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 Wheeling Thunderbirds. In 1995 the team changed its name to the Wheeling Nailers.
Head coaches[]
- Rick Dudley 1981-86
- Brendon Watson 1988-89
Players[]
- John Torchetti
- Steve Plaskon
- Brad Hammett
- Dean Dixon
- Scott Allen
- Michel Lanouette
- Rick Brebant
- Frank Lattuca
- Mike Kuzmich
- Sean Mangan
- Paul Reifenberger
- Todd Delveaux
- Tod Merritt
- Eddie Boyle
- Scott Johnson
- Brian Martin
- Randy Irving
- Mike Chighisola
- Sam Farace
- Tim Skaggs
- Jeff Eatough
- Gary Bernard
- Larry Rusconi
- Joe Curran
- Gary Ruff
- Rick Osburn
- Mike Parody
- Pete Richards
- Bob Dore
- Bryan Wells
- Tim Wicker
- Michael Bonn
- Steve Cipolla
- Kevin Pylypow
- Marc Marchand
- Toby O'Brien
- Dan Olson
- Todd Benson
- Kevin Marble
- Bruce Gillies
- Mike Schwalb
- Chris Wickett
- Matt Winnicki
- Bob Hagan
- Kim Elliot
- Doug Bacon
- Pierre Hamel
- Rory Cava
- Blair McReynolds
- Keith Gretzky
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
Season-by-season record[]
Atlantic Coast Hockey League[]
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OL | SL | Pts | GF | GA | Place | Playoffs |
| 1981-82 | 50 | 14 | 33 | 3 | - | - | 31 | 184 | 265 | 5th | Lost Semifinals |
| 1982-83 | 68 | 51 | 10 | 7 | - | - | 111 | 376 | 208 | 1st | Won Championship |
| 1983-84 | 72 | 43 | 24 | 5 | - | - | 92 | 381 | 300 | 1st | Lost Final |
| 1984-85 | 64 | 53 | 10 | 1 | - | - | 107 | 374 | 220 | 1st | Won Championship |
| 1985-86 | 63 | 49 | 14 | 0 | - | - | 397 | 227 | 104 | 1st | Won Championship |
| 1986-87 | 56 | 23 | 31 | 2 | - | - | 48 | 252 | 278 | 4th | Lost Semifinals |
See also[]
| Preceded by Inaugural |
ECHL Riley Cup Champions 1988-89 |
Succeeded by Greensboro Monarchs |
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