Carolina Thunderbirds

The Winston-Salem Thunderbirds were an ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989. The team played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League from 1982 to 1987, the All-American Hockey League during 1987-88 and finally moved to the East Coast Hockey League in 1988. The franchise used the name Carolina Thunderbirds prior to the 1989-90 season. The franchise was noted for its heated, often violent rivalry with the neighboring Greensboro Monarchs.

The team moved to Wheeling, West Virginia in 1992, playing as the. In 1995 the team changed its name to the Wheeling Nailers.

East Coast Hockey League
For a continuation of this franchise please see Wheeling Nailers

Head coaches

 * Rick Dudley 1981-86
 * Brendon Watson 1988-89

Championships

 * East Coast Hockey League play-off champions (Riley Cup), 1989
 * Atlantic Coast Hockey League play-off champions, 1983 and 1985
 * Atlantic Coast Hockey League regular season champions, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85 & 1985-86
 * All-American Hockey League play-off champions, 1988