This is a list of the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey Champions. These teams were from Northwestern Ontario. Where eligible they played in the Allan Cup playoffs.
From 1904-05 to 1905-06, 1922-23 to 1924-25, and 1927-28 to 1928-29 teams from Thunder Bay and Manitoba played together in one league.
Team were awarded the Chabot-Armstrong and Scotland Woolen Trophy until 2007. From 2008 onward, the Senior AAA champions have been awarded the Gary Cook Cup.
When eligible they competed for the Stanley Cup (1903-1907) or Allan Cup (1909-present).
History[]
The early era of senior/professional ice hockey in the region was made up entirely of the Rat Portage Thistles/Kenora Thistles. The Thistles originally played in the Manitoba and Northwest Hockey Association Intermediate League (keeping an intermediate team going as well after the professional/senior team started), then the Manitoba & Northwestern Hockey Association (1903-04 season) and then the Manitoba Professional Hockey League for 1906-07 and a couple of games during the 1907-08 season.
The first true Thunder Bay Senior Playoffs occurred with the 1914-15 Thunder Bay Senior Playoffs as the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association was formed in 1915. It grew out of the formation of the Twin Cities Amateur Hockey League and the Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey League in the region.
Post Thunder Bay Senior Hockey Championships (1970-)[]
The Thunder Bay Senior Hockey Championship ended after the 1969-70 season with the merging of the Port Arthur Bearcats and Fort William Beavers, which resulted in the folding of the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey League. The Allan Cup history of the region is continued after this point with the Thunder Bay Twins and later on senior hockey within Hockey Northwestern Ontario and the HNO Senior League later in the article.
Misc.[]
During its' existence representatives of the Thunder Bay region:
- challenged for the Stanley Cup three times; winning on its' third try and then successfully defending once and then losing the second defense. (technically, pre-TBAHA)
- became home to the smallest community to ever win the Stanley Cup (Kenora 1907) (technically, pre-TBAHA)
- challenged for the Allan Cup five times during the challenge era being unsuccessful in each challenge (two of which were prior the formation of the TBAHA)
- Won 16 Western Canada Allan Cup Playoffs
- Won 5 Allan Cups
- Won an Olympic silver medal at the 1936 Olympics. The other four teams either won the Allan Cup either during World War II when the World championships and Olympics were cancelled or won in a year prior to Canada not participating in the World Championships.
- produced a United States based team as a champion Warroad Lakers (1965, becoming only the second US-based team to advance into Allan Cup regional qualifying after the Spokane Flyers won the 1957 BC championship)
- produced three teams which won other provincial championships (1925, 1929 (both Port Arthur), and 1938 (Red Lake Thunderers) and also won another District's championship in 1979 when the Thunder Bay Twins won the OHA Senior A Hockey League championship
- played in both the Eastern Canada and Western Canada Allan Cup playoffs
Stanley Cup Challenge Era[]
| Season | Regional Champion | League/Manitoba | Stanley Cup Challenge |
| 1902-03 | Rat Portage Thistles (only team in region) | Won League Championship | Lost Stanley Cup Challenge to Ottawa Hockey Club 2 games to none |
| 1903-04 | Rat Portage Thistles (only team in region) | N/A | N/A |
| 1904-05 | Rat Portage Thistles | Won Manitoba Senior Playoffs | Lost Stanley Cup Challenge 2 games to 1 to Ottawa Hockey Club |
| 1905-06 | Kenora Thistles | Won Manitoba Senior Playoffs | Do not challenge |
| 1906-07 | Kenora Thistles played in Manitoba Professional Hockey League | Won League Championship | Won Stanley Cup January 21st by beating Montréal Wanderers 12-goals-to-8 Retained Stanley Cup March 18th by defeating Brandon Wheat Cities 2-game-to-none Lost Stanley Cup March 25th to Montréal Wanderers 12-goals-to-8 |
| 1907-08 | Kenora Thistles withdrew from MPHL after two games | N/A | N/A |
Allan Cup Challenge Era[]
| Season | Regional Champion | Local/Eastern/Western Canada Playoffs | Allan Cup Challenge |
| 1908-09 | no area teams participated in Manitoba Senior playoffs | ||
| 1909-10 | no area teams participated in Manitoba Senior playoffs | ||
| 1910-11 | Kenora Thistles (Kenora St. Albans) |
Won Manitoba League | Lost Challenge to Winnipeg Victorias 16-goals-to-10 |
| 1911-12 | no area teams participated in Manitoba Senior playoffs | ||
| 1912-13 | Kenora Thistles | (won Independent League, but not eligible for 1912-13 Allan Cup) | |
| 1913-14 | Kenora Thistles | Won Manitoba & Western League | Lost to Winnipeg Monarchs 6-2 on March 11th (game also for Manitoba Senior Championship) |
| 1914-15 | Fort William | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1915-16 | Fort William | N/A | Lost to Winnipeg 61st Battalion 8-goals-to-6 March 11th and 13th |
| 1916-17 | Port Arthur 141st Battalion | N/A | Lost to Winnipeg Victorias 10-goals-to-5 March 7th and 9th |
| 1917-18 | Port Arthur Columbus Club | N/A | Lost to Kitchener Greenshirts 20-2 in first game of two game series on March 6th then withdrew challenge |
Allan Cup East-West Final Era[]
| Season | Regional Champion | Eastern/Western Canada Playoffs | Allan Cup |
| 1918-19 | Port Arthur Columbus Club | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1919-20 | Fort William Maple Leafs | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1920-21 | Port Arthur North Ends | Lost West Final | N/A |
| 1921-22 | Fort William | Lost West Final | N/A |
| 1922-23 | Port Arthur only team (lost Manitoba League final) | N/A | N/A |
| 1923-24 | Port Arthur only team (lost Manitoba League semifinal) | N/A | N/A |
| 1924-25 | Port Arthur | Won Western Championship | Won 1924-25 Allan Cup Final |
| 1925-26 | Port Arthur | Won Western Championship | Won 1925-26 Allan Cup Final |
| 1926-27 | Fort William | Won Western Championship | Lost 1926-27 Allan Cup Final |
| 1927-28 | Fort William lost Manitoba-Thunder Bay Senior League final | N/A | N/A |
| 1928-29 | Port Arthur | Won Western Championship | Won 1928-29 Allan Cup Final |
| 1929-30 | Port Arthur | Won Western Championship | Lost 1929-30 Allan Cup Final |
| 1930-31 | Port Arthur | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1931-32 | Fort William | Won Western Championship | Lost 1931-32 Allan Cup Final |
| 1932-33 | Fort William | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1933-34 | Fort William | Won Western Championship | Lost 1933-34 Allan Cup Final |
| 1934-35 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Won Western Championship | Lost 1934-35 Allan Cup Final |
| 1935-36 | Fort William Wanderers | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1936-37 | Fort William Wanderers | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1937-38 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1938-39 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Won Western Championship | Won 1938-39 Allan Cup Final |
| 1939-40 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1940-41 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Semifinals | |
| 1941-42 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Won Western Championship | Lost 1941-42 Allan Cup Final |
| 1942-43 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1943-44 | Port Arthur Shipbuilders | Won Western Championship | Lost 1943-44 Allan Cup Final |
| 1944-45 | No Allan Cup playoffs nationwide due to World War II | ||
| 1945-46 | Fort William Legion | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1946-47 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1947-48 | Fort Frances Canadians | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1948-49 | Fort Frances Canadians | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1949-50 | Fort Frances Canadians | Lost Western Final | N/a |
| 1950-51 | Fort Frances Canadians | Won Western Canada | Lost 1950-51 Allan Cup Final |
| 1951-52 | Fort Frances Canadians | Won Western Championship | Won 1951-52 Allan Cup Final |
| 1952-53 | Fort William Beavers | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1953-54 | Fort William Beavers | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1954-55 | Fort William Beavers | Won Western Championship | Lost 1954-55 Allan Cup Final |
| 1955-56 | Fort William Beavers | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1956-57 | Fort William Beavers | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1957-58 | Fort William Beavers | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1958-59 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1959-60 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1960-61 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1961-62 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1962-63 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1963-64 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1964-65 | Warroad Lakers* (see note #1 below) |
Lost Western Final | N/A |
| 1965-66 | Fort William Beavers | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1966-67 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1967-68 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Semifinals | N/A |
| 1968-69 | Port Arthur Bearcats | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1969-70 | Fort William Beavers | Lost Western Quarterfinals | N/A |
Thunder Bay Twins Era[]
The merging of the Port Arthur Bearcats and Fort William Beavers resulted in the folding of the Thunder Bay Senior Hockey League, ending the Thunder Bay Senior Championship. From 1971-1991, the Thunder Bay Twins were the only senior team in the region.
| Season | Eastern/Western Canada Playoffs | Allan Cup | |
| 1970-71 see note #2 below |
Lost Eastern Semifinals | N/A | |
| 1971-72 | either didn't participate in Allan Cup playoffs or lost to Sault Ste Marie Canadians in a Northern Ontario playoff | ||
| 1972-73 | Lost Eastern Final | N/A | |
| 1973-74 | Lost Eastern Final | N/A | |
| 1974-75 | Won Western Championship | Won 1975 Allan Cup | |
| 1976-1979 | none, see note #3 below | ||
| 1979-80 | Lost Eastern Final | N/A | |
| 1980-81 | Advance to Allan Cup as host | Lost 1981 Allan Cup Semifinal | |
| 1981-82 | Lost Eastern Semifinals | N/A | |
| 1982-83 | Lost Eastern Semifinals | N/A | |
| 1983-84 | Won Western Championship | Won 1984 Allan Cup | |
| 1984-85 | Won Western Championship | Won 1985 Allan Cup | |
| 1985-86 | N/A | N/A | |
| 1986-87 | N/A | N/A | |
| 1987-88 | Won Western Championship | Won 1988 Allan Cup | |
| 1988-89 | Advance to Allan Cup as Host | Won 1989 Allan Cup | |
| 1989-90 | Lost Eastern Final | N/A | |
| 1990-91 | Won Western Canada | Lost 1991 Allan Cup Final | |
There were no Allan Cup eligible teams in the region from the 1991-92 to 2002-03 seasons.
Hockey Northwestern Ontario Era[]
| Season | Regional Champion | Renwick Cup | Allan Cup |
| 2003-04 | Thunder Bay Twins | Lost 2004 Renwick Cup Final | N/A |
| 2004-05 | Thunder Bay Bombers | Won 2005 Renwick Cup | Won 2005 Allan Cup |
| 2005-06 | Thunder Bay Bombers | Lost 2006 Renwick Cup Final | N/A |
| 2006-07 | Kenora Thistles | Lost 2007 Renwick Cup Final | N/A |
| 2007-08 | Thunder Bay Hawks | Lost 2008 Renwick Cup Final | N/A |
| 2008-09 | Thunder Bay Twins | Advance to Allan Cup due to lack of entries in other regions | Lost 2009 Allan Cup quarterfinals |
| 2009-10 | Kenora Thistles | Lost 2010 Renwick Cup Final | N/A |
| 2010-11 | Fort Frances Thunderhawks | Advance to Allan Cup due to lack of entries in other regions | Lost 2011 Allan Cup Semifinals |
| 2011-12 | Kenora Thistles (by default) | Won 2012 Renwick Cup | Lost 2012 Allan Cup quarterfinals |
| 2012-13 | Kenora Thistles (by default) | Won 2013 Renwick Cup | Lost 2013 Allan Cup semifinals |
| 2013-14 | Kenora Thistles (by default) | Advance to Allan Cup due to lack of entries in other regions | Lost 2014 Allan Cup semifinals |
| 2014-15 | Kenora Thistles (by default) |
Lost 2015 Renwick Cup Final | N/A |
| 2015-16 | None, Kenora Thistles cease operations January 10, 2016 | ||
No Allan cup eligible teams in region from 2016-17 to present
Notes:
- The Warroad Lakers despite being located in Minnesota were allowed to enter the 1964-65 Thunder Bay Senior Playoffs as an independent team.
- The 1970-71 playoffs were actually the 1970-71 Northern Ontario Senior Playoffs and the team played in the 1970-71 Eastern Canada Allan Cup Playoffs.
- The Thunder Bay Twins played in the OHA Sr. League for 1976-77 to 1978-79. They would lose in the league semifinals in the 1976-77 playofs, lose in the league finals in 1977-78, and then win the 1978-79 OHA Senior Season championship but lose the provincial final to the Petrolia Flyers.
- The 2009, 2011 and 2014 Renwick Cup events were not needed as the Allan Cup was held in Ontario these years and the Eastern Region did not participate in Allan Cup qualifying.
See also[]
Sources[]
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This article is part of the Allan Cup and other senior amateur competitions portal |