tournament, the first game for the Northern Hawks was a 4-1 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...
. Next, the Hawks lost 8-5 to the Medicine Hat Cubs. In the third game, the Hawks were defeated by the Osoyoos Storm 6-2. After that, the Northern Hawks lost to both the Calgary Stampeders and the Saskatoon Royals to close out their tournament winless.
2008-09
The Northern Hawks finished the 2008-09 season in second place in the Thunder Bay Junior B league. With a 14-15-1 record, the Northern Hawks had to begin the 2009 playoffs with a semi-final against the Nip-Rock Elks. The Hawks swept the series in 3 games. In the league final, the Northern Hawks were swept in 4 games by the K&A WolverinesK&A Wolverines
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...
. Because the Wolverines were hosting 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 2009, the Northern Hawks were allowed to participate as the 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:...
branch representative.
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:...
, the Hawks faced the Wolverines again in the first game. The Wolverines won 6-1. Later that night, the Norther Hawks lost 5-2 to the Prairie Junior Hockey League's Saskatoon Royals. The next day, the Northern Hawks lost to 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...
6-2. On the third day, the Northern Hawks lost 6-1 to 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, which eliminated them from medal contention. In the final round robin game, the Hawks lost 4-2 to 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...
, who would eventually win 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 double overtime over the K&A Wolverines
K&A Wolverines
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...
.
Season-by-Season Standings
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 2000-01 | 30 | 9 | 16 | 5 | ||||||
| 23 | 4th TBJBHL | |||||||||
| 2001-02 | 22 | 2 | 19 | 1 | ||||||
| 5 | 3rd TBJBHL | |||||||||
| 2002-03 | 24 | 10 | 10 | 4 | ||||||
| 24 | 3rd TBJBHL | |||||||||
| 2003-04 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 2 | ||||||
| 196 | 52 | 46 | 1st TBJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 2004-05 | 24 | 13 | 7 | 4 | ||||||
| 126 | 83 | 30 | 2nd TBJBHL | Won League | ||||||
| 2005-06 | 30 | 14 | 13 | 3 | ||||||
| 178 | 130 | 31 | 3rd TBJBHL | Lost Final | ||||||
| 2006-07 | 30 | 20 | 4 | 6 | ||||||
| 212 | 101 | 46 | 2nd TBJBHL | Lost Final | ||||||
| 2007-08 | 30 | 20 | 6 | 4 | ||||||
| 197 | 98 | 44 | 2nd TBJBHL | Lost Final | ||||||
| 2008-09 | 30 | 14 | 15 | 1 | ||||||
| 120 | 115 | 29 | 2nd TBJBHL | Lost Final | ||||||
| 2009-10 | 30 | 27 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 222 | 81 | 54 | 1st TBJBHL | Won League |