- Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
Hockey team
team = Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
logosize = 140px
city =Thunder Bay, Ontario
league =CoHL 1991-1997UHL 1997-1999
operated = 1991-Present
arena =Fort William Gardens
colours =Black ,Grey , andWhite
coach =
dates1 = 1991-1993
name1 = Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks
dates2 = 1993-1996
name2 = Thunder Bay Senators
dates3 = 1996-1999
name3 = Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
dates4 = 1999-2007
name4 = Rockford IceHogs
|The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL (now the International Hockey League) prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.
History
After the success of the 5-time
Allan Cup championThunder Bay Twins , theColonial Hockey League took interest in expanding to theNorthwestern Ontario city. In 1991, the Colonial league introduced the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks, spelling the end of the 21-year Twins franchise that stepped aside for the new Semi-Pro team. In 1993, the team changed its name to the Thunder Bay Senators to reflect the teams affiliation with theNational Hockey League 'sOttawa Senators . Soon after, the CoHL changed its name to theUnited Hockey League and in 1996 the team became the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats.After eight seasons in Thunder Bay, the Thunder Cats were bought, moved to
Rockford, Illinois , and renamed the Rockford IceHogs in 1999.eason-by-Season Results
References
* [http://www.ihl-hockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27 International Hockey League History]
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