| Thunder Bay Bandits | |
|---|---|
| City | Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
| League | Lakehead Junior Hockey League |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Home arena | Thunder Bay Tournament Centre |
| Colors | Black, Orange, and White |
| Owner(s) | Derek Geddes |
| Franchise history | |
| 2009–2017 | Thunder Bay Stars |
| 2017–2020 | Thunder Bay Fighting Walleye |
| 2020 | Kam River Pickerel |
| 2020–present | Thunder Bay Bandits |
The Thunder Bay Bandits are a Canadian junior B ice hockey team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They play in the Lakehead Junior Hockey League eligible to compete for the Central Canada Cup formerly the Keystone Cup for the Junior B championship of Western Canada.
History
The Thunder Bay Stars joined the Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League in 2009. The team was formed after the K&A Wolverines accepted an invitation to play Junior A in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
In both 2010 and 2011, the Stars finished third in the regular season, but managed to upset the second place Nipigon Elks in the league semi-finals to earn entrance into the league finals. In both cases, the Stars were defeated by the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks.
At the end of the 2016–17 season, long-time Stars owners Dave and Scott Simpson sold the franchise to Derek Geddes. The team was rebranded as the Thunder Bay Fighting Walleye.
For the 2018 season British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan elected not to participate in the Keystone Cup. As a result, the tournament was reorganized to feature the LJHL and KJHL champion and runner-up. Although the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks won the LJHL championship, the new format allowed the Fighting Walleye make their first Keystone Cup tournament. They returned to the Keystone Cup the following season as well, and then were awarded hosting duties for the 2020 tournament. However, the 2020 tournament would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to the 2020–21 season the team rebranded once again as the Kam River Pickerel, but was instead sold and rebranded again as Thunder Bay Bandits.
Season-by-season standings
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Results | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 30 | 6 | 24 | 0 | --- | 12 | 123 | 222 | 3rd of 3 | Won Semifinals, 3-1 vs Elks Lost Finals, 0-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2010-11 | 30 | 9 | 17 | 4 | --- | 22 | 123 | 161 | 3rd of 4 | Won Semifinals, 3-1 vs Elks Lost Finals, 0-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2011-12 | 32 | 15 | 17 | 0 | --- | 30 | 149 | 171 | 3rd of 5 | Lost Semifinals, 2-3 vs Elks |
| 2012-13 | 32 | 14 | 17 | 1 | --- | 29 | 140 | 143 | 3rd of 5 | Lost Semifinals, 3-4 vs Elks |
| 2013-14 | 30 | 16 | 12 | 2 | --- | 34 | 123 | 104 | 2nd of 4 | Won Semifinals, 4-1 vs Elks Lost Finals, 1-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2014-15 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0 | --- | 30 | 149 | 132 | 2nd of 4 | Won Semifinals, 4-1 vs Elks Lost Finals, 0-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2015-16 | 32 | 27 | 5 | 0 | --- | 54 | 210 | 81 | 1st of 5 | Won Semifinals, 4-0 vs Falcons Lost Finals, 2-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2016-17 | 30 | 4 | 22 | 4 | --- | 12 | 114 | 231 | 3rd of 4 | Lost Semifinals, 1-4 vs Elks |
| 2017-18 | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | --- | 36 | 212 | 109 | 1st of 4 | Won Semifinals, 4-0 vs Falcons Lost Finals, 1-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2018–19 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 4 | --- | 38 | 187 | 96 | 2nd of 4 | Won Semifinals, 4-0 vs Elks Lost Finals, 1-4 vs Northern Hawks |
| 2019–20 | 27 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 143 | 104 | 2nd of 4 | Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2020–21 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 | |||||||||
| 2021–22 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | --- | 35 | 111 | 51 | 1st of 4 | Won Semifinals, 4-2 vs (Elks) WON Finals, 4-1 (Northern Hawks) LJHL CHAMPIONS |
| 2022–23 | 24 | 5 | 17 | 2 | --- | 12 | 57 | 97 | 5 of 5 | Lost 1st Round, 0-2 vs (Elks) |
| 2023–24 | 24 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 92 | 129 | 4 of 5 | Won 1st Round, 2-0 vs (Elks) Lost Semifinals 1-4 (Storm) |
Keystone Cup history
Central Canadian Jr. B Championships (Northern Ontario to Saskatchewan)
| Year | Round-robin | Record | Standing | Gold medal game | Bronze medal game |
| 2018 | W, 7–2 vs. Peguis Juniors L, 1–3 vs. St. Malo Warriors L, 3–9 vs. Thunder Bay Northern Hawks |
1–2–0 | 3rd of 4 | --- | L, 3–6 vs Peguis Juniors in semifinal - Bronze medalist |
| 2019 | L, 3–4 vs. Thunder Bay Northern Hawks W, 6–2 vs. Cross Lake Islanders W, 6–0 vs. Peguis Juniors |
2–1–0 | 2nd of 4 | L, 2–4 vs Thunder Bay Northern Hawks Silver medalist |
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References
- "Fighting Walleye to host Keystone Cup 2020". Keystone Cup. August 22, 2019.